Mar 30, 2009
Author: Frank Daniello Photos: Brian Cassie
Let’s begin by staking a claim: 21-year-old Cory Wilson is possibly the nicest Canadian skateboarder rolling amongst us. The guy is intensely polite, in an old-fashioned sense, and very passionate about skating. The following account is an attempt to explore the roots of this Canadian Gentleman.
THE PARENTALS
Growing up in Niagara Falls, Cory was surrounded by a tight family unit. His Dad is a Metal Mechanic and Glazier and his Mom’s a Court Reporter for a local Lawyer. “They were pretty lenient. They trusted me and felt I was a good kid, so they let me do what I wanted,” Cory says of his parents. “I’d go camping a bunch with my Dad and he’s really passionate about the stuff he does—he’s into archery and old native culture. My Mom’s really friendly and outgoing. I kinda got her personality and my father’s drive.”
Kickflip to Fakie.
HOODIE LESSON
It seemed obvious that a good way to understand a well-mannered and well-balanced individual is to catch a glimpse of the dark side of their scale. “I can only recall stealing one thing when I was younger, and it was my cousin’s hoodie. I stole it from his house during a family get-together. I looked up to him ‘cause he skated and I admired him so much, so I went up to his room and saw the Elwood hoodie that was too big for me. I stole it and felt so fuckin’ bad after,” Cory explains. “My parents were so disappointed and knew what I did once my aunt called them. I was workin’ at a skate shop and I went and bought my cousin a new hoodie, and gave the old one back to him. I apologized and totally learned a lesson. We were cool after that, but that’s pretty much one of the worst things I’ve done.”
BENEATH THE FALLS
The famed and majestic Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls seem to have a strange morbid allure for the suicidal and the stunt-minded. Sam Patch was the first person on record to survive the jump from a high-tower into the gorge below the falls in 1829. Many have taken the plunge in various contraptions over the years, but Cory preferred to explore the leisurely elements of the gorge below. “The Gorge is a pretty gnarly hike, and we’d walk down through this crevice to the whirlpool at the bottom of the Falls. There’s cliffs and stuff, so you’ve gotta be careful. But once you’re down there, you can chill on the rocks right next to the whirlpool and the falls with some friends and a couple beers. You get so tired after climbing back up to the top, though.”
Backside Heelflip.
SAILIN' ON
Picking up and moving to the other side of the country with nothing but pocket lint and the intention to skate is often easier said than done. Some last a while, but succumb to the slow lurk of homesickness. This wasn’t the case with Cory. “When I moved to Vancouver, I didn’t really have anything. I was 18 and I bought a plane ticket and planned on staying with my friend from St. Catharines who was living here,” he explains. “I only planned on coming out for a month, and on the first night I met my friend ‘Irish’ Chris McQuilkin. He told me how dope Vancouver is straight off the bat. We went to five parks, and I knew right then that I didn’t want to go back home. I called my parents and said: ‘I’m stayin’ here.’ I found out Vancouver is where I pretty much belong.”
Frontside Flip.
'MONICA AND MR.DIAMOND
A lot of skaters are picking up guitars these days. It seemed natural to picture Cory fingerpicking some acoustic blues by a campfire. However, that mental image was quickly squashed. “I don’t play any instruments. I’m thinking of getting a harmonica, though. It’s so small; you can just bring it around in your pocket and just jam out. I like the sound. Some Bob Dylan shit—I can pretty much get into that,” he says before adding who his latest musical fixation is. “Lately, I’ve been feeling the fuckin’ Neil Diamond, dude. As silly as that sounds, he’s got some dope tracks. ‘Cracklin’ Rosie’ is pretty heavy, and I like ‘Solitary Man’ and ‘Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon.’”
A NEW WORLD
The key to any Canadian gentleman lies within his ability to always learn and draw from experience. Often those with a skateboard and a friendly disposition find themselves immersed in positive experiences. Such was the case with Wilson's first trip abroad with Kitsch. "Portugal was definitely the most authentic travel experience I've had. We had the most amazing tour guide there named Pedro Raimundo. We basically showed up and he had everything set up for us. he took a week off work to drive us around, and he had an eight-seater van," Wilson recalls. "Aside from skating, and more importantly, he showed us their way of life. He showed us castles and brought us into his family's home - they pretty much gave it up for us during the entire 11-day stay. It was pretty mind-boggling how friendly it was for them to do that."
Ollie.
SELF APPLIED PRESSURE
It seems that balance is a key part of Cory’s harmonious nature. He sees the meritand enjoyment in working hard at his landscaping job to survive in this expensive port city, and still manages to skate more than most. He also sees filming and shooting photos as a unique challenge, rather than an obligation. “I like to put pressure on myself. I don’t feel pressured to get coverage for a sponsor’s sake. When I was younger, I definitely had dreams of making it as a skateboarder. Now that I’m a little older, I’m pretty much just skating and I take getting coverage as a personal challenge. I’m really grateful that I’ve got sponsors who back me like Etnies through Timebomb, Independent trucks and Bones wheels through Ultimate, and Kitsch skateboards with Geoff Dermer. I’m really stoked on my position right now in terms of getting product, and who I’m getting it from.”
Half-cab Flip.
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