Based on his appearance, you may not guess that Chris Ortiz is the fixture that he is in the skateboard world. It all started with high school photography class projects that he based around his passion, skateboarding. Having a badass crew to skate and shoot with created opportunities for Chris to work in print when print mattered. As his career grew, he helped revolutionize the media world with 411 video magazine and eventually made his way to the contest scene running things at the Dew Tour. We talk about it all on the podcast.
Chris Ortiz Show Notes
2:50: What does he do on the Dew Tour
5:00: Growing up in Methville USA, the Inland Empire
7:20: The Animal Chin reshoot and getting his first gig with Thrasher
14:40: How involved is he in a photo and connecting with skaters of today
16:30: Photographers getting screwed and when magazines were cool
21:14: Evo (Use the code TPM10 for 10% off at checkout)
RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack)
24:00: The Thrasher days and starting 411 Video Magazine
33:00: Making money in skateboard photography
36:00: Transworld and getting hooked up with Dew Tour and the ups and downs of working with Dew
46:30: Inappropriate Questions
If you are into the outdoors, you’ve most likely heard of Poler. Their unique take on camping and adventure made the brand instantly successful. All of it was started by Kharma Vella and his former best friend Benji. Kharma is my guest this week and we talk coming up in the world of snowboarding, starting a brand, building it and watching the same brand destroy both his personal and professional life. The podcast is Kharma’s side of a real-life tale that outlines what can happen when you do business with friends.
Kharma Vella Show Notes:
2:00: Portland is weird, growing up in the NW
8:41: Snowboarding in the early 90’s, sponsors and Dinner Clothing
16:09: Working at shops and then getting a modeling gig that turns into more at Bonfire
19:30: Founding Poler, bankrolling it, and naming it
26:15: Evo (Use the code TPM10 for 10% off at checkout)
RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack)
28:45: Poler at SIA, other brands jumping in and social media
33:33: The knapsack backstory and his day to day role
37:00: Taking advantage of Chinese labor and pricing
40:10: Collaborations and Nike
44:00: What the hell happened with you and Polar. It’s a crazy story
54:30: His new project Muul that is on Kickstarter May 15
56:30: Inappropriate Questions with Sales rep extraordinaire and former Rep of the Year, Dan Sorcinelli
Chris Edwards lived more by the age of 20 than most people do in a lifetime. He was a pro athlete at age 14, dropped out of high school a year later and became the face of the fastest growing sport on the planet. Chris was in the movies, on TV, was the first to go big on ramps, first to grind a rail, and, as far as I know, the first to have 6 biological children and 4 wives. Chris and I talk the rise and fall on the podcast
Chris Edwards Show Notes:
2:00: Where is Chris now, evangelists, problems at home
8:00: Getting his first pair of blades, riding ramps and getting on Team Rollerblade
14:00: The Micky Mouse Club, dropping out, and Prayer of The Rollerboys
23:00: Evo (Use the code TPM10 for 10% off at checkout)
RESQWATER (enter the code resqwatertpm for a 20% discount on a 12 pack)
25:00: Money, the segments of Chris’s skating experience and the launch from Airborne
28:00: Getting married at 18, youth pastor, and a rumor that I heard
34:00: Trying to build a sport (with companies) on his back and bankrupting himself
37: 04: Video parts he liked, pressure, life after the divorce and getting married again, divorced again
43:00: Breaking both his arms, seeing skating progress and injuries
47:00: Things end with Rollerblade, his thoughts on the future of blading
53:00: Inappropriate Questions with Arlo Eisenberg