Meet Sam Price, 32-year-old from Omaha, New Zealand.
Words by Kelli Bean / Photos by Sam Price
Hey Sam, thanks for doing this interview with me. I have seen you around the skim community over the years and wanted to check in to see how things are going in your neck of the skim world. I know I am not the only one curious how things are going.
Q: How long have you been skimming?
A: Kicked it off in 2008
Q: Are you a flatland rider, wave rider or both?
A: Both. I think you’re a fool if you don’t do both in NZ.
Haha, that’s pretty amazing NZ offers a rider the opportunity to skim both styles.
Q: What do you love about skimboarding?
A: Everything. It was that glide feeling when I started then it turned into the progression, the beach and the people!
Q: Nice. Who were your role models in the sport when you were first learning?
A: I used to froth on the Sacramento (California, USA) scene sooo hard. Plus what was happening around BC (British Columbia, Canada). Tenth St Bros (Bill Bryan and co) were a huge inspiration.
Q: What is your favorite trick(s)?
A: Ummmmmm probably any shuv grab for flatland, they just look good especially if you pop high and grab high. Some people don’t pop them that high and can grab them low but they don’t look as good. For the waves any tech trick (shuvs, bigspins etc) thrown in on a wave is sweet with me.
Q: Where do you normally skimboard?
A: I have a lot of really good skim at home. The beach changes a lot so we can get really good flatland and really good waves. It can also be terrible ha. I found a good wave skim spot really close to home a few months ago but haven’t quite got to know it yet as it’s only realistically accessible by boat.
Q: What have you done over the years to progress skimboarding in New Zealand?
A: Made affordable, high performance boards and put on events. Be contactable and put out info. There was a stage there were I did weekly forecasts, newsletters, everything!
I remember those newsletters. From my perspective watching you over the years, you have certainly done a lot for NZ skim.
Q: Describe the overall skim scene in New Zealand currently?
A: This is probably the part where people would like to disagree. It’s dead. It blew up on 2009 through to about 2011, had another little rise in say 2013 then has only gone one way since. I feel that the internet is just easier than going outside. The level of riding has gone backwards, no one wants to fall, no one wants to try. I think there’s less than 10 active skimmers that I know of. I feel sad about it as I basically invested my life into it and now I just come off negative about it. I just call it as I see it.
Q: That is unfortunate to hear. I suppose the contest scene is also dead then?
A: We used to run comps. We even had heats and judges but I haven’t run an event in a couple of years now. It’s just a lot of work for very little reward. I would like to think someone young would step up to the plate here and I would help but I feel I’m being optimistic.
Q: Do you see a future for skimboarding in New Zealand?
A: I don’t know as far as a scene but for myself I want to put out more content and more epic stuff. More winching, more everything.
Q: That’s awesome. How do you find your inspiration with being far from more populated skim communities?
A: It’s fun, I like the beach, that’s all the inspiration one should need.
So true!
Q: Tell us about OXS Enterprises.
A: Wellll it’s a long story. It started with the Skimboards and has since spread into screen printing, a lot of content creating and now I’m starting to make spearfishing equipment. Working on not working is the short version.
Q: What is it like running OXS Skimboards?
A: It is brilliant. I still get a hoot from selling boards. The high was seeing it growing and getting great feedback. The low is watching it go backwards. I would estimate my sales on my smallest board which is for kids under 50kg is about 10-20% of what it was which I feel says a lot.
Q: A lot of us would love to shape a skimboard, describe what you love about making boards.
A: Making something from your hands and bare materials and turning it into something functional that works.
Q: On a personal level, what are some of your 2018 skim goals?
A: I would like to do a lot more stuff with the winch. I can’t detail too much. Sshhhh.
Q: Haha, excited to hear more in the future. You are living the van life, how has this lifestyle supported your skim aspirations?
A: It’s way more fun than I thought it was going to be and I thought it was going to be a lot of fun. To be comfortable and have everything I need when I go away now is amazing. I used to forget half of my gear haha.
Q: Where would you love to travel to skim?
A: Mexico for sure. Looks like a lot of fun and it’s warm.
Mexico is amazing, you must go!
Q: Besides skimboarding, what makes you happy?
A: Life is good. If you make the right choices and be honest about what makes you happy then life is a wonderful thing.
Very true. It was great to meet you, Sam.
Q: Any last words as we wrap up this interview?
A: The people who support me especially my partner Dani are fantastic. The people who buy my product and watch my videos are great support. Mainly positive which is great. Everyone I talk to and spend time with, you guys are great!
Sam’s online stuff –
Website – Oxsenterprises.com
Personal FB |
OXS Enterprises FB |
IG | Twitter | YouTube