Greg Hunt

What do you think about on a day-to-day basis-things that are important to you, like a recurring theme in your life that you keep wondering about?

It changes a lot. I look back and I see things I wasn't thinking about in the past that I think about now, what's important now, about my family--I try to keep in touch with them. My brothers,parents,grandmother,friends,and people who are special to me. I think about skating, too, how over the past 5 or 6 years there were times I didn;t really take myself too seriously. I had a lot of opportunities that I really didn't take advantage of, great or small. Skating wise, I just want to start doing more, taking advantage of every opportunity.I want to help out the companies I ride for, try to make a decent living,travel a lot,skate a lot, and have fun. It's one of the best jobs in the world, so I really want to make the most of it. Those are probably the two main things on my mind.

If you had to choose, would you rather be in Marilyn Manson or Hanson?

Probably Marilyn Manson--at least I could take my makeup off.
Would you rather be a raver kid or a gangster?

Probably a raver, at least I'd be somewhat safe, wouldn't have to worry about being driven by...stressin'.
Jock or raver?

Probably a jock, at least I could do some sports, instead of just going to raves every night.
Why do you keep coming back to Northern California?

It's my home, where all my friends are,where my life is, basically.If I went anywhere esle, I'd have to start over. Why bother? I like living here. Have you experienced any earthquakes yet?

Yeah,one. In this apartment the first month we lived here. I think. I remember I was sitting on this chair in my underwear and shirt with my socks onand there was an earthquake.The whole place shook. I ran downstairs so fast, I just wanted to get the hell out of the building.I was standing out in the street in my underwear and socks,so scared. But I'm used to them now.

What's the craziest thing you've seen happen in San Francisco?

I remember one day at Embarcadero some guy was gonna jump off the roof of the Hyatt. There were cops there,and this guy was going to jump off the roof,and you could see him up there. Some of the skaters from Embarcadero were yelling "Jump Jump," at the guy.

Were you saying jump, too?

No I just walked away, I couldn't handle it. I didn't want to see some guy splattered on the concrete. I see all kinds of crazy stuff like that.

How'd you learn about photography? Are you self taught, or did you go to school?

No[I didn't go to school].Mostly from Gabe Morford,and my own trial and error.

Do you ever give homeless change?

Sometimes,yeah.But I don't give change to just anyone

There are so many panhandlers,you have to make criteria for who you're gonna give change and who you're not.

Yeah,because you just get numb after a while. You just walk by like everyone else and don't even look at them.

What are some things about people that really bother you,character trait you try to avoid?

Just people who are really inconsiderate,like if they're really loud or really selfish. People who just don't understand the way things work and don't respect other people's space--that really bothers me.

What are some things about people that you really like?

Honesty.

Have you met a lot of good friends through skateboarding and traveling?

Not many traveling,really, most of them usually in my day-to-day life. But most of them are through skating, and eventually it becomes a lot more than skating. I also have a lot of friends who don't skate, which I think is important. Sometimes the last thing I want to do is sit around and talk about skating.

So you separate yourself from skating a little bit?

I like having all different types of people in my life-people who don't skate,people who do.Just talking to all different types of people about what they're into, their views on life, what keeps them going and how they see the world.

What do you think the hardest part of being a pro. skater is?

The hardest part is that it can make skateboarding frustrating and unenjoyable--much of the purity can become lost.

What's the best thing about being a pro. skateboarder?

I've never put as much into anything as I've put into skateboarding--I love it. Just to come where I have honor. When I look back I think it's a miracle that things worked out the way they did, and I ended up where I am. That alone,plus traveling with your friends, and knowing you're involved in something real and true.

You and Jim Thiebaud go way back?

Yep,pretty much,man. He's the first person who ever gave me a free board--on the trip when i was 16--he probably didn't even know my name. Basically,from me being just some kid from Michigan staying at his hose, to [being] put on Real.Jim's always been there--I owe everything to that guy.

What makes you want to keep skating?

It's just a part of my life that's there every day. I wake up and it's on me. Everywhere I look, I see stuff that makes me want to skate;I think I'm always going to be like that. I don't see how that's going to change. It's a felling I can't deny.

So, Greg, what are your plans for the future?

I just want to skate all the time, and take that as far as I can. Other than that, I want to be involved in environmental films and wildlife documentaries;I want to creat films that educate,inspire,and open people's eyes.[I want to] go all over and record all kinds of things to make those things available to everyone else. That's about it. So, we'll see what happens.

That comes around to thanks.

First of all, people for helping make this interview possible:Gabe Morford,Skin,Mike Blabac,Joe Brook,Aaron Meza. Then I'd like to thank all the people who helped me get to the point where I am at now: my family,Greg Carroll,Jim Thiebaub,and Gabe Morford.Thank you all so much.

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