In The Know: Jochen Smuda

What kind of beer is best?

Sternburger. Called „Sterni“ in Berlin. Check it out if you come over. 60 cent for a 0,5 bottle. Ask Bailey or Demetrious – it’s really worth the price :)



Will you be traveling anywhere in the US this summer?

I might come to NYC with Fabirce. But I am not sure yet. Honestly I don’t like the US that much for skating. I prefer to skate in Europe, because there is really a lot of very good stuff to skate.

When can we expect to see another profile out of you, and will it (somehow) be better than your Clip 3 profile?

Hahah, you didn’t like the one on Clip 3? Sorry. It’s just the way I like to see skating. I know, it’s pretty much different to other skating tricks, but I just do the stuff I really like to do, that’s it. I don’t care about new „spin to win“ tricks. Skate however you love to skate. That’s it.

What is your affiliation with Clip?

I own and run it together with my friend Lukas.

You guys seem to have the coolest shit ever to skate, do you need a roommate?

Yes we have, that’s true. Come over and hang out for a while skating in Berlin. But to be honest, I think my girl is the only roommate I need :)


Royale to AO Wallride

UCON's clothing designs are some of the classiest, and most unique I have ever seen, how would you describe the style of clothes you guys make? And are there any clothing companies or designers that you look up to/inspire you?

First of all, thanks a lot, we really appreciate your words. I would describe our style very streetwear orientated, with little influences in the fashion world. You will notice this when you see the upcoming 09 line. The clothing, especially the elle line, will be very fashion orientated. But not too crazy so that you can't wear it anymore, it’s jut not the regular piece anymore you can by on every 2nd corner. That was very important for us, that we go that next step. We worked with an experienced girl on the new elle line, and it's getting better and better every time. Not only the girl line, also the mens line will get better in every detail. That’s what I think at least.

And for sure we always have people we look up to and have people, companies, artists, etc who inspire us. But there are just too many to name them all. We get inspiration and motivation from a lot of different things happening around us, no doubt.

Will UCON ever make skinny jeans?

The new jeans are almost ready to ship.
7 different models:

2x silhouette (very tight and tight with strech material)
J1 – J3 (regular fit – baggy fit)
2x elle pants (finally some pants for your girl)


Royale 270 out

Which ucon product are you most proud of?

I think it is Asym Hood.
I think it is the best product we ever did!

What is your view on the European scene, past, present and future?

There was a big boom around 97. Almost everybody was on blades, it was crazy, then it all went down and just the hard core survived. I don’t have to tell you that over and over again. But nobody expected that it would go down that fast and that hard. Nethertheless, since 5-6 years the scene is small but healthy, and I think that is very good. We have a healthy scene which can grow step by step. That’s way easier than going from zero to hero. We are still there, and we still have a lot of good and talented people involved in the industry. I just hope that more and more people from the older generation stick to rollerblading. That’s really a big hope and wish, so that rollerblading can still grow in the right way. As long as we do our thing and keep on progressing in media, tricks, attitude, cloth and everything which makes rollerblading to the sport it is now, we are on a good track. Everything else will come beside.

What did you expect when you started UCON?

Nothing, and I think that’s the reason why we are still alive after 7 years. We did Ucon because we wanted to give rollerblading a clothing company with a good attitude behind. The less you expect the less you can get disappointed. For sure we had goals and wishes, and for sure we still have it, but never expect too much from a company in the rollerblading market. It’s just too small to make the big steps, shich is sad but the truth. We try to bring Ucon to the people, let them know about rollerblading, but as you can imagine it’s really hard.

Any plans on new members for the team?

We still have the same team we want to support and we believe in. True friends which we really want to support. That’s the most important thing.

Do you have any plans for your life outside of rollerblading?

Not only plans, I realised a lot of things outside of rollerblading already. For me rollerblading is not the only thing in life. To be honest, there are things which mean more to me like my girl, my friends, my family. Someday I want to be successful with Ucon, and help rollerblading to get the respect it deserves. That is really the one big thing we work on every day. Get people juiced about our cloth and link them to rollerblading. I think that is our task, and we try to do that as good as we can.

Who is your all time favorite skater?

Jon Julio and Dustin Latimer


AO Fishy

Who is your favorite right now?

Hard to tell. I love watching Farmer, Stockwell, Heinemann, Moselmann, Julio, Bailey, etc.
Really hard to tell.

You ever passed out in a turkish prison?

NO.

Other than rollerblade what do you to occupie your time? As in Job, friends, Girl, family, ect.? And or what do you do the most of that doesn't involve rollerblading at all?

When I don’t work or be involved in rollerblading I do any other sport and chill out a lot with my girl. Hanging out with friends, meet other people who are not connected to rollerblading is a MUST do to grow in life.

Tour to Israel, when?!

Sorry Avi. I don't know when!
Come to Berlin instead. It’s better!!!

You've always had such a clean, unique and solid style and most importantly presented yourself in a very clean and fashionable manner. Who influenced and had an impact on your style of skating and dress?

Thanks man! I think just looking on skaters i really liked influenced me. Then you just get your own style and skate and dress like you want. It just comes from time to time. The word „style“ is hard to describe. You can’t just try to be „stylish“ because people can tell right away if that is really you or not. Style is for me something like a innateness. Hard and intersting point. But I think either you have style or not. And by the way I really don’t affirm that I am plessed with it. That’s just my view about it.

The last time you had an in the know I asked about an old Ucon product I desperately wanted and you managed to hook me up with it. This time I want to ask about the Gold Jacket! I know a lot of shops didn't want it, do you have any samples left?

Sorry man. No, I don’t have one left.

Are there a lot of things you haven't produced because you think shops wouldn't take it?

We didn’t produce it because the shops didn’t pre-order it. Yes, there are a few products, but not that much. But by the way the „golden jacket“ was one of this products. I remember we had 7 orders. Hahah, so we couldn’t make it. We paced like 300 euro to do maps and the sample, and then nobody like it. It was fucked up, because we really were down with that golden motherfucker.

You ever, seen a grown man naked?

Nope

What does ucon stand for, how did you come up with that name?

Urban CONquest. It’s not a battle, war, or altercation. It’s about truly coming together with the objects, obstacles and buildings that surround us. It’s simply a matter of evolving, taking something and making it our own. Skating is creativity in an increasingly bland, dull and dumbed-down world. Conquer the limitations that get in your way and make something unique. UCON.

Why do you plaster a logo on every corner of your garments?

Hahah, why not. Nobody else does it, so it’s something unique!

I'd prefer to see a more subtle line with the same kick ass cuts but less logos.
OK this isn't a good question, I just wanted to say it.

Hahah, ok. We have some pieces you might like in the new line. Just watch out!!

If you were to go back and see how your life was before your interest in roller blading what do you think you'd be doing if roller blading never came into your life at all?

I really can’t tell you. I have no idea. Maybe became a sport athlete in biking, running ??? I really don't know. But I did and still do a lot of sport beside skating. It’s really a big passion!!


Royale

Do you like to watch american gladiators?
I used to watch it a lot. Hell yeah I like it.

Where is the swiss connection? I want to see some Studi/Brun/Messerli/Sidi tricks in your videos!

Me, too!! Believe me! Mail the guys directly to put back on some blades!!

How big is your weiner

18cm, BƒƒNG!

What was your involvement in Xsjado? Did you help with the development process?

Yes, I was one of the very first who tested the very first skate with Latimer, Doughty and Rossignol. We were involved a lot in the progress of the skate.

What are you riding now?

Xsjado

Are you filming for any profiles at the moment?

No at the moment we are busy with building up the new office. But we will see what’s coming! For sure we will have future projects.

What, if any, are your plans for the next Clip video?

Not yet decided were to go. But there will be something! That’s for sure.

Any plans on bringing back the Ucon Parachute Bag? It was the best, I bought 2 and I get asked about it everyday. I will personally invest to have these produced and imported to the US if I can get some manufacturing info.

Really, I love it, too. But we sold it really bad!!!

I am really happy that we had at least one happy customer.

Also, if you've ever encountered arguments regarding the differences between "savanna's", "unity's", and what can be called "true-spin" or "alley-oop" do you think that "rolling" should standardize its tricks or are the differences in names an important part of our culture?

I really don’t care too much about it. Sometimes I just call tricks like I want to call them. Just skate, don’t care too much about silly things like that. Nothing big to worry about.

Do you ever plan on making Ucon clothing 'more' available in the united states?

YES! We have a plan, but still too busy to make it happen. But there will come something very soon! I promise!! Just keep your eyes open!!


Fishy Stall

In which Clip DVD will Mathieu Heinemann, Stephan De Freitas and Stéphane Mosselmans have a section?

I really love all the skaters you named.
Maybe soon, we will see!!

Do you wipe your butt while you're sitting or do you stand up?

Wipe.

Would you date a girl who sucked a guys dick?

I have my girl, so it’s all good.

Hey Jochen, remember that fakie BS backslide you did in vg20? I peed a little.

Yep, remember it!

Which of your many skate parks is your favorite?

I really like Concrete skatepark in Hasselt, Belgium.
We had a lot of fun riding it.

What's the main difference in the European skate scene and the American skate scene?

Not much. It’s all about skating. I don’t want to compare America and Europe all the time. It’s really about skating, that’s it. I think it doesn’t matter if you are from Polan, Greece, US or Germany. Rollerblading is rollerblading.

How did you get back into eating meat?

Hahah. I try to get back into it a little. At least with some good meat. I have to get back into it, I feel that my body needs it.

Meat is murder. And murder tastes good.

I have this shirt.
Brand new in my closet at home. Medium 4 life!

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