PiK
AN INTERVIEw with govi Sierra
BY DEVIN SUMMER
04/09/20
A NOTE FROM THE FUTURE
We are in the midst of a dire crisis. COVID-19 has spread far and wide across the globe. Most have taken shelter, as advised. Others belive they can continue life as usual. This is where todays story begins. I have been taking refuge inside my house, going out for nothing but supplies and the occasional breath of fresh air. Now seems appropriate to utilize the time we have been provided. I love to create. Sadly, I have been lagging on my outlets for almost four years. Under these circumstances, I can finally catch up. I love to make music, edit, write, design, read, i dabble in a bit of everything. Even skating... That is the one thing that can't keep me inside.
In the middle of a warm and cozy shower I was again haunted with an echo from the past. A memory struck to a time where I attempted to mash two things together. The skating & the reading. I knew who I needed to talk to the minute I had this idea. I wanted to write an article and do an interview with Giovanni Sierra. So I did.
SORRY I DIDN'T GET THIS OUT SOONER
8/29/2016
GOVI SIERRA (GS)
DEVIN SUMMER (DS)
DS: What Is Your Name?
GS: My Name is Giovanni Sierra
DS: What's your age?
GS: I just turned 17
DS: What was your dream as a kid?
GS: I never had a dream to accomplish, that leads up until now, I still don't have a dream for things other than to better myself in everything I do
DS: with that being said, how was your life as a kid?
GS: My life as a kid was like any other, I was into a lot. I played basket ball and soccer, I use to ride bikes (then I thought biking was the best) but I would never watch tv or play video games. I could sit and not do shit. I had to be doing something. When I took my bike to the park with a couple little friends from elementary I saw I couple boys skating (which until this day they are still my friends). After sitting for hours just watching them I wanted to give skateboarding a go and since then that was the only thing that had me going
DS: That's great man, so have you been doing anything to make skating fulltime?
GS: Honestly the closest I've done to make it go in that direction is go in contests because of the companies who sponsor it, but other than that I don't send in any video parts or really throw myself at anything to make an outcome of it. I'm just focused making sure that I can at least get a good session in everyday and learn at least 5 tricks a week. So it's just the progression I'm focusing on before anything
DS: So besides your main hobby, do you do anything else?
GS: Not really I'm still working on school and a job on the side. Sometimes I session the guitar
DS: Describe your biggest accomplishment.
GS: Well my biggest accomplishment would have to be between quitting all the drugs I've done, I mean even though I'm just 17 I did get into a lot, it was hard for me to get myself back in check. I decided to quit because I saw my life was falling apart and it was ruining my priorities and my life. Or it could be placing first for the first time ever in a skate comp and then placing first for the next 3 comps after that
DS: that's wicked, both seem like pretty big accomplishments. Good Job Though! I'll ask some better questions now. How was it being in "unfortunate"?
GS: Haha, I love those guys, they are the best homies. They definitely put in work on that video! But really if we get another video going it'll most definitely be a lot better. All of them have gotten so much better and have been skating like no other. I few have quit but most have stuck with it and have made so much improvement. The video came out way tight
DS: Did it open any doors for you? How was life after that came out?
GS: None of us got much out of it I believe, I mean I think a year after that two of my homies got sponsored. The video was just a mess around. It was just way fun to film. We did get a lot of compliments on it because the video came out sick with all the editing (shout out Cris Diaz for the proper editing)
DS: hell yeah! So you plan on doing more skate shit? Could we see another film in the near future?
GS: For sure, we haven't started but it won't take long on coming out. We throw shit down as soon as we got it figured out. We could bust it out in a month or so when we get it started
DS: That'd be pretty tight! Maybe we could premiere it on Red Rope.
GS: That would be tight, we'll probably throw out a teaser of it at first maybe through the middle of its process. Then we'll send a copy when it's finished!!
DS: down as fuck... Do you have a favorite skate brand?
GS: For shoes I usually skate Nikes, for clothing anything related to skateboarding, and for skate boards my favorite is REAL skateboards. But I'm always skating local shop boards. I enjoy repping and supporting the local shops. You know just doing my part around the local skate community in any way I can
DS: what board you riding now?
GS: I'm skating a blindside, it's a local shop in Layton and salt lake. Pretty nice boards and they're cheap
DS: pretty dope! Yo BEDHEAD ( our brand ) is looking for models, what would it take to get you in some clothes and get a few pictures taken when we get that going?
GS: $500,000
GS: Haha no I don't care man I'm down for whatever honestly. Just lemme know
DS: for sure man! That wraps up the interview. Anything else on your mind? Shout outs, shit like that?
GS: Honestly just going to shout out all of my friends who are still shredding, best fucking homies out there. They know who they are.
Photo By Caden Weeks
I walk into crossroads and am immediately greeted by the often whitty and unique characters working behind the counter. Several of them spastic and loud.
As my eyes continue to scan the bottomless products, it is not hard to pinpoint your eye to the calm, put together and shockingly handsome face of Govi himself. His kindness radiates through the words he speaks and he always manages to make you feel welcome in his environment.
Since time has passed I often wonder if the answers to his questions would be different. I know I would ask different things too. I know one thing for certain, his dedication towards skating seems to have grown larger, as his progress manifest into something nobody could've
seen coming. He continues to push me to be better even if he is not trying, and that is what role models do.
Thank you for everything
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