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We had a chance to interview Brandon Westgate just before Emerica dropped MADE and Zoo York released their ZY Kings series. Check the exclusive Q&A below accompanied by some photos via Sean Cronan.

 

Q&A:

NYSB: So let’s dig a little into your past Brandon… you grew up skating the Brooklyn Banks, can you remember your first time ever skating the banks?
BW: I don’t really remember the first time. Steve Rodriguez loved that place so he would take me there a bunch. It was sick.

NYSB: Zoo York has an iconic legacy, how did it influence you growing up skating?
BW: It is East Coast skateboarding. Always has been. Always will be.

photo: Sean Cronan

photo: Sean Cronan

NYSB: Who were your favorite original Zoo crew members?
BW: There’s been so many great ones. I liked them all. They started Zoo. I think Ricky’s Oyola is my favorite of all the early guys.

NYSB: Do you have any classic ZY gear or memorabilia stashed away?
BW: Yeah, I have a bunch of stuff. Old clothes, board series, photos from trips. It’s all great memories.

photo: Sean Cronan

photo: Sean Cronan

NYSB: Mixtape goes down in the history books, who had your favorite part… did you have a favorite trick?
BW: Robbie Gangemi. The grind up the wheel chair bump.

NYSB: RB Umali just named your ollie up the loading dock on Canal St as one of his top 5 tricks filmed ever, were you stoked?
BW: Thanks, RB. Yeah, of course I’m stoked. RB has filmed so much insane stuff over the years. I’m honored to get in his top 5.

NYSB: What’s your take on the new ZY Kings series?
BW: I’m super stoked on it. It’s just for skate shops. The designs are mellow and how I like them.

photo: Sean Cronan

photo: Sean Cronan

NYSB: Have you ever had an opportunity to skate with any of the ZY Kings? Any good stories?
BW: I went on a [Thrasher] King of the Road with Ricky. We all almost got arrested trying to skate this pool in the middle of nowhere, but they let us go.. Not much of a story (laughs), but at the time I thought we were all going to jail and weren’t gonna make it to the end of King of the Road.

NYSB: Lastly, what do you have in store for 2014?
BW: Just filming a bunch. Working on a Kings project right now. Looking forward to that coming out soon.

photo: Sean Cronan

photo: Sean Cronan

Thanks to Brandon and Ben at Zoo for making this interview happen. If you haven’t watched Brandon’s part in the Emerica MADE video do so now, Brandon kills it and peep the ZY Kings series here.