Level vibes with Trini Skater Justin de Verteuil
As a Trini skater with a French name, there’s obviously a lot more to Justin de Verteuil than meets the eye. His journey began deep in the mountains of Port-of-Spain, where he learned to skate on an old fiberglass board that had rollerskate wheels. Justin now lives and shreds in Canada (just like our boy, fellow Trini skater, Matty Stollmeyer), but he would never forget where he comes from.
From skating to meditating, Justin de Verteuil chilled with Adrenaline Sun and gave us his way of enjoying life.
How long have you been skating?
Well, I’ll be 21 this August and I’ve been skating since I was 13.
Gotta ask about your last name?
My family has relatively deeps roots in Trinidad, the settlers that left France in 1795 during the French Revolution and went to become the new inhabitants of Trinidad.
What is the best thing about skateboarding in Trinidad?
The vibe is just right, I’d trade in the tailor-made cities and skateparks of Canada for the lime and ole’ talk at home any day.
How often do you skate?
I skate most days now, a little gap here and there when the body starts to ache but no more than a few days if I can help it. I run in cycles, sometimes I’m super hyped on skating, sometimes I like to focus my energy behind the scenes.
Where is your favourite spot to skate in Trinidad?
Favourite spot is definitely the warehouse, thats like a second home. For street spots its Nedco, long white ledges all around at different heights.
If you had a magical skateboard that could grant you one wish, how would you improve the Trinidad skateboarding scene?
If I had a magical skateboard? I’d have core skateshops set up across the island carrying strictly skate products. I believe unity is key to the growth of any scene, and a skateshop is a home for skateboarders, it’s a workplace, where the sessions are planned, where stories are told and memories stored. It allows you somewhere outside of actually skating to still feel like a skateboarder, which is difficult with a struggling scene. I was lucky enough to be around for the two core shops, Liberty and 868 skateshop, definitely always felt a sense of belonging in there. Much respect to IOS and Bombora our two providers at the moment, without them we would be in a mess.
Regular or goofy?
I am goofy footed.
Did you ever have a favourite skateboard?
Ha ha… Yeah, definitely. I’ve got them sitting around somewhere, my first board, an old black label from my cousin, two decks that belonged to one of my best friends who I shared my first days of skating with and an old toy-machine that had an amazing illustration of Billy Marks holding a bird beneath it.
What was the first trick that you ever landed?
First trick? Tricks are for kids, ha ha… but it was a shove-it and took two tries. Not really into the tricks just down for the vibe.
Ever skated outside of TnT?
Yeah, I took a late night session through downtown Boston last spring, Barbados although it was cut short by a broken toe, and Canada where I go to school.
One of Justin's Drawings
One of Justin's Drawings
Other than skateboarding are there any other adrenaline pumping activities that you do?
I occasionally go trail riding or running, great way to strengthen your legs but terrible on my ankles. Stretching and meditation, a different kind of adrenaline.
When you are not on your board, where can we find you?
You can usually find me in a nearby spring or just getting lost outside, and I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. Between the ages of 15 and 17 skateboarding took a backseat to music which was a great period because now I’ve been blessed with another form of expression and I jam regularly. This summer I began volunteering on a small permaculture farm (look it up, the future of food) which brings me great joy and I’ve begun my own home garden.
Any last words?
I ask for everyone to begin their own journey in self discovery and begin a road to happiness. Live for yourself, respect your neighbour and honour the creator, but most of all skate and have fun!
