This week Preston Pollard is featured in this photo taken by Brian Adams in Alaska and printed in The Skateboard Mag.
Preston Pollard is more than a fine dressed young man. He is also the reigning Alaska State Tanning Champion. But putting the titles and glory aside Preston maybe the hardest working skater the state has ever seen. I don’t mean to take anything away from all the other kids on the grind but Preston is hustlin’ 24/7.
Some people see that I’m talking about a skater and immediately think hustlin’ has a negative connotation. That’s ok because skating was better when they hated us but that’s not what i’m talking about with Preston. I’ve skated with preston for about ten years and he has always been hyped on it. Not the ordinary hype that just getting on a board gives you, rather you could see that Preston genuinely loved it and would fight for every minute he could be on his board.
Being a skater, meaning that is basically your job, and being from AK mix like oil and water. A few have done it but the odds are really stacked against them. That wasn’t acceptable to Preston. As you will read in the story, he is persistent and dedicated to following his dreams. Preston has carved out a niche for himself by being positive, upbeat, and talented. He has managed to do all of this while setting a great example for kids and sharing his faith.
Here’s what Preston had to say about the photo:
I was just featured in The Skateboard Mag this month! What a lot of people don’t know is that it has taken me years to get into this particular magazine. I met Grant Brittain, one of the best skate photographers in the world, at a Ollie contest when was I was 20 at ASR Trade Show in San Diego. After getting his card I looked at it and it said that he was the senior photographer and half Business owner of the Magazine. From that day forward I was persistent to get in to this magazine, I would email him any time I got new photos. He would tell me, nice photos but I have seen something like that before. I’m not going to lie I got discouraged.
This winter when I was in Anchorage I had an idea to Ollie over a creek but I didn’t know where I would do it until I found a perfect creek while driving. I came out a day early just to look at it and I was like wow I think it will work out. I ended up having some wood already but I bought some more wood just to make sure I got enough speed because I did not want to fall into the cold water. I didn’t tell many people of my idea because they would think I was nuts, so I just told my sister and photographer Brian Adams.
We came out to the creek at 10am and it took about an hour to set up all the wood for the ollie. I was so thankful I had my sister to help me haul all those pieces of wood. I had a plane to catch around at 3pm so I had to hurry if I was going to do it. Brian came around 11am and he had a face of “I hope you can do this” look. He set up his camera and all eyes were on me! It actually didn’t take me to long to get over the creek, the only problem was that it was just so cold, “my hands and feet were numb and my grip tape felt like ice”
I ended up making my flight and when I got to my destination I was emailing different magazines about using the photo. What you might not know is that I didn’t have any sponsors at this moment I wasn’t going ask The Skateboard Mag because I got so many no’s. I said to my self what the heck why not ask again! I’m happy I did because that night Grant got back with me and said he wanted to use my photo. I didn’t give up even though I got discouraged. I believe God’s timing is perfect, for whoever is reading no-matter what your dream is don’t give up. The response to your dream could be 24 hours way!
Here is the video meeting Grant after!
March 4, 2013 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: alaska, Anchorage, Brian Adams, Brian Adams Photography, creek ollie, Grant Brittain, Preston Pollard, skateboarding, The Skateboard Mag | Leave a comment
Blue and Gold 