Talking Boards With Mike
Tattoo Artist Mike Wilson showing off his new skateboard deck designs.
To celebrate the release of his new skateboard decks, Lucky sat down with artist Mike Wilson to pick his brain about skateboarding. 🛹
Lucky: Do you Skateboard?
Mike: I used to. I actually skateboarded before I tattooed. In the past, I worked at skate shops all over for about 12 years and even helped design Stone Edge Skate Park in South Daytona. Now I sometimes just roll around a bit but I don't hit the parks much.
L: Why did you stop skating?
M: I left skating because I was so busy tattooing that I didn't have time to skate. Then 10 yrs ago I broke my wrist, and that put a damper on things.
L: Tell me about the transition from skating to tattooing?
M: It was a pretty natural transition. While working at the Skate park, I was surrounded by cool graphics on the boards and merch and I had a lot of friends that I would skate with who were getting tattooed. Tattooing and Skating seem to draw like-minded crowds.
L: I didn't know you helped design a Skate Park! Where is it and what does it look like today?
M: Yea, Stone Edge Skate Park was on South Ridgewood Ave in Daytona from ‘89 -‘13 then someone else bought it in 2013 and maintained it as a park until 2019. I helped design it and It was pretty cutting-edge at the time but dealing with the insurance was a nightmare. It’s been destroyed since then and the last part was ripped out this yr (2023).
L: What was the inspiration for the new boards you just released?
M: A buddy of mine was doing a skateboard art show where he was displaying a collection of boards from the late 70's to early 2000's and a local magazine was working with him on the project. Unfortunately, 2019 happened and the project took a turn. Some friends and I decided to get them printed regardless. The teal board It is a tribute to a board released in the 80's that my friend Albert has an original of. It’s a pretty well-known board so anyone who was into skating during that time will recognize it.
