Photos and Words by Ethan Messina

Jonathan Wilson needs no introduction, no, wait, yes he does, I was thinking of someone else. While most of Raleigh is being blown up for its spots and skaters as of lately, Jonathan has been silently ripping through the streets with little warning. Not only is he one of my good friends, but he skates like no other. Seeing spots differently than the average skater. I’m not putting him on a high pedastal and saying that he’s better than everyone for this, but what i am saying is I admire the fact that all the warmup he needs to skate is a little techno.

Lets start with the basics…how old are you and where are you from?
-Just turned 20 December 28th. Born and raised in Raleigh, NC

What got you into skateboarding?
-Well basically I was 9 or 10 at the time, I was going to see a movie at the theater down the street from me and I saw a guy ollie a 6 stair over a shopping cart for like 10 minutes. My good friend Kevin skateboarded too, so I thought that I’d give it a try. I got a wal-mart board for Christmas that year and that very day I broke the truck when I was trying to ollie up a curb. Then a couple of days later, I got a new board; World Industries, Gullwing trucks, Black Panthers and some Spits. It all started from there.

So what have you been up to lately?
-Just trying to get some pictures for this interview. Chillen on break from school, cleaning and painting my room for the first time in years.

Ahh home for break, anything worth telling about since you’ve been back?
-I found out I live in the hood now. Not that I moved, but there’s been 3 people busted for drug dealing right down the street from me and a dozen or so house burglaries. My neighbor said that she saw someone hiding out in my tree house the other night before I got back. You can be sure, I went and booby-trapped that sucker.

So back at school, I hear that the skating is a no-go. How’s that?
Uhh it sucks, there’s some hidden jewels up there that you really gotta plan out to skate. As for rolling around with my friends, you can’t really do that. You get stopped really quickly because its such a small town and skating is illegal there.

So what’s the deal with the skate park there?
-We had one, but then the city got a security guard to enforce pads and everyone stopped going there. Then the town felt like they shouldn’t be paying an officer $40k a year to sit in his car when no one was skating. So the city had a big debate about the park and officially decided to just move the park to another town. Now, the next nearest park is in Wilkesboro, which is like 30 minutes down the mountain (Boone).

Got any plans for the new year?
-I’ve got a trip planned for Charlotte, NC for a couple of days and I’m hoping to make it down to Atlanta soon.


Is that your new years resolution?
-No I actually didn’t make one, probably because I wouldn’t carry through with it anyways. I think they’re cool but only if you could stick with them. But that never happens.

So if you could have a resolution, what would you want it to be?
-I want to get a job but I don’t even know if that’s a resolution, I would say just to stay positive. Haha I heard that from a friend. I like it, so might as well borrow it.

Do you have any video parts coming out soon?
-There’s a possibility that I might in Kyle Messina’s video.

Any ideas on when its to be released or what its called even? I’ve heard names thrown around but nothing definite.
-Dude, I have no clue. He likes to keep things on the down-low. I’m not sure that I’ll have a full part, cause I don’t have very many tricks on film as of lately.

Aside local videos, is there any video parts that you’ve been stoked on lately?
-There’s a lot, I just re-watched P.J. Ladd’s part in Wonder Horrible Life, and that’s dirty. The Powell video, Fun was good too.


So if you’re not skating, what do you do in you’re free time?
-If I’m at school I normally play soccer or snowboard, but now that I’m in Raleigh for break it’s been a little more laid back, just seeing old friends. I just like venturing around town, finding cool little spots around that most people wouldn’t know about. Like haunted houses, overlooks of downtown, underground tunnels that go under lakes and stuff.

Adventuring is good sometimes, find any new spots on accident?
-Yea I found like a pyramid spot and a fun little ride up rail that goes on a slant from the ground to the ceiling.


You mentioned music to me earlier today, what have you been listening to lately?
-I’m all over the place, all kinds of techno, ASG, Jay-Z’s hit the ipod, I really don’t know. Whatever is on shuffle at the time. haha

That’s cool, it looks like you got some things to get busy on this year. Last question, Ben & Jerrys or Goodberrys?
-I mean Ben and Jerry’s for sure, that’s where my loyalty is. I worked there for 2 years. But my real allegiance is with Briars and those buy one get one free deals up the street haha. I’m an ice cream fanatic. Ice cream and Krispy Kreme donuts.