who's who - John Magnusson

John lernte ich besser kennen als ich vor einigen Jahren nach Schweden zog. Manchmal skateten wir eine kleine Session zusammen, aber oft fehlte ihm einfach die Zeit weil er schon wieder an einem neuen Projekt dran war. Von denen gibts genug in Malmö und die Jungs haben durch Hartnäckigkeit und Kooperation mit der Stadt viel erreicht. Es gibt zahlreiche wirklich exzellente Spots, erstklassige Events wie Bowlriders, Vert Attack oder Ultra Bowl oder sogar eine Fachschule an der man unter anderem Skateboarding als Studienfach nehmen kann. Locals arbeiten als Berater am Bauberater für Skateparks oder produzieren und vertreiben Viking Block poolcoping. In den meißten dieser Projekten hat John irgendwie seine Finger drin und es war Zeit mit ihm darüber zu sprechen. Die Originalausgabe dieses Interviews erschien mit einer umfassenden Story im Boardstein Skateboard Magazin Nr.47 unter dem Titel "Men at work in Sweden", welches man hier noch für einige Zeit bestellen kann. Jedenfalls hier das ganze nochmal aktualisiert für jedermann. Lange Rede kurzer Sinn - John Magnusson im Interview.

art: In Sweden you are quite known by now for your Skateboarding and engagement in everything that relates to it. Also in Germany you are known to many Bowl skaters, for all others how would you introduce yourself?

John: John Magnusson 35 years old. Been skating for 22 years (I think). Working fulltime with skateboarding at Bryggeriet, Malmo skateboard organisation. (bryggeriet.org)

art: When and how did you get in touch with skateboarding?

John: Tried my friends board at our summerhouse. This was around 1987. Liked it and just kept on....can`t`stop.... Around 1990 they built a big wooden skatepark (biggest in Europe at that time) where I lived (Skara sommarland). A lot of pros came by and it was a really inspiering time.

art: Sweden is much less populated than for example Germany. How do you think does this affect the skateboarding scene here?

John: It`s a tight scene...and everybody knows whats happening. The skatescene is`nt good all over the country...but we have a good skateboardmag (Giftorm) that keeps it together good I think.

art: Do you think the long tradition of Swedish skateboarding is still influencing the scene today? If yes in which way?

John: We have a lot of older skateboarders that keeps inspiering the younger....The young may not know it now...but they will understand, bit by bit...To me it`s fantastic to see a 45 year old skateboarder keep on shreeding and charge to max....Then you know you can do this for a long time... It`s importand to spread the whole spectum of skateboard...from freestyle to megaramp....everything is cool!!!

art: There are many good Swedish skaters around which may not be represented in European Skateboard Media as they should be. Which ones are your favourite ones and why?

John: It`s a lot of good dudes out there... Pontus Alv of course, Daniel Hakansson, Mattias Svensson, Snooken, Oskar Rozenberg Hallberg, Jocke Olsson, Eddie Lindqvist, Fernando Bramsmark, Per Mag, Jan Loften,

art: I saw you first time skating in Summer 2006 in the new built Stapelbäddsparken during a evening session. I thought who the heck is this guy? One year later you got 2nd in Bowlriders. Would you care to participate in these kind of events if they were not in your local spot?

John: Probably not... I don`t travel much...have problems to sleep when I`m away..hehehehe. We try to create a scene in Malmo so we don`t have to travel anywhere...just stay home and skate... If I were at a contest I probably would attend...but it`s nothing I struggle hard for...

art: Why is a guy like you not riding as a formal pro for big companies?

John: You have to work if you want to be a pro....Traveling, filming, be out taking fotos...I`m not so much into that...I just want to stay home and skate and hang out with my family....(girlfriend Linda and son Hugo 3 and doughter Hilda 0,5 years old). I put in a lot of work into Malmo skateorganisation and skatescene....To be able to work with skateboarding is almost like being a pro....hehehehehe

art: For many people outside Sweden Swedish Skateboard culture is a lot associated to the style of Pontus Alv. In fact many of the Malmö locals had their apperance in the movie "Strongest of the strange". Do you think this movie reflects what was going on in your scene lately?

John: Yes I do....we are really into creating our own stuff and keep on developing the scene....we want to build stuff no ones built before... and make people come to Malmo and explore.....We have fantastic connection with the city and they really like what we do. They know that we put Malmo on the map and therefor they keep supporting our work. Now we got 3 good concrete skateparks and a beutiful indoorpark...we have a lot of more stuff coming up...you have only seen the beginning...

art: Can you describe the scene? Is it very homogeneous or rather scattered into street, vert, oldschool ect...

John: We got it all...and we at Bryggeriet (skateboardorganisation) work hard to keep it like that... People need to realize that everything is cool with skateboarding...The last 3 years we have a really good oldschool scene going on....It`s because of Stapelbäddsparken.. they have theire own website (oldbastardsmalmo.se) and does own events and stuff....that was one of the ideas with the park...to get people back into skating and together build for the future...

art: I guess you are a proud Malmö resident. Did you live in Malmö all your life?

John: I moved to Malmo in 1998....Thats the year when Bryggeriet opened up...When I entered that  place I just wanted to be a part of that whole thing....I knew that it was something unique...BUT now I just moved to Stehag, a small Village 30 min outside Malmö. We have a small skatescen with a small skatepark. Check here:  "stehagskaters.blogspot.com". Hopefully we have a lot of stuff coming up here. My house has a big backyard….hehehehehe

art: Every one here hears a lot about Malmö these days. A lot of events like Bowlriders and Skatepark projects are going on. What is special about Malmö?

John: It`s because we have a really good skateboardorganisation (bryggeriet.org). We are cool dudes that a blessed to work with skateboarding all day long...All we do is keep developing the scene...We have also managed to create a good cooperation with Malmo city... They like what we do and keeps supporting us...It`s good for marketing the city....... We aslo have other creative ones like Pontus Alv, Concreatures....we`re all 110% skate..

art: You managed to built several great parks in Malmö. Are these a direct result out of the many DIY projects that were happening here?

John: I guess it all comes together as a good skatescene.....there is a lot of people skateboarding thanks to all the projects...... When the city realize that , they want to do more....It`s always a lot of people at the skateparks...if you compare to all the emty football fields..then it`s easy to understand where to put the money!!

art: The DIY projects lead to some conflicts with the city officials. Now they seem to be very supportive. How did you manage this tournaround?

John: Again, thanks to Bryggeriet and the good realtionship with the city...it also has to do a lot with the right person at the right place...

art: Do you think that a park like yours raises local skateboarding on an international platform? Is this good or bad for the scene?

John: That was one of the main ideas with the big park...let people know about our scene...build something extra ordinary so they would come here and explore...
We knew that if we could create that, there would be easier to build more stuff...
Where I grew up there was a good skatepark with a lot of pros passing by... I know what that gave me as a kid...there for I wanted to give that to everyone else... I don`t want this to stop..ever!!!!!

Smooth transfer in Stapelbäddsparken.

art: There is an amazing project called "Bryggeriets Gymnasium" where boys and girls can learn dance, skateboard and media. What is the concept and who are the heads behind that?

John: We created that as a support to our indoor skatepark Bryggeriet. We had an idea to get a school going that could help bring in money to the organisation. The school is a separate organisation with teachers and everything. They do a great job!

art: Asked what your best result ever was you replied "my child". This shows what your family means to you. Where in the list will appear Skateboarding?

John: My son Hugo is 3 years old now and Hilda is 0,5 years old....It`s been a big change in my life...Hugo, Hilda and Linda are the best.....skateboarding is also very importand to me and together it makes my life complete.... Love every second if it!!!

art: Where do you see skateboarding move in the future and what will be your part in it?

John: Skateboarding is here to stay forever... we will see new mind blowing parks being built...new riders blow our minds....I really like where it`s gone now....it`s complete again......Next thing is pads....It`s coming back......people will start shreading the new parks with pads and take it to the next level....

Fs Tailslide beim 2008er Bowlriders in Malmö.