Why freestyle?
I’ve always thought freestyle skateboarding was a very unique style of skateboarding.
Growing up, I used to watch Rodney Mullen and have always wanted to get into it but wasn’t sure how to…until I met Josh [Dunstone] for the first time at Marvel Stadium and watched him doing freestyle tricks. I got even more excited to get into it and I did, thanks to Josh’s tips and skate sessions.
Freestyle felt very natural to me and that’s why I chose to stick with it.
So you watched skate videos when you were young?
I did!
How long have you been skating generally and what styles?
I skated as a kid for a year or so until I injured myself and I stopped…
I got back into it in 2019 when I first moved to Melbourne. I skated mostly street and skate park until 2021 when I met Josh and properly got into freestyle.
Did the two years of skating street/park influence your freestyle (and vice versa)?
It definitely did. As I got into freestyle, I did not want to give up street/park so I just decided to combine both into my own skate style. I managed to learn freestyle tricks on a street setup which I find very unique and flexible.
What street + park + freestyle combos do you like to do the most?
I do mostly primo, pogo and Casper tricks on banks as a way of drop[ping] in. I do the same with street off stairs or off a curb. Still learning…but it has been fun so far to mix it all together.
Current dream trick or combo?
I go with the flow in terms of learning tricks. Currently trying to get different variations of primo tricks.
I always get scared watching you in rail with your regular street wheels. How are your axle nuts going?
They’re going okay hahaha. I struggle with taking them off and on but it’s not impossible to do it.
Skating freestyle on a regular setup is something I’m most proud of. Unfortunately freestyle setups are not cheap and limited in terms of street skating. That is why I skate on a regular setup.
Is there someone who inspires your skating?
Rodney Mullen 🫡
His freestyle runs, his street parts back in the day or his general oddball genius?
Everything! He is such an inspirational character.
We see you skating with the OllieFans Melbourne crew. What is it like, learning freestyle and other skate stuff with others?
I find it to be such a good environment…I’m the only one who skates freestyle at most of the seshes. The comments and support I get are very motivating. I love helping people get into freestyle or even find out that there is such a thing as freestyle skateboarding.
For all of those skaters who want to try freestyle, where would you recommend they start?
Start with getting comfortable with the board. Have the right-sized trucks and wheels that enable you to do primo tricks if that’s your aim. Practising to balance on your board in primo, pogo, manuals, etc.
And finally, the best flatground skate spot in Melbourne?
I’ve got three skate spots I skate regularly:
- iMax
- Les Erdi Plaza [for street]
- Marvel Stadium
Connect: you’ll find Fahad skating his favourite flatground skate spots or at Riverslide, the iconic Melbourne skatepark next to the Yarra River. Alternatively, check out his street-freestyle skate antics on Instagram (@sk8melb).