One theme we return to time and again on the World Skateboarding Tour is how egalitarian a platform it is for skateboarding talents from around the globe.
Every stop on the World Skateboarding Tour has in excess of 200 entrants from more than 50 nations of the wide world. What that means, is that the WST has quickly come to more accurately reflect the new realities of how skateboarding is changing than most other avenues of the skateboarding game today. Cordano Russell symbolises some of that change in skateboarding’s view of itself.
Joining the WST at Rome Street 2023, he made the finals at the first time of asking against a stacked field of established names.
With an eclectic going-on-for unique trick repertoire and a board-buckling commitment to nailing them, the tall, powerful Canadian quickly established himself as a crowd favourite through his sunny disposition.
After a tour-best 4th place at the wild WST Tokyo Street shoot-out last December, he now lies an incredible 11th in the Official World Skate Ranking heading into the Olympic Qualifier Series which kicks off in Shanghai two weeks from now.
The time seems right to find out what’s up with the uphill grinder- who is also a straight-A student, although he is too modest to tell you that himself.
Ph: Atiba
Hi, Cordano- am I right in saying you found your first board inside a bush? Can you take us back to who you were at that time?
I sure did find my first board inside of a bush- at four years old. At that time, I was an all-around adventurous, athletic boy. I played basketball, soccer, swimming- all of it… however, skateboarding stuck and became my love and passion.
You started out skating a rough DIY transition spot under a bridge- places like that teach you to avoid falling if you can, right?
Kings Highway DIY was my local in St.Louis, Missouri… built by Bryan Bedwell and the locals, and it tore you up when you fell. You definitely wanted to avoid the fall- but I got so used to it that when I moved to San Diego, I was in heaven with the smooth skateparks and street spots.
Ph: Darwen
You joined the World Skateboarding Tour in Rome last summer and have been a crowd favourite at each stop since- have you had a favourite tour stop for yourself, personally?
My personal favourite tour stop was for sure Rome! Me being born in Canada and being half-Italian, it has always been a dream of mine to visit my Mom’s roots in Italy; I felt a connection. My sister was there with me, so we enjoyed the food and the culture, which made me skate and feel free!
You do tricks nobody else does; from a competitive perspective, I can see how that might be a double-edged sword in that you can’t use what anybody else lands as a marker- how do you strike a tactical balance there? Or do you just go all-in and let the cards fall how they may?
Honestly, I just stick to my unique bag of tricks and always try to bring something new that the judges haven’t seen before. One thing I have been learning is to apply my tricks to the best flow of the course.
Ph: Atiba
You are something of an academic as well- what can you tell us, there?
I recently got accepted into the University of San Diego. School always came very natural to me, and has helped in my skating. It created balance and discipline in me.
Switch Front Blunts on lock- what’s the secret with those?
Man, I’ve been doing switch front blunts for a long time now- actually did one in the streets when I was 13, for a Transworld video part back in the day. It’s cool to hear that people enjoy them.
Ph: Haruta
Was Tokyo the heaviest Best Trick contest ever?
The atmosphere in the arena was really intense, which really brought out the best in everyone. You couldn’t blink without seeing a ninety-plus score.
We saw you snap a board during practice in Dubai- how often does that happen to you?
Sheesh… it feels as if it happens every other day. Around three to six boards a week...
Do you get them custom-made, like a 9-ply or something?
I do get custom boards made for me- by Professor Schmitt at PS Stix. They have hemp inside of them, not 9-ply. I did try those; didn’t work, though!
Ph: Acosta
You sailed pretty comfortably into the OQS- does anything change for you now? The contests themselves will be shorter because there are only 44 entrants...
Nothing changes too drastically for me, I just want to show up and show out!
So: China, then Hungary and then- all being well- Paris in the height of summer- it has been quite a journey for you. What are your reflections on your road so far and what lies ahead?
The WST has been an rollercoaster of fun! However, I just have to take it one event at a time; I can’t think too far ahead. Traveling to seven different countries so far has been a dream, I can’t believe that skateboarding has given me all these travel opportunities. Looking forward, I want to continue enhancing my skateboarding and push skateboarding beyond its limitations, and see what more is in store on this road to the Olympics.
Where do your dreams lie, inside and outside of skating?
I want to show up and show out in the Olympics, film in the streets, find a balance in my education, foster great partnerships all over the world- and, lastly, remain healthy in my spirit, mind, and body!
Ph: Biondani
What are we looking for in a perfect headband? Could we see a Cordano Russell headband brand at some point in the future?
A perfect headband is comfy- let’s see where it goes.
The floor is yours: who would you like to shout out?
I want to first and foremost shout out my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ and my church family for all the love and prayers, and my Mom, Dad, sister and brother. Shout out to my agent Circe Wallace, shout out to Toy Machine, Nike SB, Sun Diego Boardshops, Independent and lastly Canada Skate for giving me an opportunity to represent Canada!
Ph: Darwen