TOM KARANGELOV - OUT OF SYNC

SLAP One In A Million alumni Tom K’s skills have continued to grow since joining Zero as a flow rider. Tom’s straight forward yet mega smooth approach to skating are exemplary of how the newer breed of rippers can be one of substance and style, meanwhile avoiding the pitfalls of robotic trick execution and clip chasing. Tom K. just goes and goes and that works best for him because he rips and there’s nothing else to say but check out hate-hb.com and watch for him and the rest of the Zero crew in Cold War. If you get see Karangelov skate at a demo, introduce yourself and say hi on the sidelines. Tom’s a genuine person and his skating reflects this, big time.
Hometown: Huntington Beach CA
Stance: Goofy
Sponsors: Zero, Spitfire, Thunder, Jack’s Garage
- See more at: http://www.blackboxdist.com/?rider=tom-karangelov#sthash.JBnOmYw7.dpuf

SLAP One In A Million alumni Tom K’s skills have continued to grow since joining Zero as a flow rider. Tom’s straight forward yet mega smooth approach to skating are exemplary of how the newer breed of rippers can be one of substance and style, meanwhile avoiding the pitfalls of robotic trick execution and clip chasing. Tom K. just goes and goes and that works best for him because he rips and there’s nothing else to say but check out hate-hb.com and watch for him and the rest of the Zero crew in Cold War. If you get see Karangelov skate at a demo, introduce yourself and say hi on the sidelines. Tom’s a genuine person and his skating reflects this, big time. - See more at: http://www.blackboxdist.com/?rider=tom-karangelov#sthash.3Xw8AQeI.dpuf

SLAP One In A Million alumni Tom K’s skills have continued to grow since joining Zero as a flow rider. Tom’s straight forward yet mega smooth approach to skating are exemplary of how the newer breed of rippers can be one of substance and style, meanwhile avoiding the pitfalls of robotic trick execution and clip chasing. Tom K. just goes and goes and that works best for him because he rips and there’s nothing else to say but check out hate-hb.com and watch for him and the rest of the Zero crew in Cold War. If you get see Karangelov skate at a demo, introduce yourself and say hi on the sidelines. Tom’s a genuine person and his skating reflects this, big time. - See more at: http://www.blackboxdist.com/?rider=tom-karangelov#sthash.3Xw8AQeI.dpuf

SLAP One In A Million alumni Tom K’s skills have continued to grow since joining Zero as a flow rider. Tom’s straight forward yet mega smooth approach to skating are exemplary of how the newer breed of rippers can be one of substance and style, meanwhile avoiding the pitfalls of robotic trick execution and clip chasing. Tom K. just goes and goes and that works best for him because he rips and there’s nothing else to say but check out hate-hb.com and watch for him and the rest of the Zero crew in Cold War. If you get see Karangelov skate at a demo, introduce yourself and say hi on the sidelines. Tom’s a genuine person and his skating reflects this, big time.

Hometown: Huntington Beach CA

Stance: Goofy

Sponsors: Zero, Spitfire, Thunder, Jack’s Garage

PHOTO: SHIGEO

Did you mesh alright with the Zero dudes on the recent Vegas trip?

Yeah, definitely. Watching the Anti-Hero videos and ‘Team America’ with Rattray. Losing money on slots that Shigeo thought we would win at. Sneaking into clubs with Tommy and Ian. We’re homies.

Is it pretty intense being flow for Zero? Please describe.

No way. It’s the best thing ever. Everyone is really nice and helpful.

From listening to your SLAP OIAM audio interview, you seem super grateful and level headed, how do you manage to keep your head straight and take it all in stride?

I just have fun skateboarding and ignore all the nonsense. Just do your own thing.

Do you remember the first time you read SLAP? Did you ever subscribe to it?

The first Slap Mag I ever read was in Barnes and Nobles. It was the Heath Kirchart front blunt cover. No, I didn’t subscribe to any magazines. I just buy them from 7-11. They never had Slap at 7-11.

FS NOSEGRIND – PHOTO: SHIGEO

What was the first big-ticket item you bought when you got a raise at your job? What exactly is your day-job?

I purchased a Butterfly knife and an Italian stiletto switchblade at the same time from such a sketchy place. I like Knives. I work as an Assistant at Suncore. They create solar charging batteries for mobile devices.

Were you bummed at all for your fellow OIAM contestants? Do you think any of them are going to have Uncle Rico-esque visions of grandeur down the road? “If I had’ve won OIAM, I would’ve gone pro, and I’d be soakin’ it up in a hot-tub with my soul mate!” Who else should’ve won, if not you?

Who? Uncle Rico from ‘Napoleon Dynamite’? I was kind of bummed for David Bowens. He is the best and deserves so much! He definitely deserved to win. No, I don’t think anyone in the contest is a big enough kook to pull off an Uncle Rico in the future.

Who is Tom Krauser? Do you think he’s cool with you taking the ‘Tom K’ title over?

He is a really good skateboarder from Diamond Bar. That’s all I remember about him. We can share it.

How many Limited Edition Tom K Zero OIAM decks did you get total, and how many do you have left now? How did it feel skating them? Was it a proud moment when you gripped your first one?

I got 6 or 7 Tom K boards and I have 0 left. I gave them all away to my friends and my parents. I only skated the Tom K board the first day with Jamie when I put it on at Black Box. I took it off when I got home. It was a very nervous moment gripping that board.

If you hadn’t have won OIAM, what would you be doing now instead of filming with the Zero guys?

Same stuff I’ve been doing. Skateboarding and having fun. Maybe use all my footage for my friend Matt’s next video.

Fill in the blank, “If it weren’t for skateboarding,…”

I would be a chode!

- See more at: http://blackboxdist.com/?news=10qs-with-tom-karangelov#sthash.NZg3YmKc.dpuf

SLAP One In A Million alumni Tom K’s skills have continued to grow since joining Zero as a flow rider. Tom’s straight forward yet mega smooth approach to skating are exemplary of how the newer breed of rippers can be one of substance and style, meanwhile avoiding the pitfalls of robotic trick execution and clip chasing. Tom K. just goes and goes and that works best for him because he rips and there’s nothing else to say but check out hate-hb.com and watch for him and the rest of the Zero crew in Cold War. If you get see Karangelov skate at a demo, introduce yourself and say hi on the sidelines. Tom’s a genuine person and his skating reflects this, big time. - See more at: http://www.blackboxdist.com/?rider=tom-karangelov#sthash.3Xw8AQeI.dpuf

SLAP One In A Million alumni Tom K’s skills have continued to grow since joining Zero as a flow rider. Tom’s straight forward yet mega smooth approach to skating are exemplary of how the newer breed of rippers can be one of substance and style, meanwhile avoiding the pitfalls of robotic trick execution and clip chasing. Tom K. just goes and goes and that works best for him because he rips and there’s nothing else to say but check out hate-hb.com and watch for him and the rest of the Zero crew in Cold War. If you get see Karangelov skate at a demo, introduce yourself and say hi on the sidelines. Tom’s a genuine person and his skating reflects this, big time. - See more at: http://www.blackboxdist.com/?rider=tom-karangelov#sthash.3Xw8AQeI.dpuf

READ INTERVIEW HERE

Karagelov/Facebook