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Saturday, July 26, 2003 Skateboarder Steve Caballero lives up to name as 'nobleman'Legend doesn't let it go to his head (Editor's note: World-class skateboarder Steve Caballero was in New Mexico this week, performing his artistry in conjunction with the Vans Warped Tour in Las Cruces. Caballero recently took a break from the tour to answer some questions posed to him by the News-Bulletin.)
Caballero: It's an honor for sure, but I don't let it go to my head. I try to lose any part of an ego I have everyday to make my life a happier one. VCNB: You're famous for inventing the Caballaerial. Are you working on any other new maneuvers? Caballero: Not really, just the ones I can do and perfect them as good as I can, I don't skate vert that much anymore. While I'm on the Vans Warped Tour, I get to brush up on my vert skills, so it's a fun tour for me and I'm around vert skaters everyday and that's not common for me these days, as I just skate street all the time. VCNB: As you probably know, Caballero means "nobleman" in Spanish. Do you feel like you have to carry yourself in a certain way to be a role model to your young fans? Caballero: Yes, I do know. Yes, I do make sure I carry myself well at all times because kids do look up to me, and I would like to guide them in a way that's positive and make them see that life is awesome and you can be what ever you put your mind and heart into if you only dedicate yourself and be honest and work hard. Never give up on what you believe in, and stay true to yourself. VCNB: I heard that Evel Knievel was your idol growing up. Do people who do crazy stunts, be it on motorcycles or skateboards, make good role models for kids these days? Caballero: It really depends on their attitude off the board or MX bike that really influences a kid, not the image they see on TV and in magazines that really matters. Kids that take chances are just living life to its fullest; it's not for everyone. All of us learn life lessons first hand — that's living life — making mistakes and learning from them is what life is all about. We were all created to become unequal. VCNB: What do you tell their mothers? Caballero: Just support your child in whatever he likes, as long as he's not doing harm to others or himself for that matter and just have fun in whatever you do. That's one thing I learned from my father (RIP) that I will always cherish from him. He was very supportive, and that's why I think that I've gone so far with skateboarding — because I had his blessing to do so. VCNB: You have a young daughter of your own. Is she going to be a skateboarder? Caballero: She's going to be whatever she wants to be. But, as for now, at 6 years old almost, she skateboards, rides a little PW50 dirt bike, plays chess, loves art and can sing, so she's got a creative side to her like her dad. But she's also a leader. I know, because she's always trying to tell me what to do. VCNB: Who would you like her role models to be? Caballero: Myself, and anyone that inspires her to have fun with life that she chooses, but not rock stars or movie stars she sees on television, but if she chooses that, then I'll support her all the way. Kayla can be very talented in what ever she chooses, so I know she'll go far in life. She's got so much energy and charisma, but also has a shy side to her as well, she's pretty funny as well. Kayla cracks me up all the time. VCNB: You were born with sculiosis, which is curvature of the spine. Has that been an obstacle for you at all? Is it something you've had to overcome? Caballero: It hasn't bothered me one bit, except for my appearance. But it does bother other people sometimes when all they want to know when they first meet me is: "What's wrong with my neck? Looks like you got hurt or something?" Before they even ask me my name or how my day has been. I just tell them that I was born like that and they just keep quiet after that. VCNB: Can you speak a little about your opinions on street skating? Caballero: Yeah, it's fun. And cities should build parks — big ones, so kids have a place to go and skate in a safe environment. But most cities won't support skateboarding in their towns because they don't understand it. It's not what we see on the X Games or the Gravity Games. Just ask the kids what they want in their town. They know, because they are clued in on skateboarding through the skateboarding magazines, that's the core of the sport, not television. VCNB: Street skating has been an issue in our towns. People complain about the damage done to property by skateboarders. There are two skate parks in the area, but some kids prefer a "natural environment." What are your views regarding street skating? Caballero: The parks are probably not built very well, so kids just choose to ride in the streets, or they have a helmet and pad law in the skate park and kids don't want to use them. What would you think if people made a law that you had to play soccer or rugby with full gear and helmets? What do you think they would do? Or baseball players had to wear elbow and knee pads to play? Or tennis players having to wear pads. Cities, just don't understand our sport, so they just tack on the pad and helmet rule for everyone to skate the parks, which is ignorant on their part. They need to look deeper into our culture to really understand it. VCNB: Word has it you're a pretty good guitar player. Do you prefer bass to guitar? Caballero: I like them both, but I wouldn't say I'm a good player, but I can hold my own when it comes to playing in a band! VCNB: Are you in a band now? If so, please describe what kind of music you play, and what the band is up to. Caballero: Yes, I'm in an old-school punk rock band called the Faction. We play shows here and there and have been writing some new tunes. VCNB: Traveling with the Warped Tour, do you ever get a chance to perform and/or jam with the headliners? Caballero: As a matter a fact, I have. Here's the list: Goldfinger, MXPX, Millencolin, Blink 182, No Use for a Name and Pennywise.
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