DJ Chavez: "I wear pants from Wal-Mart"

Thrasher Magazine, Jan, 2003 by Rick Sanders

Where are you originally from?

I was born and raised in Albuquerque. New Mexico, and now 1 either live in San Francisco or LA.

Is it hard coming from a small town?

No, because Albuquerque is one of the greatest places to become an all terrain skateboarder. There's everything there.

What influenced you?

My biggest influence was seeing skating as a kid and wanting to do what the pros who came to town didn't do, if they didn't talk to me and show me love. And if they did talk to me, then I was stoked. I want to be the guy that talks to every kid there. My uncle Kent was one of my biggest motivations.

What companies did you like growing up?

Growing up I was into the original New Deal and the original Blind; always been a big fan of Think. That's my shit right there.

What do you tell kids when they ask you how to get sponsored?

I just tell them to skate. Who cares if you get sponsored or not? If you're just skating to get sponsored then you shouldn't even be doing it.

Death metal or gangster rap?

Both.

What do you consider yourself?

I'm me--I'm DJ. I ride a skateboard, but it doesn't control my life.

How far did you get in school?

Kids, don't drop out. I only made it to about a month into the ninth grade. That was it. Skateboarding pretty much took over.

If you were a rapper what would your stage name be?

I'm not going to answer that question.

How long have you been on your own?

I've pretty much lived on my own since I was about 15 or 16. I kinda grew up too fast.

Do you think that's a good thing or a bad thing?

I think it was good. It's not bad. I've experienced a lot of things people my age would not have experienced thus far. I don't look back on my life with grief in any way, shape, or form.

Got any good nicknames from your teammates?

Everyone on my team has some stupid nicknames. What about their nicknames? How about Wicked Ears 2000?

Fuck you.

Fuenzaweedat. Self explanatory. And the guy who is interviewing me, the red-headed stepchild Jeremy Morgan.

What's your real hair color?

It's like a dirty blond.

Beach Barbie blond?

Yeah, dude. That's what it's about.

How many spiked bracelets do you own?

Negative zero.

What about tight pants?

I wear pants from Wal-Mart. I don't need pants to define who I am.

Who is DJ Chavez?

I'm not here to make some sort of fashion statement. I'm just here for the love of skateboarding and the people I'm associated with. It's what I love to do and I get to do it now.

Do you have any good jokes?

No. I'm not funny.

Got any good road trip stories?

Go on a trip with Tony Vitello. You're going to end up stopping every five minutes to take photos of nothing.

What do you do besides skateboard?

I haven't stopped skateboarding for the last seven months since I moved to California. Constantly skateboarding.

What movies or videos do you think kids should watch?

Definitely Young Guns one and two. Billy the Kid, representing New Mexico.

What about midgets on wheels?

I live with one.

Thanks?

Pat and Todd Sloan in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They were the people that started me Out, led me to where I'm at now with everybody at Venture and Think and Globe. People that help me out: Justin Williams, Greg, Bruce, and Keith for Think, and Allison Rhodes and Andy Meade with Globe. Thank you, thank you, thank you.