Oski is skating in the Olympics. Here's how he's preparing for the trip to Tokyo.
rguably, skateboarding isn’t a sport. The artform is solely based on an individual's desires and progression, and less on team effort and performance rankings. But, for the first time in history, the International Olympic Committee has introduced the athletic expression as a professional sport with qualifying athletes, one of them being Swedish skateboarder Oskar Rozenberg—or as fans call him—Oski.
Ranked No. 1 in Sweden and #14 worldwide, Oski has been tasked with the opportunity of a lifetime. And while the average person would gloat at the chance of representing their country at the largest sporting event in the world, Oski maintains a humble composure.
“Most skateboarders don't really use any kind of ranking to define their ability or the level their career is at. Some of the best skaters in the world don't compete, so you can’t place a number on them,” Oski explained.
Pre-COVID, Oski traveled nearly 150 days out of the year for skate trips and contests, but now he’s spending most of his time at random places in the U.S.—Tony Hawk’s Encinitas home being one of them. The park skater has been using the time off the road to film projects with his sponsors, try out different parks, skate vert, and shack up with his girlfriend.
With leading sponsors like Nike, Polar, and Spitfire, and two world championships under his belt, it’s without a doubt that Oski is a force in his industry, but we wanted to know more about what’s keeping him sane during an era of limits. We recently FaceTimed Oski at his friend’s house in Los Angeles to take a stab at our “Ask the JamFam” questionnaire. The 2021 Olympics is scheduled for Jul 23 to August 8, and the hopeful Swedish star is going for 🥇.
What’s your go-to Spotify playlist?
I made a playlist for my girlfriend the day before I moved to the U.S. in order to be with her. Now a few months later, we both have been adding on music to it. It’s very diverse but I would say Sade, Prince and Gucci Mane are the artists with the most songs on there.
Anything you’ve discovered streaming lately?
The 13th on Netflix was very eye-opening as well as all of the other Black Lives Matter documentaries on there.
You’ve got two hours to kill at home. What do you reach for?
I’ve had to catch up on some reading lately. Currently reading “All About Love” by Bell Hooks and it’s very inspiring and enlightening.
What’s your favorite item of clothing you’ve worn in quarantine?
Some vintage Jordan shorts that I copped in Brooklyn. NYC & LA vintage stores have a lot to offer compared to the ones back in Sweden!
What’s your most frequently made recipe?
Avocado toast with eggs on top. It’s pretty much what I have for breakfast everyday.
What do you drink when you're at home most often?
Mostly water and tea. And 19 Crimes Snoop Dogg red wine every now and then with my dinner.
You can re-watch one show for the first time again fresh. What is it and why?
I rarely watch shows, I’d rather spend any time given back to me on being out skating and laughing with my friends. These days it seems like any day could be your last so I try to remind myself about that any time I’m noticing that I’m spending too much time in front of a screen. During the coronavirus pandemic, shows can be an important form of entertainment though, so if I did have time, I would rewatch Seinfeld.
What’s your personality in your main groupchat?
The observer.
What's your favorite YouTube video that has less than 100,000 views?
A video part from one of my favorite skaters: Kevin Rodriguez.
Are you working out at home? What's your go-to home quarantine workout strategy?
I’m mostly skating for the moment and using that as a work out. Skating vert is almost like going to the gym because you naturally do a lot of knee bends and squats to get up and down the ramp, and gain and maintain speed and momentum.
What’s your most-watched movie of all time?
Shawshank Redemption or Amy, the Amy Winehouse documentary.
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