Exclusive Interview: Brandon “Boner” Bonner (2017)

My introduction to Brandon Bonner was Natural Koncept‘s Josh Zickert who didn’t have a shortage of good things to say about him. It took about two minutes of talking to Brandon to see why. At 24 years old the dude is a true skate rat who has a good head on his shoulders. We talked skateboarding, his family as a priority (he and his girlfriend have a baby on the way), and where he wants to take the opportunities he’s been fortunate to have in his life. We went around lower Manhattan for a couple hours for this interview and I was impressed with how just about every block he found something to skate. We’d take a few steps and I’d be back behind the camera capturing a spur of the moment slaying of some spots I’d never even thought of skating. Check out the full interview and pictures of Brandon ripping below.

Name: Brandon Bonner
Age: 24
Current Location: Spotsylvania, Virginia

Is there a story to the nickname “Boner” or is that just a last name thing?
Really just a last name thing that caught on and just stuck.

Gotcha. Well congrats on becoming a dad are you looking forward to all that entails?
Oh yeah super hyped. Gonna have a little girl, teach her all the badass things in life.

That’s awesome. How do you see that affecting your skate career?
Still gonna go right on for it. Push it everyday and make it happen.

Who’s hooking you up right now?
Arizona Iced Tea, Natural Koncepts, Magic Bullet Shop and adidas through JZ flow.

How long have you been skating?
I started when I was seven years old, so around 16 years now.

What’s your favorite type of terrain to skate?
I love vert but right now I’m into jumping down gaps a lot more. I like skating rough spots and weird ass roll-ups. Spots where people are like “I’m not skating that” and then you’re able to pull something out of it gets me hyped.

What projects are you working on now?
A lot of different things. Just having fun doing it. One day I was messing around and did a pop shuvit down Love so that footage will be in my next part. Tour footage dropping every week on Transworld coming up. Going around to Vegas, LA, Kentucky and all over.

What’s been your favorite place you’ve visited so far?
I’d say Medellin, Colombia. That was one of the best trips ever. I’ve been to New York a lot, I really like it out here too.

What’s your go-to spots out here?
I really like the LES park to warm up. BQE is one of my favorites to wake up, grab a coffee and mess around at.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Right now from having a daughter. That’s really pushing me to take it farther.

Growing up what was your scene like?
It’s been like the same park for 17 years. St Clair’s Memorial Park in Virginia.

What’s a spot you would tell New Yorkers to visit and skate in your hometown?
Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia It’s got spots for days.

You’re in the van together for 30 days at a time riding across the United States together. You get to know everyone real well and how far you can push each other.

How long have you been on Natural Koncept and what’s it like being a part of that?
I’ve been on Natural Koncept for about seven years. It’s really wild to be a part of the Natural Koncept family because you always grow together. You’re in the van together for 30 days at a time riding across the United States together. You get to know everyone real well and how far you can push each other. It’s been amazing and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

You’re dropping a new part soon right?
Yep. I’m hoping for it to be all VX, bring it back to a nice grainy view.

What’s your role in the van, are you the driver, police, DJ…?
I’m usually the DJ but lately I’ve been exiled to the back of the van. Mainly for the fact that I’m easy to cramp in small places.

Josh Zickert: He’s a good shotgun rider. Good at navigating and bringing up the mood of the whole crew altogether.

Who all has been hooking you up in your skate career?
Shout out to Mark Eyestone for getting me in the game. Josh and the Natural Koncept family for holding me down, Arizona Iced Tea, adidas.

That’s sick. What’s your current setup looking like?
I ride an 8.5″ board, 5.8 Venture truck lows, bones wheels & reds bearings.

Do you have a favorite pair of adidas that you skate?
Definitely the Busenitz all day, everyday. I got my baby Mama in Busenitz [laughs]. It’s the boardfeel and the way it breaks in. The extended tongue helps avoid shinners. I really like the way the design is.

Definitely the Busenitz all day, everyday. I got my baby Mama in Busenitz

Enough said. So what’s next for ya after New York?
Coming through steady with Arizona Iced Tea snaps, I love big cans follow that shit haha. Skating my ass off basically.

Any shout outs or last words?
Shout out to my mama Dez, and to my baby being born August 22nd up in this joint hottest thing to hit the Earth. We about to make it happen!