RIDER UPDATE: JESSE TESSIER

In the next few weeks updates and brief interviews will be posted featuring each member of the Change familia and maybe even a few random urchins. Starting things off is JT. The following question and answer took place last week via email. Enjoy.

















James: What have you been doing over the past month?

Jesse: I’ve been working full-time and skating whenever I can. I can’t think of much else haha., oh wait, I’ve been reading a Chuck Klosterman book, it's so awesome.

James: What are your plans for surviving this winter?

Jesse: Just looking forward to meeting some new security goofs in the path and skating other fun indoor places around the city. I brought a ski mask from home too just for this reason, I bet it'll work great. Also global warming and the downtown heat effect are on my side so I’m sure it'll provide more options than I had in Windsor anyways. The streets will be skatable.

James: What is it like living in a 2-bedroom space with 6 people? Do family dinners ever happen? I think that would be fun to see.

Jesse: Oh wow (laughs). Well first off I’m hyped about the current situation here in our place. Quick helps me out a bunch with everything I’d be kind of fucked without him man. Dallas, Mikey, and Sizzle are irreplaceable people to have around too, because they help keep skating feeling like it use to. Its just dope coming home to chill with these guys too you know? I like things the way they are right now. Recently Joe Buffalo has been making us family dinners at the most clutch moments. It’s nice once in a while.

James: So, you're a recent Toronto transplant, originally from Windsor. What, if anything do you miss about your old home?

Jesse: This is true I am from the armpit of Canada, but I miss its stink every now and then. More so I miss its plentiful manny pads, Detroit, no rent, Burn Unit, seeing family, forest glade.. uhh, fuck I even miss school I guess. Man do I miss having a car too, that was sick shit.

(Some footage of last Winter in Barcelona)


James: Have you ever been interested in anything other than skating? Road hockey? Comic book collecting? Anything?

Jesse: Road hockey is a sidebar from everyone's childhood I guess. I mean blades felt gay even if you were into it. (Laughs). Comic books though, they had blood, heroics and characters that jump all over the place doing sick moves. What’s not to like? Maybe some of them questionable costumes, that’s it.

James: How long do you plan on making Toronto your home?

Jesse: Indefinitely! Our lease is up in may or June or something so I don’t know what is going to happen after that but I think I’m interested in sticking around if the alternative is going back to Windsor that’s for sure. This place is amazing, no doubt about it, although there are some things you need to be willing to deal with if you want to be happy here. Its competitive, its a bust, and the weather's generally kife but they don’t get me down any.
I’d pack my shit and run though if I could find a ticket to Barca.

James: Thanks Jesse. Lets end it at that.

View a clip of JT at "dirty bump" here
Footage courtesy of Kyle Mcreight.