I began skateboarding at the tender age of 8. I was given my first board by my babysitter, when she would not allow her 15 year old stepson to keep it, due to the dangerous nature of the contraption. The year was 1973, and the board was a solid oak Super Surfer with red clay Super Surfer loose ball bearing wheels and, single-action, non-adjustable D-bushing rollerskate trucks. Needless to say, I was stoked!

Being a hardcore skater through thick and thin led to many friendships especially during the the rise and fall of cement parks during 1978-1981. I rode for the "B" team of the Clayton Valley Skatepark until it's closure in 1980.

By 1983 I was the owner of my own vert ramp, which was later moved and became the H.P ramp in San Francisco. It was during this time I became sponsored by Alva Skateboards and representing them at contests like the Oceanside Pro-Am, Terror at Tahoe, Sacramento Streetstyle 2, Capitola Classic Streetstyle, and many other contests.

1985 and '86 saw my skating go back underground while I persued an education in graphic design but, my incessant couch touring in S.F. led Jim Thiebaud and Bryce Kanights to get me a part-time job at Thunder Trucks, where a new product, Spitfire Wheels were being developed. Needless to say, I was stoked!

I excelled at the company now known as Deluxe and watched it grow and change for 5 years. It was at Thunder Trucks that I put to use my skills at graphic design and shadetree automobile engineering to pioneer the low-truck, small mounting hole pattern that is still the Industry standard.

Fall of 1991 saw me leave Deluxe and undergo a major back surgery. After recovering, I set out for Southern California on Valentine's Day 1993. My good friend Chris "Slappy" Sutherland gave me a job and a purpose. I eventually reacquainted myself with the skateboard industry and began to search out a place for myself in skateboarding. In 1995, I put together a small skateboard company that landed me a job at a board manufacturer in 1996. It is also in 1996, that I was asked to judge while in Vancouver for the Slam City Jam. Feeling honored and a little nervous, I gave it a shot. Beginning in 1997, I was a regular panel judge and when the head judge position opened for 1998, I was given a reference by the current head judge, Sasha Steinhorst. With everyone's support (past and present) at WCS, I have tried to add onto what was already in place. I worked at the board manufacturer for two years, doing mostly marketing and sales work until the end of 1998. I was restless and wanted to work with developing skaters again. It was then that I got the prestigious title of team manager at the newly formed Dwindle Distribution. I was quick to notice that their riders were already developed, and that there wasn't much room for improvement. So I graciously handed the position over to my assistant, Tony Rodriguez who has done a fine job ever since.

Having worked deep in the industry for over ten years, and never having been to Europe before I thought that I would use this opportunity to finally do so. Thanks to Danielle, I worked the whole European Tour in 1999, and I will be forever in her debt. The trip was great! I spent my spare time in 1999 organizing an inaugural event now known as INVERT "The Vertical Sports Carnival" in which most of the WCS Staff and ranked pros participated in (thanks!). With so much attention on skateboarding from every direction it has been tough for me to decide where to focus my attention. It is the constant element of change that drives skateboarding, that has held my interest for over twenty five years now. It has been a blessing to have had a part in so much of that change. I am honored to be associated with the premiere sanctioning organization in professional skateboarding.

My other interests are performance motor vehicles, music, snowboarding and soccer.

e-mail shrewgy@wcsk8.com