1. Name / Instagram Account?
Jonah Thurrell / wettuna3
2. Age?
46
3. Where are you from?
Dogtown LA. We moved to New England when I was 7, then I moved back to California when I was 18.
4. What’s your history with skateboarding / What role does it serve in your life today?
My dad got me a Valtera from K-Mart in 1986 and I was hooked. Fully obsessed. I skated every day, and would skate ten hours days on the weekend. After high school I moved to San Francisco with my friends Rob Welsh and Nikhil Thayer. We all wanted to do the sponsored thing, and it worked out for us all. Skating SF in the mid 90’s was insane. It was a dream come true. I ended up getting hurt pretty bad and couldn’t skate for a year. During that year my partying and drinking got out of control. I spend the next 20 years partying and not really skating. I cleaned my act up in 2013. I met my wife and moved to Canada with her. I started skating again in 2016. I met Dan Robinson and a crew of skaters my age. We started a DIY under a bridge and that is where I spend most of my free time. I skate as much as I can now. Probably about 3 to 4 days a week. Skating is therapy for me these days. Without it i go crazy, or crazier lol.
5. What’s your set-up, including shoes?
8.75 antihero, 9” ace, 53mm classics, vans.
6. What terrain do you like to skate?
Crusty DIY spots, curbs, banks, and sketchy garage ramps.
7. What stokes you out in skating?
Hanging with the boys having a couple beers, everyone getting a couple grinds in. Learning new tricks stokes me out as well.
8. What could be better in skateboarding?
Style!
9. What inspires you, in skateboarding, and life?
I get inspired by my friends, family, wife, and my dogs. Just doing better and working hard inspires me.
10. What bands/music do you like?
Dinosaur Jr, CCR, Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Guns N Roses, Black Sabbath, the list goes on…
11. What makes you laugh?
My French bulldog makes me laugh everyday! My wife cracks me up. Joking around with friends. I like this comedian Mark Normand (he used to skate) dude is funny as hell. The absurdity of life makes me laugh.
12. Favorite books/movies/tabloids?
Bukowski books, Jim Harrison books. Wedding Crashers, Breakfast Club, Outside Providence, North Shore, Point Break, Barfly. The list goes on for movies…
13. Major injuries?
Broke my arm in half and had a plate and screws put in, broken thumb with metal pins. Tore my triceps tendon clean off the bone and had 2 surgeries for it. About 12 different broken bones in total.
14. Outside of skating, any other passions/interests?
I like to build skateboards and surfboards. I love to surf. I love travelling. My wife and my dogs are my passions.
15. Skating as a kid vs. skating as an adult over 40…talk about the differences and similarities.
When I was a kid I had endless energy and stoke. I had the goal of getting sponsored. That kind of ended the fun for me. Nowadays it’s just pure fun. I can get a good rush just doing a few slappys, or some days I’ll try something new for hours until I land it. I love that rush. I loved that rush as a kid too. Skating with your crew is similar now to when I was a kid. You need that camaraderie.
16. Favorite skate videos?
Hocus Pocus, Life video, Streets On Fire, Reason for Living, first two Plan B videos. I like the GX1000 videos nowadays.
17. Favorite skaters?
Julian Stranger, Sean Sheffy, Natas, Mike Carroll.
18. Favorite skate graphics?
Antihero and Krooked. Worst skate graphics? New Powell stuff.
19. Who should we interview for the next episode of the Zero Club?
James Kelch
20. Last words?
Thanks for the interview. Skate or die!
