Prior to the 2010s, New York City’s skateboarding scene, while always strong locally, wasn’t making huge waves globally. Then, a shift happened. Independent crews, like the now-iconic Bronze 56k, began to gain traction through YouTube and social media. Josh Wilson emerged as a prominent skater from this scene, eventually going pro for Quasi. Known for his powerful and stylish skating, he doesn’t rely on gimmicks or an artsy persona, letting his skills speak for themselves. If you’re unfamiliar, check out his early parts in Solo Jazz or Trust to see his talent in action.
We rarely hear in-depth interviews with Josh, so with his recent addition to the DC team, it felt like the perfect time to delve into his experiences, his thoughts on the industry’s changes, and his life. Let’s shed some light on the enigma that is Josh Wilson.
You come across as a straightforward skater. Have you ever considered a gimmick, like dying your hair?
[Laughs] I actually did bleach my hair with some friends once, inspired by Peter Smolik’s boardslide where he puts his hands on his hips. It wasn’t for a gimmick, more like a “now or never” kind of thing. But no, I’m not about adding unnecessary flair. I grew up believing skaters should just skate, not rely on things like spiked hair or chokers to get noticed.
I think if I were starting out today, I might feel pressured to have a gimmick to stand out. I got into the industry right before that shift. A couple years later, it might have been much harder without an online persona or some kind of gimmick. I hate Instagram [laughs].
It feels like you came up with the Bronze crew, who were part of NYC’s resurgence in the early 2010s.
Yeah, I think I just got lucky with that. Dick [Rizzo] and I had been skating together since we were kids. When I moved to New York for school at SVA, he’d come visit and stay with me all the time. The scene in New York was smaller then, you knew everyone who skated in the whole city. I remember seeing PJ Ladd at the old LES park because he lived here around 2012-13. It was like, “Damn, PJ skates here? That’s sick.” Now, I don’t know half of the kids I see at the park.
How would you describe Peter [Sidlauskas], one of Bronze’s founders? He seems mysterious.
He could be a dark-humor comedian who makes skits. He used to make insane skits, but deleted them from YouTube. He’s dry and awkward when you don’t know him, but hilarious once you do.
Bronze is still pretty small. It’s just Peter, Pat [Murray], and Billy McFeely who handles sales. It’s cool that people don’t really know about Pat, he co-runs the brand with Peter. Pat does a lot of the groundwork, like getting opinions on designs and music. This lets Peter focus on the creative side. Pat also draws a lot of the cool graphics.
What’s the difference between a Quasi trip and a Bronze trip?
Bronze trips are way more chaotic [laughs]. Way more drinking and destruction. On a Quasi trip, we’re having fun and drinking but it’s more controlled and we’re more likely to do extracurricular activities, like throwing shopping carts off of parking garages. Bronze trips are more like, skate, BBQ, drink, party more at the hotel.
Have you ever destroyed a hotel room like a rock star?
Yeah, of course. I’m a big A-lister [laughs]. We destroyed a hotel room on a Bronze trip to Texas. It was the first night and things got out of hand. The hotel claimed they needed a hazmat suit to clean it.
What did they charge you?
They tried to charge Peter $4,000 for damages, but nothing was really broken besides the ironing board. The TV worked, it was just super dirty. Maybe one TV was broken [laughs]. We just had chicken wings, pasta, a ton of beers, and probably smoked weed. Nothing too serious, maybe some shaving cream on the walls.
Any good Wes [Kremer] stories since he’s been in recent Bronze videos?
He only travels with a small backpack. On a ten-day trip, he slept on the floor almost every night, even on the porch a couple of times. He has a basic cell phone without internet, an iPad for emails, and an iPod for music. It’s wild.
Now that you’re on DC, are you skating full-time or do you still need a side job?
I still need a side job. It’s New York, it’s crazy expensive [laughs]. I’m an event producer for a tech company. I’m also getting older, so I’m trying to save money for the future. I don’t want to live in squalor forever.
Was going to SVA for photography worth the money?
Probably not. I wouldn’t go if I could do it again. I would have studied something different because I think I would have continued photography either way. I learned a lot and it helped my creative instincts, but I should have studied something that could actually make money, like marketing or physical therapy for skaters, because no one does that.
What’s the story behind the spot in the new DC ad, that abandoned building?
It’s an abandoned military base. There are guards that patrol the area. You’re allowed to walk around, but not inside the building. Hurricane Sandy flooded the place years ago, creating the wooden wave on the floor. I actually had COVID while I was skating there and didn’t even know it. I felt weird from being in an asbestos-filled building for four hours [laughs].
Any gear hacks or rituals?
I microwave my chunky DCs for 30 seconds a few times to break them in. Otherwise, they take a week to feel normal. I don’t know how [John] Shanahan does it. I used to superglue my shoes to make them last longer. I would religiously skate éS Accels and glue all the seams. I would tie the laces and glue them so they wouldn’t rip. My mom didn’t want to buy me shoes often. I would maybe get a pair every couple of months.
When I skated canvas Old Skools, I would cut a square piece of a MetroCard and glue it inside the shoe to cover the ollie hole. A MetroCard is this weird plastic that would never rip.
“I don’t care about the praise of other people. Skating is just for me. It’s not for anyone else really. I don’t need validation.”
Any skate superstitions?
No red top boards, ever. It’s a common one. I’ve had it ingrained since I was 11. Quasi purposely doesn’t make red tops. Sometimes they might be kind of pink, but I still won’t skate them.
Do you get nervous about people’s reactions at skate premieres?
Not really. It’s done, so I can’t do anything about it. I don’t care about the praise of others. Skating is for me. I don’t need validation. I’m going to skate regardless.
Do you think there was a positive side to the hazing and gatekeeping in the old days of skating? Is it missing now?
I agree. Not that people are soft now, but everyone is so comfortable that there’s no room for learning. You need someone to tell you that a willy grind is not cool, or you’re not going to know. You need that historical knowledge to guide you.
Do you think pros are afraid of coming off as mean nowadays?
Yeah, I think the internet has made people feel too comfortable. They see a person online and think they know them. I’ll work with kids, and they’re immediately comfortable with me. I’m like, “You don’t know me like that.” Even if I wasn’t a pro skater, people feel too comfortable because the world is seen as a safe place, which is fine, it’s just totally different.
Was there some beef between Supreme and Bronze riders back in the day?
Dick [Rizzo] was wearing a Bronze shirt at Tampa AM, and Kevin Bradley was giving him crap about it. I’ve never even talked to the guy. I don’t know why there would be beef. Chachi and Ben [Kadow] fought at Sean [Pablo]’s shoe release party, and Austyn Gillette broke it up [laughs].
Your dad is an Ironman, right?
Yeah, he’s an ex-triathlete and Ironman. He’s 61 and trains people for marathons and Ironmans.
Are your parents hot?
[Laughs] Girls think my dad is attractive, but they’re pretty average. They look young for their age, just normal-looking white people.
Have you considered modeling with your larger collar size?
I don’t think I’m cut out for it. He’s taller and skinnier than me [laughs].
Has your dad given you any tips on skating longer or harder?
Not really. I think he thinks it’s different. He wants me to bike more or do the Ironman thing. Maybe someday, but he didn’t start until he was 45, so I have time. It’s similar to skating, both self-motivated. I have to go skate or bike 80 miles. Nobody is telling you to do it.
What’s the most mafia thing you’ve heard happen in Jersey?
My dad hiked in the woods by my grandma’s house and said he saw a body hanging from a tree once. He’s not a liar, so I take his word for it. It was the ’70s. He told me while we were fishing.
Are you an avid fisherman?
Not really. I like it, but I don’t do it all the time. I used to after school because I lived by a reservoir. It’s surprisingly similar to skating. You go to spots, read the spot, and then try to land your trick or get a fish. You could try for three hours and fail, or get it in 20 minutes.
“What basketball player is sleeping on the floor and then going to try and play in the NBA? No one.”
What advice do you have for people in their 20s?
Have fun! It’s the best time of your life. Go fall off for six months. Don’t skate and figure other stuff out. You can always come back to skating. Opportunities might not. My 20s were great, skating, traveling, feeling like I had a handle on myself. Good times, living cheap, making it work. I can’t do that anymore.
Yeah, sleeping on the floor sucks eventually.
I don’t mind it now, but if you’re skating for a week and sleeping on the floor, that doesn’t make sense. No NBA player is sleeping on the floor and trying to play in the NBA [laughs].
Do ABDs matter to you?
They do, but I care less now. If you know it’s ABD, don’t put the footage out. It doesn’t benefit anyone. Skating should be about progression, like an ollie to a kickflip. I don’t want to see the same kid wallie the same spot. Be original. You can do it.
I know people don’t watch videos all the time, and I forget things too, but you have a responsibility to not be dumb. If you want to be interesting, do new things.
“If you know something is ABD after you do it, just don’t put the footage out. You have to respect what’s come before you.”
But, if you want to skate somewhere like Pyramid Ledges, you have to do a novelty or ugly trick.
Then don’t skate there anymore [laughs]. Don’t beat a dead horse. The spot has millions of tricks already. Do it somewhere else. Doing it at Pyramid Ledges isn’t doing anything for anyone. You have to respect what’s come before you. If you pay homage, make it clear. If you just do it without knowing, I’m going to think you’re an idiot who doesn’t know Kalis did it already.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I don’t know. I like the balance of skating and working. I’ll be in the creative world. I like design, maybe I’ll be an interior designer or run a production company. And I’ll always skate. I’m addicted.
Is there something in skating you still want to do?
No, I feel like skating doesn’t owe me anything. I found my way into this world. I went to college, never thought I would be pro. Anything I get, I’m hyped on. A colorway, a photo in a magazine. I’m grateful.
I’m someone who skates, and nowadays, everyone is good. Who decides who goes where? Millions of people deserve to be on a cover or in an ad, so if you get chosen, be thankful.
Interview by: Ian Michna
Photos by: Mike Heikkila
