I chatted with Markalugz, a rad blader of the Jambinu Yamatji Nation, who farms 🧑‍🌾in Geraldton, Western Australia.
Q: I love your skating, because you are always playing with new ideas. It’s especially motivating because you’re usually doing it alone, in a rural area. How do you stay inspired skating remotely?
A: I grew up getting into blading through my older brother and his mates and so when they all stopped or moved away, by default I kinda just kept moving at my own pace, keeping in touch with a few mates in Perth and skating with them when I had the chance to visit.
I didn’t know about videos and magazines for so long. I guess technology has enabled me to relive my youth indefinitely.
Q: Wait, how old were you when you first saw a skate video?
A: Ah geez must’ve been 19. I picked up The Rain from Outer Limitz skateshop. Before that I had seen an IMYTA on VHS as a kid that my older mate brought around. Still to this day, I don’t know which one. I suppose I knew it was out there. I just had no idea of how, or the means of getting stuff back then.
Q: Do you think that the lack of exposure was kind of good for creativity, because you had to literally come up with most of your trick ideas?
A: In those days I was probably more so limited to what I could do physically, like all the basic foot positions and just sliding on a grind in general, which I didn’t think was possible. It made me ask myself “what else isn’t possible?” and to challenge myself like that.
Q: Were you always from Geraldton, and are you the only current blader of the Jambinu Yamatji nation?
A: I catch up with Guy Vaiciunus from time to time. Guy was one of the older crew back in the day who I mentioned moved away. He had a section in Away Without Leave and a write up in Rolla Mag.
Also there’s Mikail White who just came back to it but unfortunately he’s on the mend from an injury. Mikail had a clip in Seven Rats friends section.
Yeahhh we all work pretty physical jobs and long hours. It makes it hard to catch up with other people.
Q: You’re the only skater I’ve seen use an acknowledgment of country in their edit. For example, you introduce your Visceral section by highlighting that it was “FILMED ON WURUNDJERI AND NYOONGAR COUNTRY”, and emphasise that “SOVEREIGNTY HAS NOT BEEEN CEDED HERE IN AUSTRALIA.”
Should more Australian skaters do similar?
A: All skaters should 100%
Q: How did you get into farming?
A: I grew up on the farm and hated it. Probably because of the lack of connection thing. When I was old enough to build ramps and p-rails, I did that but still wanted the city life.
I’m still very attracted to urban environments for obvious reasons, but after the rounding out of my perspective that living in Melbourne gave me, I decided that the biggest impact I could have on stuff like climate change, growing populations and other existential issues that plague our generation was through farming.
The skate community will always be one swipe away and this in itself is huge for me in keeping balance in every aspect of my life. Just knowing that it’s there and being able to focus on a trick or a certain movement. That can recharge me and I can do that from almost anywhere without being tied to a post.
I have blading to thank for that — physical health, mental clarity, spatial awareness and even an understanding of how society functions in a weird way.
Q: Lastly, did you hear anything from Impala about your #sponserme tape?
A: I didn’t hear shit from Impala lol.
Leave a Reply