Jesse Brodbeck On Life, Skateboarding & His New Video Part ‘For Koby’
INTERVIEW: If you head into Fast Times in Brisbane’s bustling CBD on a Friday afternoon chances are you will leave with a proper vibe - besides those bearings and wheels you came for. And it’s not just because of the weekend playlist’s pumping tunes escorting you out the shop to Elisabeth Street. No, it’s the polite and helpful tall guy behind the counter who made the real difference. He’s genuine and warm and truly wants to do his best to get you the gear you actually need. You’ve been lucky enough to be assisted by Jesse Brodbeck.
See that’s the thing about Jesse. He cares. And people around him feel it. His friends describe him as a through-and-through awesome human and he also happens to be one of the best skateboarders around. On Saturday 20 August 2022 Jesse’s newest video part ‘For Koby’ premiers so we took the opportunity to chat with him about life, skateboarding and his late friend Koby Mitchell - who this video part is dedicated to.
Photo credit: James Baker
THE FACTS
Name: Jesse Brodbeck
Age: 25
Years on the board: 12/13 years roughly
Sponsors: Fast Times, Terminal 4, Thunder, Satori, Emerica, FP insoles, Curb Crawlers, Bellmott
Current setup: 8.5 deck, Thunder standard 151’s, Satori 56mm wheels, Sunday 6ball bearings, Mob grip
Intro by Jesse’s close friend Clinten Davison
Jesse and I have lived somewhat similar lives in our youth. We’re both from a remote area, both our dads were truck drivers and both of our mothers strong women who have always backed our journeys within skateboarding through thick and thin.
The difference between us though was just a generation gap. I first met Jesse in Rockhampton during my years of my life when I turned Image (Image was a skateboard brand/shop run by Clinten Davison) into the local skate shop. Jesse’s family had just moved there as his dad had just picked up work there driving, and he hit our small scene and reignited the fire with his ability and personality.
I’ve watched him grow over the years, we’ve both had some ups and downs, Jesse moved away from Rocky but once you’re part of the family we had built with Image we’re always there - regardless of where you are. Jesse ended up jumping back on with us until the end and even though the brand isn’t a thing anymore, the family is still there. With some of his best friends being people I’ve known years before him, he’s just that type of guy that genuinely became one of us based on who he is as a person, not just his skateboarding.
I also have Jesse to thank for my own return into skateboarding. I’d left nearly completely, had some of my own things to deal with but then, slowly came back into the world. I moved to Brisbane for work but Jesse helped me back into the community by introducing me to a new generation of people in skateboarding.
“I backed him first but he built a solid path for himself and was then able to back me later in return, I can’t thank him enough for that and I’m proud of who he is as a person and grateful to have had the opportunity to watch him grow.”
Photo credit: Curtis Hay
Interview
Hi Jesse, let’s get to it and start from the beginning, aye. You grew up in an Australian country town, I’d love to hear a bit about that? And how skating impacted your life there? - maybe even inspired you to move to Brisbane?
Yeah for sure. So I feel lucky to have grown up in a small town, it's a lot more mellow and gives you an opportunity to learn a lot of skills that I otherwise wouldn't have learnt growing up in a city, but by a certain age you get pretty over it. There's not a whole lot to do, so finding skateboarding was kind of a blessing.
Me and my friends were so closed off and naive to the skateboarding world that anytime we learnt a new trick it felt like we were inventing it, we would come up with all these wacky names for really basic tricks, it was a lot of fun. Once we started getting access to stuff like magazines and videos and understanding that you can be a sponsored skater, it became a goal to move away and try to make it happen.
And history shows you made it. How was it moving to Brisbane? It must have been a bit of a change for a country boy, after all. How did the skateboard community welcome you and help you settle in?
By the time I had moved to Brisbane I had already lived in a few smaller cities around Australia. I spent a couple of years in Western Australia with my family, then a year or so in Rockhampton and then the Gold Coast as well, so when I moved to Brisbane I felt like I was ready to be in a proper city.
It was still pretty daunting but I feel like everyone here was super welcoming. I also got really lucky with meeting the right people pretty early on. I had I got to know Mike Lawry from skating at Bracken Ridge a lot and he really took me under his wing and helped me out, he was always down to have me on sessions and introduce me to everyone.
And then the squad at Skatebiz, when it was still around, did a lot to help out, Callum and Kane in particular. I'm very thankful for that.
Now you’re one of the established skaters in Brisbane yourself. What do you do to support and help the younger ones thrive?
I just try to pass on what I've learnt from my experiences and what I've learnt from people that I ask for advice. It's a crazy feeling when people ask for your advice so it's not something I take for granted, it's nice to talk to people and see where their heads are at in skateboarding.
I also remember being super poor as a kid and any hand-me-downs meant the world to me, so if I have any spare product laying around I'll try give it away or leave it at the park for someone to grab.
Oh man, giving back like that is what matters, for real. Now speaking of friendships and all. I know you’re close friends with Sam Larkins, have you taken him under your wings - as he’s a bit younger - like Mike Lawry did with you or is it just a mutual, awesome friendship you’ve got going? Or both.
Would love to hear a bit about that as Sam is one of the biggest legends on and off the board and always deserves a mention, I’m sure you agree.
Sam is one of the best people around for sure, he's so humble and always makes time for anyone that approaches him with questions. I don't feel like I've taken him under my wing at all, he carries himself so professionally, it's for sure more of a mutual thing. We are always asking each other for advice on things, there's been things he's asked me about my experiences that I have been able to help out with, but it goes both ways. He has had a lot of experiences that I haven't so there's things I ask him about as well. I am lucky to have someone like Sam around.
That’s pretty special. I’m sure he feels the same about you.
Okay, enough of this emotional side track, back to skateboarding. What’s some of your best memories you’ve created through skateboarding? Heard you went to the US at one point? Skated the Berrics and stuff?!
Haha. Sure! There are so many memories it’s hard to narrow it down. Skating the Berrics was for sure one of the most surreal experiences in my life. Having grown up when the Berrics first started coming up online it was crazy to be there myself so many years later, it was definitely a tick off the bucket list.
But honestly, my best memories just come from skating with my friends really, I have a lot of memories to cherish and a lot of good people I have met through skateboarding, so thank you to everyone I have crossed paths with so far.
“My best memories just come from skating with my friends really, I have a lot of memories to cherish and a lot of good people I have met through skateboarding, so thank you to everyone I have crossed paths with so far.”
You have this pretty unique style about you, skating and in general. Where do you get your inspiration? Like, any favourite skaters, musicians, friends?
A lot of my inspiration comes from the stuff I watched most growing up. My favourite skaters are people like Heath Kirchart, Erik Ellington, Spanky, Reynolds, Dylan Rieder and Arto Saari. That’s the kind of skateboarding I enjoy the most and the videos all those people were in when I was growing up had some all time soundtracks.
Photo credit: Curtis Hay
Sick. Ok. Let’s get to the movie part of things. But before we jump onto your newest part let’s just chat a bit about BNE3. Your part was so solid! So, how was it filming with Pat Gemzik and the team for that one? You came back from an injury, right?
Thank you! Filming with Pat is an adventure, he is so full of life that you never know where the day will lead. It was stressful though. I thought I was going to miss out on the video all together as I broke my leg right when I started going on sessions with that crew. By the time I was able to start skating again there was only a couple of months left until the deadline so it was right back into the deep end.
I think we filmed for 5 or 6 weeks for my part and we were filming right up until the weekend before the premiere. I can't thank Pat, Sam and Ethan Miller enough for getting me through that video part while also dealing with their own stresses of filming.
I was having such a tough time mentally with trying to get my confidence back skating and they had to deal with some real tantrums.
Tough one, definitely all worth it, tho. I know it meant a lot to Pat and the guys to get your part in before the deadline too. So much passion all around.
BNE3 truly was a massive one with so many skaters involved. This new part is different hey, is it just you skating or are there other skaters guest starring?
This one will be a solo part, I'm hoping to have a couple of friends feature in the part, but otherwise it will be a solo project.
Your new video is called ‘For Koby’ and is dedicated to a late friend of yours, right? Will you tell us a bit about the back story? Who and how was Koby? And what did the friendship with him mean to you?
2 years ago now a good friend of mine, Koby Mitchell, passed away. I met Koby when I was living back in my hometown for a year and skating at Coffs Harbour skatepark a lot.
He was a bit younger than me and the friends I was hanging out with, but he never seemed out of place because of that.
Koby was a true ray of sunshine, someone who never had a bad thing to say about anything or anyone and would constantly have you laughing no matter the mood you were in. I got to spend that year skateboarding, filming and hanging out with Koby and a good crew of people in Coffs and the friendship we built was really strong.
I feel truly lucky to have known Koby.
“Koby was a true ray of sunshine, someone who never had a bad thing to say about anything or anyone and would constantly have you laughing no matter the mood you were in. ”
Damn, beautiful. How did you get the idea for the video part?
For this video part I just wanted to pay my respect and remember a friend of mine in the way that made sense to me. I want to do my friend proud.
I’m sure you’re are!
So you’ve filmed ‘For Koby’ with Harry Pascoe. How was your process, like how much time did you spend getting the shots? Who came up with spot and trick ideas? How involved have you been in the editing and all that?
The process has been a breeze, aside from breaking my leg mid project. Working with Harry is so easy. He is always so motivated to work.
If a spot needs fixing up he has no issue fixing it, he’s happy to go skating at any time in any area and I feel like he just wants to give everyone their chance to shine.
We have been working on this part for about 2 years. I approached him with the idea of doing a part for Koby and he was instantly on board and wanted to pay his respect as well which means so much to me.
I haven’t been super involved in the editing process, I’m pretty useless at that kind of thing so aside from choosing the song I have left it in Harry’s very capable hands.
As for spot and trick selection, I would tell him like, ‘hey I feel like I could do this trick do you have a spot for it’ and he would have a spot sorted for it within five minutes.
Sounds like a pretty rad teamwork you’ve got going. That’s so awesome.
Photo credit: James Baker
Ok. It’s been an absolute pleasure to chat to you, Jesse…Now before I leave, can you just give me a quick little teaser and tell us why everyone should go and watch ‘For Koby’ at Fast Times on Saturday (and watch it somewhere online afterwards, of course)?
It’s a skateboarding video for skaters, so hopefully it will get people motivated to go skating. And there’s going to be free beers, giveaways, cash prizes for the pool competition and some live music. Big thank you to Dan for organising a fun night.
Thanks legend, we’re excited for you and can’t wait to watch ‘For Koby’.
THE PRACTICAL INFO
What: Video premiere of ‘For Koby’, pool comp, prizes & giveaways
When: Saturday 20 August 6:30 pm. onwards
Where: Fast Times Brisbane, 189 Elizabeth St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
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