I met Levi Brown back in 2001 when we both had signed on to work as counselors at a Skate Camp up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I was a little older and this would be one of my last summers spent really “living the dream,” as it were. Levi, though younger, was obviously an old soul from the moment you talked to him. Still in his teens, he was already mellow, humble and insightful. It was easy to want to be friends with the kid, and that was before any of us even saw him step on a board. But when he did — man, amazing. Nobody could believe he hadn’t been hooked up yet. But that would all be changing soon.
Fast-forward to today, and Levi is an international skate star who has just been welcomed into the pro ranks. He’s still humble. He’s still mellow, still insightful. He takes nothing for granted and skates hard every day. I’m hard-pressed to think of a skater out there who deserves it more. Congratulations, homie. This is just the beginning. – Adam Salo
What’s been going on, Levi?
Not too much, man. Hanging out in Arizona and skating.
Have you been traveling lately?
We’re in Albuquerque right now. It’s nice. There’s good spots everywhere. It kinda reminds me of back home. But Arizona’s getting all hot right now. It’s in the 90s every day. Up here we’re higher in the mountains, so it’s cooler, but the sun is more intense. I got roasted the first day. Before this trip, we did a trip to China in the fall.
How long were you guys out there for?
We were out there for 10 or 12 days. It was sick. Everything is marble and perfect. Security guards and cops there don’t know what’s going on, so barely any spots are a bust.
Was there any weird culture shock or craze you witnessed?
Yeah, little kids had slits in their pants so they could squat wherever and do their business. It’s pretty funny. But generally Shanghai is pretty Westernized. There are whole sections that have all British architecture because they were under colonial rule for so long. It’s a business hub, and they get a lot of traffic and visitors so they weren’t totally weirded out by us. It is crazy, though. It’s so polluted and congested. The buildings are just huge and look like some kind of Death Stars. Our tour guide was telling us there is one building in Shanghai that was designed by a Japanese architect. The center of it was originally supposed to be this circle but the architects had to change it because, in the original design, when the sun came up and through the circle, it was going to look like a Japanese flag cast over China. They tried to sneak that in. I guess the Chinese caught it and made the builders change the shape. But yeah, that trip was great, probably one of the best trips I’ve ever been on.
So, the day people will read this, you’ll have officially entered the ranks of pro skateboarding. How does it feel?
It’s a trip, dude. They told me about it in China, actually. [Element team manager] Dewitt gave a nervous speech and surprised me with it. It’s so cool. It’s really fun to see the whole thing come along. It wasn’t very long ago when it wasn’t happening like that. So it’s crazy to think the years have gone by already and people think I deserve it. Element is backing me, and I’m stoked. I’m really happy where I am with everything. Element has been taking care of me really good. I’ve gotten to travel and make a lot of friends everywhere. I’m living the life I always dreamed about.
So what was Dewitt’s speech like when he told you that you were pro?
No one knew about it on the trip before that, just him and [Element media director] Marc Falkenstien knew. So Chad and Darrell and everybody got so stoked too because it was a surprise for everyone. It was a pretty cool way to get told.
Tell me about the bear graphic that’s featured on your very first pro board.
My good friend Nate Morgan did that. He gave that to me last summer. We met at Skate Camp, and we try to go back every year. Last summer, he’d just graduated from art school and didn’t have any money, so I flew him to Colorado so he could drive with me from there to camp. In return for the flight he gave me that sick piece of art. I told him then that if it ever happens, if I ever turn pro, that’s gonna be one of my graphics. It’s the coolest piece of art, all wood-cut. It’s just amazing, and how awesome would it be to have one of your best friends do your graphic, you know?
Going way back now, how did your relationship with Element begin in the first place? Were they your first legit board sponsor?
Well yeah, that began at Skate Camp too. Element was starting to get involved contributing to camp and building ramps; it wasn’t renamed Element YMCA Skate Camp yet. It was still just YMCA Skate Camp, but they were getting involved, and some of my friends were getting involved with the company. My friends Mike Kershnar and Todd Larson started Elemental Awareness and were getting support from Element. And my friend Marc Falkenstien started to work for them doing web design, filming and other media stuff. Around that time I got hooked up with Rasa Libre when it was still under Deluxe. It was early stages, just some really cool flow. And then just being around all the Element guys and skating at camp, it just kinda happened.
From early days till now, was there a moment when you realized that this was going to be it, that skateboarding was going to be something you could do for a living?
Well, there’s always hoping. When I was younger and out skating, having fun, it’d be like, all right, I gotta go bus tables now. And you’re thinking, damn, I really wish I didn’t have to go bus tables. I just want to keep skating. I always hoped for that, to continue this perfect life, and never grow up: Peter Pan syndrome.
Do you have your pro boards already?
Yeah, I have my first one on right now. Stoked!
Now that the day has come, how does this change things: Is the pressure on or is the pressure off?
Part of me is just so hyped. This is one thing I went after and actually succeeded at. There are plenty of things I’ve tried that haven’t panned out. So I’m so amped this worked. But there’s another level, too: There are so many amazing skateboarders. What’s the difference between me and some random kid who rips? I guess you have to take it as it is. I’m happy to be me and I’m always going to challenge myself, but there’s always going to be someone who’s more talented. But yeah … my pro career hasn’t even started yet. It’s such a short time you get to do this. I want to experience it all and push my limits — not pile out or slack off.
You’re deep into filming for the Element shoes video Sole. This video will not only be your first part in a while, it’ll also be the first part in your pro career. What can people expect?
I haven’t been filming for that long. The idea started last August and originally it was just going to be a vid with Chad and I. Then Darrell got involved and Mike V. got involved because it kinda turned into the Element shoe team video. I wouldn’t mind having more time. I’d like one of those 4-year parts or something (laughs).
Who have been the biggest influences on your career in skating thus far?
Probably Marc Falkenstien. And Chad Tim Tim has been amazing. Everyone at Element. And then everyone from Arizona like Jesse Plumb and Micah Hollinger. But I kinda try to do my own thing. I’m not that involved with the industry.
Have you been getting more recognition from fans in the last year?
A bit. The funniest is when you pretty much have to play SKATE against everyone at the entire skate park. Those are the days when I’ll roll up and just want to chill. The next thing I know, I’ll be playing 15 kids in games of SKATE. But it’s sick, dude. There are so many aspects of being a professional skateboarder that you don’t think about when you’re a kid, like learning how to talk. You have to give interviews and speeches and interact with so many people. When you’re a kid you think, Oh, I just go skate all day. But it’s not even close to that.
Outside of skating, who’s had the biggest influence on your life and who you’ve become?
A collective of people. My brother, my dad, my family and all my friends in Arizona, all my friends from Skate Camp; those are some of the sickest people ever. Like Nate and you and Marc and Todd and Kersh and Manidis—so many people. Everyone has characteristics I admire and try to learn from.
With your exquisite ollies and your deep bag of tricks, is it safe to say you’re the more talented, modern version of Nate Jones?
Ha ha! Dude, I was a big fan of Nate Jones. His Real to Reel part is so good. That was one of the parts I always watched. I thought it was amazing.
If you’d never picked up a skateboard, what do you think you’d be doing with yourself today?
I’d probably be doing some kind of art. Not that I’m any good at it but I probably would have put a little more effort into it. Actually, I probably would have ended up just going and living in the woods. I would have maybe gotten more into the sciences, animals and biology. I always found that stuff fascinating. Anything to work with my hands; I have to be outdoors working with my hands. It doesn’t matter what it is so much. It could even be manual labor.
You’ve also been fairly into wilderness and survival skills, contributing to Elemental Awareness and such. What sparked your interest in that?
I got that book, “The Tracker” by Tom Brown when I was in the 8th or 9th grade. I read that and it got me all stoked. I read all his other books and I really wanted to take his classes but you had to be 18. So, when I turned 18, I was still interested in checking that out, so I went and took a bunch of those classes. Skateboarding has definitely taken over in the last few years, but it’s still fun to do. I can throw a couple of sticks together and start a fire. I can get by, but, at the same time, you go to those schools, and they’re the professionals of survival skills. I’m just kind of a novice.
As a new pro, do you feel like you have a responsibility to be a role model for kids? Do you think skaters should be seen as role models?
It’s a weird balance. You have to be true to yourself and not put out a fake image because that will show after a while anyway. But at the same time, kids do look up to you.
So one of your life goals has now been achieved. What’s next for you?
I’m pro now, but I haven’t really done anything yet. My next goal is just to live it up to the fullest. I want to have as much fun as I can, make a bunch of new friends, skate as many cool spots as possible and push my limits. Some people reach a goal and it’s like, “All right, I’m done with that.” But I’m just getting started.
