{"id":935,"date":"2018-08-19T09:30:01","date_gmt":"2018-08-19T14:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mtlmediagroup.com\/loveskatemag\/www\/?p=935"},"modified":"2018-08-19T09:39:06","modified_gmt":"2018-08-19T14:39:06","slug":"lurker-lou","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mtlmediagroup.com\/loveskatemag\/www\/?p=935","title":{"rendered":"Lurker Lou"},"content":{"rendered":"

I first became acquainted with “Lurker” Lou Sawrosky through his part in\u00a0<\/span>Vicious\u00a0Cycle,\u00a0<\/i><\/span>2005’s classic NY skate video that also featured the likes of Harold Hunter, Zered Bassett, Eli Reed, and Brian Brown just to name a few.
\nSince then, Lou has developed a multi-faceted reputation as a constantly motivated skater, merciless ballbuster, keeper of some of the best hidden spots in New York (as well as a few that are not spots), and extremely creative and talented artist.
\nAs I’ve grown to know Lou better over the last year an a half or so since showing some work with him in a group exhibition, I can say that all of these are true.
\nThat’s what is so great about skating and hanging out with him, at all times he’s bringing these things to the table.\u00a0Whether it’s spending hours lurking for spots in his car, or talking his about his sculptures at a gallery in midtown,
\nhe’s never not Lou.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hey Lou, how old are you and where do you live?
\n<\/b><\/span>34 y\/o living in Bushwick, Brooklyn.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is your first skateboard memory?
\n<\/b><\/span>Watching someone try to ollie a parking block over and over. Then my mom telling my grandmother, \u201cmy children don’t have the patience for that\u201d. I was set out to prove her wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where did the nickname come from?
\n<\/b><\/span>I overstayed my welcome at a few different apartments in Boston when I was a teenager. One night, Doug Brown and Brian Brown put me on the spot and said, “are you gonna just stay here or you gonna ask to stay here, lurker” and then it stuck.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
\nNoseblunt slide – New York City<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

How did things change for you after the SLAP \u2013 One in a million?
\n<\/b><\/span>Internet trolls talking shit and then in person no one says anything. No one could make eye contact and just put their head down anytime they would see me. If I got to know the person they would just ask me 1 million questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Were you bummed that they portrayed you as a devil judge?
\n<\/b><\/span>It’s all good now, but Alex Klein was just trying to be a producer fuckboi looking out for his best interest. It was annoying that no one knew my past before I went on that show but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I like to keep the doors open and the filter turned off.”<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Have you ever seen or talked to Alex Klein after it?
\n<\/b><\/span>One time. He was just apologetic. I got paid 300 bucks and a thrasher sweatshirt out of that whole thing so I never sold out like everyone said I did and I didn’t really receive shit out of it other than 11-16 year-olds hating me. Now that they’re 23 and they finally meet me they tell me I’m a nice guy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh yeah Tony Vitello promised me one of those canvases in Thrasher to feature my art that never happened. Good looks Tony.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
\nSwitch 50-50 – New York City<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

You’re known to be quite opinionated, do you think millennials are too sensitive these days?
\n<\/b><\/span>Everyone hates behind closed doors, I like to keep the doors open and the filter turned off.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Iron Claw Skates?
\n<\/b><\/span>It’s a brand that my friend Tyler conceived in 2011. He asked me if I wanted to skate for it, I said I want to be a partner, and from there on our ideas collaborated into what we wanted. A simple company based off American imagery.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I wanted to smoke weed for the rest of the 4 Hour Drive, so I stuck weed under my foreskin and smuggled it through my dick.<\/span>“<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

How came the need to create this brand?
\n<\/b><\/span>In 2010, I skated for a company called Coda. After I quit, I felt I was pretty rinsed from skating and just needed to do something on my own, not try and have someone give me skateboards. This is right before everything went downhill when people said “I want to brand too”.<\/span><\/p>\n

How is it to have an indie skateboard brand nowadays?
\n<\/b><\/span>Don’t do it unless you really want to just sell your friends skateboards or you have good distribution.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
\nSwitch Back Tail – New York City<\/span>,\u00a0Photo: Chase Doerflinger<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Do your teammates learn to not be too sensitive?
\n<\/b><\/span>They all know my true personality. I love them, but will give them shit over little things when I knew that they can perform better.<\/span><\/p>\n

You came to Montreal few times, how would you describe the city to somebody who has never been here?
\n<\/b><\/span>I was into Montreal the last couple years, but I feel like it’s a hotspot to go to in the summer now. I like going to the cities on the East Coast that aren’t as frequently skated.<\/span><\/p>\n

My best story probably is when I went with the orchard skate team and we are going back into the states through New Hampshire. I wanted to smoke weed for the rest of the 4 Hour Drive, so I stuck weed under my foreskin and smuggled it through my dick. Everyone was mad at me that I did it and then after we got into New Hampshire 4 guys smoked the weed that was stuffed in my foreskin.<\/span><\/p>\n