Keeping a skate company going is no mean feat, let alone for 50 years. And yet 2023 marks half a century for Santa Cruz. To celebrate the huge milestone, the team is working on a video filmed globally with a selection of their heavy hitters, including our very own Rob Pace. This tied in with a historic touring art show and a three-man tour in Australia and NZ. One of the goals was to show gratitude by visiting the shops and locals that have kept the brand going strong.
Rob is the first Aussie to be an internationally recognised pro for the iconic brand. So, getting to know his background and place of origin was an obvious move before tying the knot. This was the other major goal for what ended up being a three-week cross-country pilgrimage from Southeast Queensland to Victoria and everywhere in between, clocking almost 4000 kilometres, before jumping the pond for a stint in Auckland.
Read on as I hit up Erick Winkowski, Jake Wooten and Rob for some tales from the journey. What Are The Odds? Well, for us, it was a stupid ass gambling game we used to pass the time in the van. Though, the only thing you win is some laughs, and what you lose is your dignity when you have to spend the rest of the day with some pretty embarrassing (or painful) consequences. Google “Odds Are” or “What Are The Odds Game” and play if you dare.
Trick Winkowski
Wade: Tell us about the game we played during the trip, “What Are The Odds?”
Erick: That’s a game that Rob taught me. I’d never heard of it before that.
And it basically involves doing a bunch of challenges. What was the worst thing you copped?
Having to tie my shoelaces together sucked. But Jake had to talk in third person all day and that sucked even worse.
Worse by having to listen to him talk in third person?
[Laughs] Actually, at one point, Rob had to raise his hand whenever he wanted to speak. But Jake got it the worst, for sure. He had to snort salt and put lime in his eyes. That was fucked up. I think lime in the eyes takes the cake.
