Profile... James Stentiford
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Skateboarder Questionnaire
How old where you when you first began skateboarding?
16
What/Who was your inspiration for getting into it?
I changed schools to do my A levels and met a guy called Mark who could ollie up curbs on his skateboard . I was so amazed I had to give it a go.
What deck do you use?
I use a Lib Tech skateboard made by my snowboard sponsor . They have a pretty unconventional construction and last really well .
What size wheels do you use?
It changes all the time anything between 58's and 54's.
What trucks do you use?
Indie trucks , I think I've had my current trucks for about 6 or 7 years .
What do you love about Skateboarding?
Concrete bowls , frontside grinds , new bearing , sessions with your friends , bombing hills , frontside rock and rolls .
What aspect of Skateboarding gives you the most satisfaction (rails, bowls, vert, competitions, mini ramp, street etc
I love just carving round a nice bowl , throwing in the occassional grind .
What style of Skateboarding best describes your riding?
I don't really know , all round concrete slash dog .
What's your favourite trick?
Smith Grinds , one of the best feeling tricks in the world in my book . A timeless classic .
What's your worst skateboarding injury and how did you do it?
I tore the ligaments in my left ankle when i was 18 and it still gives me grief today . I was trying to do a frontside 180 over a hip back in the day when boards weighed a ton . As I landed my back foot slipped off the board and got caught under it . It blew up like a balloon instantly .
Give someone some advice:
Skateboarding is a long and painful journey but well worth it .
Surfer Questionnaire
How old where you when you first began surfing?
20
What/Who got you into it?
I've always wanted to surf since I was a small lad but never got the opportunity . At the end of my first season after watching Big Wednesday for the millionth time i decided to drive in my van to Hossegor and not leave until i could surf .
What length board do you ride?
I've got a few for different conditions . A 6'6 for bigger , hollow waves . A wide fishy 6'2 for mushy waves,a twinfin 5 11' for small mushy waves and a 9 2' long board for summer waves .
What wetsuit do you use?
Quiksilver . A 3/2 in the summer in England and a 4/3 and boots in the autum and spring . I don't really get a chance to surf in the winter , it's too cold anyway .
Favourite surf spot in the UK:
Lynmouth , it only works when it's massive on the west coast . It's the longest left hander I've surfed in the UK .
Favourite surf spot in the World:
There are too many and still loads to be discovered . So far Ireland , Portugal and Indo .
Have you spent any seasons in one place? If so where?
I've spent a couple of summers camping in the forest near Hossegor . I was just learning to surf . We seemed to get really good swells concidering it was summer . I spent all summer surfing ,eating and lounging in a hammock . I wouldn't mind doing that again for a few years .
© Dan Milner
From James's Action Gallery.
What do you love about Surfing?
Early mornings , sun set's , a new swell after a flat spell , getting scared ,surfing in board shorts but most of all getting barrelled .
What's your goal within Surfing?
To get barrelled as much as possible and perhaps pop a few airs .
What aspect of Surfing gives you the most satisfaction?
Getting barrelled .
What style of Surfing best descibes your riding?
i don't really know I'm happy to pick some good waves and get a few turns in . I don't really have time to think about my style . I'd probably be horrified if i saw some video footage of myself .
Favourite move:
Getting Barrelled
What's you scariest Surfing moment?
Paddling out in Hossegor that first summer when it was solid 6 foot and realizing I was out of my depth . I tried to catch one of the smaller waves but just got pitched over the falls and held under for ages . As I came up for air another wave broke on top of me . I really thought I was going to drown . The sea eventually spat me out and I lay on the beach gasping for air and counting my blessings . i don't think i've ever been so scared in my life .
What's your top safety tips when surfing?
Know the rules in the water so you don't get in peoples way and endanger yourself . Don't take the sea lightly because it will kick your ass .
Give someone some advice:
Go surfing as much as you possibly can before you are too old .
Snowboarder Questionnaire
How old where you when you first began riding?
I was 17 .
What/Who got you into it?
I'd just got in to skateboarding and was on a skiing holiday with my parents in france . I saw a guy riding powder on a snowboard I'd never seen anything like it . It looked much easier than on ski's . I badgered my parents all week to hire me one and they finally gave in . It took me a couple of runs to get the hang of it , I've still got some photo's of that first day in a nice one piece C&A suit .
What sort of board do you ride?
I ride the TRS 162 it's an all round board good for both freeriding and freestyle . I like a medium flex not too stiff or too soft . Lib tech have got the nack of giving their boards a really fun pop .
What length board do you ride?
For general riding and freestyle i ride a 162 and for big powder day's and lines I ride a 167 .
Do you ride Regular or Goofy?
Goofy
Stance width?
I don't really know i've never measured it . I just set my board up to what looks right and then just ajust it slightly when I'm riding to get the perfect stance . I would guess around 21 inches .
Stance angles (front and back)?
Front 21 degrees and on the back minus 6 .
Favourite resort?
St Moritz . Expensive so there aren't too many ski bums raping the powder .
How many seasons have you done?
14
Where and when did you do your seasons?
I've spent 13 out of the last ten seasons in Chamonix and one in Les Arcs . After 13years i still get goose bumps driving up the valley into chamonix , looking at Mont Blanc and the Aguille de Midi .
What was your favourite trip and why?
Greenland with Johno , Dan Milner and Chris Moran. We stayed on an island on the west coast in a little fidhing community . We had our own helicopter parked outside your house and were exploring an unriddden area of Geenland . We got really lucky with the weather and the snow . We rode endless slopes of powder with no one else around and even got to name a few runs . Need i say any more .
What do you love about snowboarding?
Powder day's , natural tarrain , cold clear January mornings , speed , floating off a natural kicker . Looking back and seeing a masive spray hang in the air . Getting away from everyone and being in the mountains , it's a powderful place .
What's your goal within snowboarding?
To travel and discover new mountains and cultures , to ride a lot of powder . To keep on learning .
What aspect of snowboarding gives you the most satisfaction (powder, kickers, halfpipe, competitions, big air, cliff drops, etc.)?
Doing big mountain lines gives me most satisfaction . i like going to new mountains and finding interesting lines . Ideally a couloir followed by a fun sized cliff and a few lips to slash or air off . i find this a very creative part of snowboarding everyone see's a different line on the same mountain and you don't get a practice run you have to get it right first time and some times make it up as you go along .
What style of snowboarding best describes your riding (include a couple if you want)?
All Mountain Freeride witha bit of Freestyle chucked in .
What's your favourite trick?
No Grab half cabs .
What's your scariest snowboarding moment?
Seeing a friend get awept away in a massive avalanche and thinking he was dead . Thankfully he survived .
What are your top safety tips when riding?
Wear a helmet and be aware of snow conditions . Listen to your instinct.
What advice have you got?
Enjoy the mountains and have fun. Don't take it too seriously .
General Questionnaire
Where would you like to see yourself in the future?
Where I am now.
Realistically, what will you be doing in the future?
Snowboarding and Surfing
Who are your idols?
Gandi , the Dala Lama , Craig Kelly
What music are you into?
It sepends on what mood I'm in ,I've got a bit of everything in my collection apart from techno or house . At the moment I've been listening to Led Zepplin and Black Sabbeth .
What's your favourite book?
There are too many good books , at the moment it would have to be Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as thats the book I'm reading .
What's your favourite film?
Same there are too many amazing films one of my favourites is The Big Lebowski .
What's your favourite quote?
Shit Happens .
Best cocktail, shot or drink?
I don't really drink , but my favourite soft drink would have to be freshly juiced carrot , orange and apple juice .
What's your most prized possession?
My health .
Thanks to:
My Mum and Dad , anyone I've had the pleasure of riding with , Jasp and Dave at quiksilver for making my dream come true , Nissan for keeping the dream alive! Brett at DC , Ben White for setting me on my way , Stu Brass for doing this web site , Penny for all her suffering .
