Akwasí, frontside pole wallie. Photo by Takeshi Shimonaka

If' you’ve been paying attention so skate media at large in the past year (even more so in the last month), you’ve likely become familiar with the name Akwasí. His unique, distinctive, and in our opinion, much needed approach to skating is one that’s hard to ignore. Learning about his contributions as an artist made us even more curious about where this energy comes from.

We took the opportunity to connect with Akwasí while hanging out together in Minneapolis to dig in on exactly how he’s become the skater, artist, and person we’ve been seeing so much of lately.

Here’s our conversation:

VP

Tell us where we are and what we’re doing.

Akwasí

Right now we're in Minneapolis at the University of Minnesota. We’re here skating around, doing a wear test for ASICS.

VP

You guys have been traveling a bit for ASICS, right?

A

We have. We were in Japan for a week about a month ago. The whole team was out there getting clips for this ASICS video that will drop soon. It was a really cool trip, but right when I got back I was sick for almost a month. Between the skating and screaming karaoke I went too hard out there.

VP

You’ve been known as a one-name skater, it’s just been “Akwasí” since we first heard of you. Where does your name come from?

A

My parents are from Ghana, and my name comes from the Akan culture, the tribe my family is a part of. Where we’re from Akwasi is a name given at birth to every boy born on a Sunday.

VP

Have you ever been to Ghana?

A

I went to Ghana when I was six, but I haven't been back since. They just built the first legit skatepark over there and it was pretty sick. It was built a year and a half ago, but I saw they tore it down like two weeks ago. I think it was over some kind of land dispute. Such a bummer.

Backside kickflip. Photo by Takeshi Shimonaka

VP

How did you get involved with ASICS to begin with?

A

Well, I knew they had a skate team in Japan, but as far as I knew there was nothing they weren’t doing anything in the US with skating. Ultimately it was Kaspar Van Lierop who helped link me up with everybody and become a part of the squad.

I think he just DM’d me on Instagram and we had a FaceTime call. He had a few different projects he was working on with his consulting agency KVL Connect where he felt like I could be a good fit, and the ASICS skate team ended up being one of them.

VP

How old are you? We realized we have no clue.

A

That’s funny. That is pretty intentional. I feel like in so many industries the second people know your age, whether it is young or old, they’re making assumptions about you.

VP

You have a large Instagram following – you’re an artist, a model, and a skateboarder. From the outside it feels like you have been deciding which path you want to take. Is there any truth to that?

A

Yeah, there’s some truth to that. I wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue skateboarding as a career initially because I had so much fun keeping it as a hobby. Modeling was working out really well for a while, it felt like I didn’t need to add the responsibility of having a sponsors for skating. If someone is going to pay me, then they're going to expect something. I'm the type of person who knows that if I'm doing something, I have to really do it.

I didn't want to half ass something like skating. I had some things going on in my life that caused modeling to slow down, and my manager James Craig ended up reaching out to some people seeing if they wanted work with me, which happened to be around the time Kasper and I met. The timing seemed right.

It’s funny, with Instagram, I have always just put whatever clips I get on there. I have never liked saving and holding onto my clips.

Wallie, this time on a stump. Or rock. Or something.

VP

So that is how riding for Sci-Fi Fantasy came about?

A

Yeah, my manager sent my footage to Jerry Hsu. I guess Jerry was hyped on it and started sending me boards. Maybe it is because I am new to this, but in my head I’m like “sick, I’m on Sci-Fi. I’m on the team.” Four or five months later, Jerry texted me and was like, “Hey, we like what you've got going on. We want you to meet everyone and see if you would be a good fit on the team.” I just remember thinking like, “oh, shit, I thought I was already on the team” (Laughs).

VP

Do you know everyone on the team?

A

I do know everyone, but it’s been tough to get us all in one van or on one skate session. We're all over the place – Ryan Lay is in Arizona, Arin is in Delaware. We’re planning on doing a trip to Canada sometime this summer.

VP

Are you guys are filming for a video?

A

Yeah, we are working on a Sci-Fi video. Right now our deadline for filming is March of next year. Most of the clips I have been getting recently are going to the ASICs video, but as soon as that is out, I'm gonna go back to filming for the Sci-Fi full length.

VP

How is Jerry as a boss?

A

Jerry is so laid back. I don't have to stress. Skating for Sci-Fi is another thing that made me feel like I could pursue skating. It's just so chill. Jerry is just like, “Keep doing what you're doing.” I don’t feel any extra pressure or stress to do anything outside of what I was already doing with my skating.

VP

You’re a really stylish person. Where does that come from?

A

You know, I’ve got some fly ass friends who’ve made me realize that dressing up, or “trying” is actually cool (Laughs). I think of it like this, everyone has pretty much done all the tricks. Adding your personal style to something can make it a little different, make it stand out, you know?

VP

The first time we became aware of you at VP was through you skating some 3D printed shoes, which definitely made you stand out.

A

Those 3D printed shoes were from Heron Preston. He sent them to a few skaters and wanted people to just try them out and give them feedback on how they skated. They were made through this company called Zellerfeld. They’re very tough to skate, I'm not goning lie. I love the way they look, but they’re not meant for skating. Even just trying to skate them, people were like, “What the fuck?” and I just like that reaction. It’s the best reaction people can give.

VP

It seems like that fits in with a theme, you like to skate non-traditional shoes. We've seen a few clips of you in ASICS runners.

A

When it comes to the runners, I like the way they look on my feet and they’re so comfortable. They actually work for me.

VP

Can we talk about your artwork? When did it start?

A

In 2018, I started making kalimbas, a small instrument. After that, I started carving candles and molds. From there I learned how to 3D print, and once I could do that I realized that if I learned how to cast in metal I could 3D print molds for jewelry. It's always one thing leading to the next, it’s all connected in one way or another. There literally hasn't been one medium I've been into that hasn't led into another.

A 3D rendering of what would become a sculpture of Akwasi’s.

VP

You’re still pretty new to sponsored skating, and you just went on your first big trip to Japan. How are you feeling about your new life?

A

It’s been exiting! Im glad I get to travel and see places like that from riding my skateboard. It’s pretty crazy.

VP
How do your parents feel about all this?

A

They're still kinda like, what the fuck? They're waiting to see a return (laughs), kinda thinking it is a waste of time. But with trips and that sort of thing, I think they're starting to trust a little bit that maybe there’s something.

VP

Let’s talk about this Sci-Fi part you just put out.

A

Yeah, my Sci-Fi part came out on July 3rd. I'd been working on it for about a year. It's not a lot, maybe 15 clips or something. It's enough to have something cool. I was pretty anxious to just get it out. I am really excited for people to see it, and happy to have a part with Sci-Fi.

VP

Your bag of tricks is filled with show stoppers, all the slappy stuff seems to blow people away.

A

It’s funny, they're so played out to me. I know that you can burn a trick out quickly for people when it’s done too much. So I’ve been trying not to do that with my tricks. (Ed. note - At this moment in the interview, Tanner Van Vark skates by us)

Wait, was that Tanner Van Vark? He's the fucking one. People will try to say things like “Oh, you're the wallie guy or the slappy king or whatever” and I'm just like, “Naw,” because I see people like him. He’s the one.

The thing is though, I don't have many tricks at a time, I'm won’t lie. And I really don’t want to pigeonhole myself with my go-to tricks.

VP

Speaking of unique tricks, your wallride bigspin in the ASICS promo really stood out.

A

Oh, yeah, that was a new one for me. I just felt the need to do something I've never done before for this video. I did that, but I’ve literally never done one that long before. I love figuring out something that’s NBD or something that you don't really see. I feel like as long as you're introducing a trick to some people who haven't seen it, it's going to have a strong effect.

My approach to working on a part is like this: I’ll have one trick I'm working on at the skatepark, then I’ll find a street spot for it. Once I do it on the street spot, then I'm done with it forever. My trick I’m working on right now is nollie halfcab flip to fakie manny. I've been practicing them, now I need to take it to the streets, and then it'll be done. I usually have a trick for like a week or two, film it, and then it’s done. I’m not doing it again.

Who is Akwasí?