Robert Brink - Writer

Mikey Taylor

March 6, 2009 | Skip To The Comments (1)

Mikey Taylor for Thunder
By Rob Brink
ThunderTrucks.com, March 2009

So how and when did you get on Thunder?
I've been on Thunder for about a year now. I would always ask Malto for trucks, till one day I just asked him if he could try and get me on. He came through big time!

What made you want to switch?
I think Reda was the real reason I switched to Thunder. He'd always make fun of me for not riding my sponsor’s trucks. He'd tell me," Why don't you just get sponsored by the things you like?" So I took his advice and now I ride for Thunder!

What do you like best about the trucks?
My favorite thing about the trucks is how good they turn. I hate having to tic tac around to make corners. Thunders are the only trucks that I can ride really loose, but still be in control!

What do you like best about the brand?
I always liked Thunder ads. Ever since I was a kid, I looked forward to seeing who had the next ad.

What trucks do you ride?
Yea the 147 high lights are the shit! I ride a pretty big board, so the lights really help on not weighing that thing down!

Do you keep the regular bushings or do you kit out your trucks with something else?
I stick to the stock bushings. You can't beat those things!

What's your favorite color truck to have on your setup?
I don't know if I have a favorite. I'm constantly switching em up. Right now I have the blue base plate, with the gold hanger. You can't really go wrong with any of them!

Do you have any truck pet peeves? I know once you wouldn't let me ride your board because I'm Goofy and you said we lean to our heels and fuck up your bushings?
Yea I'm kind of a nut when it comes to skating. I just think about things way too much. Like if someone asked to ride your board, you'd probably just be like, "sure go ahead." Then when you got it back, you wouldn't even think twice about what happened. You'd just keep on pushing. Well me, not the case. I'd get my board back, and start thinking about all this bullshit. My trucks are looser now, there turning one way, my boards soggy. All this dumb shit! It's definitely something I need to change!

For you first ad, what's the trick and where?
My first ad is a front board down some handrail. I know it's nothing new, but I really liked how the spot looked. There's all the cool colors on the stairs. I actually don't know where that spot was. Acosta took me there! I think it was in the Inland Empire somewhere.

How many stairs is that?
Um shoot, I don't know! Maybe 15 or 16.

How many tries did it take?
That one didn't take that many tries. Only a few. On stuff like that, it's not that it's too hard, just scary!

Now that Mind Field has debuted to the world, how do you feel about it?
I feel pretty good. Most the people I’ve talked to really liked the video! I was really just honored to be a part of it!

How long were you filming for that thing?
Jeez, it felt like forever. The majority of it was filmed in the last two years, but I definitely had some old clips! It's crazy to see how much I’ve changed in the last few years!

I heard it made you a little mental... do you really have plans to go see a shrink?
Yea it definitely made me a little nuts. I was filming for so long and it was seriously all I was thinking about. We wouldn't go out and just skate. We were going out to film. You get in that mindset for so long that it's sometimes hard to snap out of it. As odd as it sounds, it feels weird that I can just go out and skate!

Who's part was your favorite and why?
I've actually only seen the video once, and it was at the premiere. It's actually hard to remember everyone's parts individually. I really liked Jake's part. Of course AVE! I think my favorite was probably Heath's! He's a beast.

Of all the tricks in your part, which are you most proud of?
I would say the front feeble to tail. That was actually really hard for me! I had to go a few different times to do that. Thank you Omar for letting me stay at your house every time!

You can see an evolution in your skating happen throughout the course of your part... where do you see your skating going in the future, what are you trying to do?
You know, I actually have no clue. I didn't really plan on that happening, it kind of just did. I think it really just depends on who I'm around. Lately I’ve been skating with Mike Anderson, and now I just want to go real fast!

What's next for you? Other videos? Interviews? Projects?
Well I'm working on an TransWorld interview with Oliver Barton. I wanted to wait until the video was done, so I could have all new photos for it. I'm sure there will be an etnies video somewhere in the future. Also be on the lookout for the etnies and Thunder collab RVL shoe. A portion of the proceeds are going to the Johnny Romano Foundation. Also, I'm sure I’ll be filming stuff at The Berrics! Hopefully just a lot of skating!

What's this new iPhone game you are obsessed with?
God, what aren't I obsessed with? This week, it's Macala. I don't even know how to explain it. I saw Malto and Sam McGuire playing this game and now I’m hooked to. I guess if you have an iPhone, just look up the game and download it.