Brian Anderson (skateboarder)

Brian Anderson (born June 12, 1976)[1][2] is a professional skateboarder based in Queens, New York City.[2][3]

Brian Anderson
Personal information
Born (1976-06-12) June 12, 1976
Groton, Connecticut, U.S.
Sport
SportSkateboarder

Biography

Early life

Anderson is a native of the U.S. state of Connecticut.[4]

Professional skateboarding

Anderson attained professional status in around August 1998 while riding for Toy Machine[5] and was named Thrasher magazine's "Skater of the Year" the following year after he joined the Girl Skateboards team.[3] The magazine's editor-in-chief explained:

When I first saw him, it was a picture of a frontside bluntslide at Hubba Hideout. This barbaric dude that was obviously larger than life. He just walked right into the spotlight from working 70 hours as a line cook, to being the hottest thing in skateboarding.[6]

On August 23, 2013, Anderson's inaugural Nike SB signature model shoe the "Project BA" was launched in New York City, US. The event was held at the Ludlow Studios Gallery in the Lower East Side and heavy metal band Unlocking the Truth provided the musical entertainment for the attendees.[7] Nike SB designer Fabricio Costa used sketches that were drawn by Anderson to create a skate shoe with a "runner-like upturned toe" that is designed specifically for flip tricks.[8]

Sponsors

As of January 1, 2016, Anderson is sponsored by Anti Hero Skateboards, Nike SB,[7] Independent, Labor Skateboard Shop, Spitfire,[9] and Bones.[10]

Personal life

In September 2016, Anderson came out as gay, saying that it was something that he knew from a young age.[11] Anderson revealed that he was "totally scared" as a young adult, and chose to hide because he thought it would have a negative effect on his career[12] and that it would be dangerous to talk about in the macho skateboarding world.[11] He hopes to encourage others to come out with the message "it gets better." [13]

Art

Anderson is an amateur artist and has contributed graphics for Girl's skateboard products.[2][14] In 2013, Anderson revealed his intention to initiate his own creative skateboard venture as part of his departure from Girl:

Throughout my career I have valued sharing my creative output with the companies that have supported me, and I knew that one day I would want to direct this energy toward a project of my own. That time has arrived. Although it has been a difficult decision, I'm looking forward to this new endeavor.[15]

Company owner

During a period when established riders left board companies that they had been with for lengthy periods of time—for example, Jason Dill's departure from Alien Workshop and Jerry Hsu's from Enjoi—Anderson amicably resigned from the Girl skateboard company to commence his own skateboard deck brand, entitled "3D Skateboards." In response to a question about the situation at Girl prior to his departure, Anderson explained:

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the way things were going with Girl. That’s why it was hard to go through with everything because we’re all really close friends and I love those guys so much. I just felt like I wanted to do something for myself, instead of in a few years realizing that I can’t jump down stairs when I’m 45 ...[4]

Following his decision to leave Girl, Anderson revealed in a later interview that he "went to LA to talk to Girl about it and told them I’m getting older and I wanted to do my own thing. And it wasn’t fun for any of us ... I just wanna convey how much I love those guys, there was absolutely nothing wrong and I’m glad they are my friends."[4] Anderson left the Girl team on May 16, 2013 after over a decade with the company.[3][15] As of September 1, 2013, Anderson remains on the Fourstar clothing brand that is distributed by Girl.[16]

Initially, Anderson recruited Alex Olson, who left Girl shortly after Anderson, and Austyn Gillette, who left Habitat to join the company of his close friend that "would be fun at this point in life."[4] However, Olson departed shortly afterwards to start his own board company, as 3D "just kinda looked like Girl," and Anderson and Olson "had two different visions."[17]

Anderson partnered with fellow former Toy Machine pro and skateboard company owner Brad Staba of the SkateMental brand, with 3D's distribution also administrated by SkateMental's proprietor, Big Time Distribution. A rumor that implicated Nike, Inc. in the development of the company was refuted by Anderson in an August 2013 interview, "Nike doesn’t do hardgoods. It’s a huge corporation, that’s not where they’re at or I’m at, they are just my awesome shoe sponsor. We are doing this on our own, with our own funds and on our own terms ... they [Nike] got my back."[4]

The first catalog for 3D was released in September 2013.[18]

3D ceased operations in 2015 due to difficulties resulting from Anderson's residence in New York City while Big Time Distribution was headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. In October 2016, it was announced that he had joined Anti Hero Skateboards[19]

Contest history

Anderson won the World Cup of Skateboarding title in Dortmund, Germany, in 1999.[2][20]

Awards

Anderson was Thrasher Magazine's "Skater of the Year" in 1999.[21][22]

See also

References
  1. "Brian Anderson Profile". Skately. Archived from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  2. Brooks, Josh (19 November 2008). "The Full Brian Anderson Interview". ESPN. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  3. "Interviews: Brian Anderson". Caught in the Crossfire. 2004. Archived from the original on 10 January 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  4. Ian Michna (July 2013). "BRIAN ANDERSON DISCUSSES HIS NEW COMPANY, 3D SKATEBOARDS". Jenkem. Jenkem. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  5. "Interview: Brian Anderson". Transworld Skateboarding. 24 August 1999. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  6. Ed Fisher (25 March 2010). "brian anderson - thrasher soty (2003)" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  7. Blair Alley (29 August 2013). "NIKE SB PROJECT BA LAUNCH PARTY, NYC". TransWorld Skateboarding. GrindMedia. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  8. Brendan Dunne (16 August 2013). "Brian Anderson Details the Design of the Nike SB Project BA". Sneaker News. Liquidrice, Inc. Company. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  9. "Brian Anderson". CCS.com. CCS.com. August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  10. "Team". Bones Skateboard Bearings. Skate One. August 2013.
  11. Wong, Curtis M. (29 September 2016). "Professional Skateboarding Icon Brian Anderson Comes Out As Gay". Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  12. Portwood, Jerry (29 September 2016). "Legendary Pro Skater Brian Anderson Comes Out as Gay". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  13. Zeigler, Cyd (27 September 2016). "Pro skateboarder Brian Anderson comes out as gay to tell kids 'it gets better'". Outsports. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  14. CCSskatemedia (13 July 2012). "Behind The Design: Art By Brian Anderson For Girl Skateboards". YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  15. TWS (16 May 2013). "BRIAN ANDERSON LEAVES GIRL". Transworld Skateboarding. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  16. "Anderson". Fourstar. Crailtap. September 2013. Archived from the original on 7 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  17. Ian Michna (August 2013). "ALEX OLSON IS STARTING HIS OWN COMPANY". Jenkem. Jenkem. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  18. TWS (19 September 2013). "3D SKATEBOARDS FIRST CATALOG". TransWorld Skateboarding. GrindMedia. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  19. "A. Hero's Welcome: Brian Anderson Interview | the good problem".
  20. "Globe Shoes World Cup Dortmund, Germany July 8–11, 1999". World Cup Skateboarding. 1999. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  21. Sudyk, Bob (27 November 2005). "Hartford Is Their Heaven". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  22. "Anderson and Staba Sign with Savier". Transworld Business. 6 September 2000. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
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