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Hop Podcast

Hop Podcast

By James Hopkin

James Hopkin (Hop) is an entrepreneur, skateboarder, longboarder and a tragic fan of skateboard racing. Better known for his Hopkin skateshop and starting the Australian Skateboard Racing Association (ASRA), in this podcast he shares interviews and personal stories about longboarding, skateboarding and downhill skateboard racing from around the world.
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Currently playing episode

#20 - Daniel Iseli the Rocket man

Hop PodcastOct 18, 2019

00:00
02:19:57
#22 - Khaba Maimon - the beginning of Indian downhill

#22 - Khaba Maimon - the beginning of Indian downhill

This is one of two unreleased interviews from 2019. Huge apology to Khaba, I should have published this in 2019. In 2019 I saw on Facebook details of a downhill race in India. I tracked down who competed and found the first place Indian skater: Khaba Maimon. We chatted and I recorded an interview. Downhill skaters travel the world to find the biggest mountains, Khaba learned to skate on the world’s biggest mountains!
Dec 24, 202248:10
#21 - Mike McHugh from Boosted Boards

#21 - Mike McHugh from Boosted Boards

This is a fun episode, Mike is an amazing guy with an incredible journey. He started in graphic design, which lead to moving to the USA with Adobe which lead him to the heart of Silicon Valley working for Boosted Boards.

At the time of this interview (Feb 2019) he was Director of Customer Experience. He has recently moved into the role of Director of Skate Product. Without a doubt, he has one of the best jobs in skate!

This episode is not just for the esk8 crew and Boosted fans, we have a wide ranging conversation. We discuss electric skateboard racing, product design, how Boosted takes that design to a new product. Does Boosted have a skate team or ambassadors? (spoiler alert: they have both...and more). We get into future products, and as a side note, at the time of recording the Boosted Scooter had not been released, you can hear me ask Mike if they are going to make a scooter...

My goal for this interview was to try and take a look behind the curtain at Boosted Boards. They are one of the most exciting companies in skate and a leader in the future of personal electric transportation.

Big thank you to Mike McHugh for giving me so much time out of his busy schedule.

Nov 02, 201901:22:18
#20 - Daniel Iseli the Rocket man

#20 - Daniel Iseli the Rocket man

This might be my new favourite episode. I re-listened to this interview after I published the Kicked Out episode, and was immediately inspired. Danny is an amazing guy, his positive attitude is contagious, I forgot how much fun it was talking to him. It might be a crime against longboarding that I have not released this episode! I recorded this at the end of 2018. The 2019 range had not been released, we talk about a secret new pro model, which ended up being the Phoenix, Tristan Cardillo Pro model. Forgive the delay of this episode, it is still relevant, at the end I mention that we have not talked about any of the models and we will have to do part two to discuss the Rocket Longboard decks.

This episode is all about how Daniel got into board building, how he built Rocket, his business philosophy, his board building techniques and values.

If you have ever had the urge to build something, you will enjoy the story that unfolds in this episode.

Oct 18, 201902:19:57
The one word that got me kicked out of longboarding

The one word that got me kicked out of longboarding

Reconciliation

This is the word that got me kicked out of longboarding.

That was the subject of an email I sent to an Australian distributor and the result was losing the Hopkin Skate reseller account.

This is not a sad or an angry podcast, it is an interesting one. I feel I need to tell this story to move on and give some context about why I stopped podcasting. This episode is not really about the distributor, it is about me and my opinion on the business of longboarding and how distribution works in Australia. More about the industry than the sport, if that is not your thing, wait a few days, I have an awesome Rocket Longboards interview I did last year. 

If you prefer to read, a full transcript of this podcast is on the Hopkin Skate blog.

Oct 15, 201944:20
Jackson Shapiera on ABC radio
Jun 24, 201911:23
The Breakfast Show podcast

The Breakfast Show podcast

I ask the 2018 guests of the podcast, what did they have for breakfast?
Jan 29, 201937:31
#19 - Getting pitted with Jackson Shapiera

#19 - Getting pitted with Jackson Shapiera

Jackson Shapiera and Hop talk downhill skateboard racing
Jan 28, 201901:42:30
#18 - Kavon Zamanian: capturing pure downhill skateboarding

#18 - Kavon Zamanian: capturing pure downhill skateboarding

Kavon Zamanian is a unique downhill skateboarding film maker, he travels the world, bombing hills and making videos.
Dec 13, 201801:47:31
Talking downhill with Max Heaton

Talking downhill with Max Heaton

Last night I caught up with Max Heaton, a Queensland skater heavily into the downhill scene, and we talk downhill.
Nov 30, 201836:55
#17 - The Slide Jam Podcast

#17 - The Slide Jam Podcast

Brendan the local grom put on a small slide jam and Hop interviews some of the skaters
Nov 29, 201852:10
Real talk with Jeffery Vyain the owner of Pantheon Longboards

Real talk with Jeffery Vyain the owner of Pantheon Longboards

This episode I catch up with Jeffery Vyain of Pantheon Longboards at the foot of the Colorado mountains. We chat about his product line up, and the emotion behind moving some production to China.
Nov 29, 201837:03
#16 - Getting the band back together with Evren Ozan

#16 - Getting the band back together with Evren Ozan

A conversation with Evren Ozan about Laguna Beach downhill and why he has created his own longboard brand of decks.
Nov 28, 201859:45
A week of news in eSk8

A week of news in eSk8

James Hopkin snd Jeremy Bogan talk about the Mellow getting acquired, are 6 month warranties fair?, Skooter rental business model and will there be a mass esk8 rental business? Inboard and making a skooter! So much more, thanks for listening.
Nov 28, 201826:42
It’s my birthday, I have a present for you...

It’s my birthday, I have a present for you...

It is just Hop in this episode talking about podcasts. Four good podcasts and the episodes I enjoyed the most.
Nov 23, 201808:35
Safety on esk8 Wednesday

Safety on esk8 Wednesday

Jeremy from Jed Boards and James Hopkin talk safety and laws affecting electric skateboarding.
Nov 21, 201822:59
#15 - Talking community and the scene with Ryan Villa

#15 - Talking community and the scene with Ryan Villa

Conversation with Ryan Villa at Subsonic Skateboards
Nov 17, 201801:37:52
Wednesday is eSk8 day!!

Wednesday is eSk8 day!!

Talking to Jeremy from Jed Boards and Boa Wheels from the factory in China. We ask the hard questions: when the fck am I going to get my Jed board?!? Lots of great info, we talk about notable esk8 products this year and Black Friday specials!!! And a tip on pricing (hint buy your Jed before December)
Nov 14, 201832:33
First Episode

First Episode

First episode of Skate Every Day, I kick it off with Dan Pape from Japan. The big news this week in downhill skateboarding is the tragic death of Brazilian skater Allysson Pastrana at Rio Vista race in Brazil. It is a subject that breaks my heart but it would be disrespectful if we did not talk about it and how it might affect the sport in the future.
Nov 13, 201834:54
#14 - Skateboard collecting with Andrew Maunsell

#14 - Skateboard collecting with Andrew Maunsell

Collecting skateboards for fun and profit with Andrew Maunsell
Nov 06, 201801:48:49
#13 - Thiago Gomes Lessa (part 2) - Thiago drops the mic

#13 - Thiago Gomes Lessa (part 2) - Thiago drops the mic

Thiago drops the mic
Oct 31, 201801:57:56
#12 Thiago Gomes Lessa (part 1) - to be the best in the world

#12 Thiago Gomes Lessa (part 1) - to be the best in the world

Part one of the Thiago Lessa interview: from the beginning of racing to development of Cuei wheels and becoming World Champion
Oct 27, 201801:58:50
#11 - Calvin Skinner and how to build a skate brand

#11 - Calvin Skinner and how to build a skate brand

A wide ranging talk with Calvin Skinner about his Beggars brand, the industry and longboard community.
Oct 17, 201801:44:04
#10 - Ghetto tips with Matteo

#10 - Ghetto tips with Matteo

A quick tip episode: what to use if you dont have Poron or a Torque block
Oct 07, 201806:12
#9 - Mitch Thompson interview

#9 - Mitch Thompson interview

Hop interviews Mitch Thompson one of Australia's top downhill skateboard racers
Sep 23, 201801:47:00
#8 - Concrete Wave magazine and the fine print

#8 - Concrete Wave magazine and the fine print

my favourite Concrete Wave "fine print" story: Trif-dog and the Newport Beach hill bomb.
Sep 08, 201823:54
#7 - Harry Clarke: living the Chopstar lifestyle

#7 - Harry Clarke: living the Chopstar lifestyle

Harry Clarke is one of the young guns of downhill, he travels the world skateboard racing and we find out how he does it!
Aug 04, 201801:26:45
#6 - Brennan Bast and what it is like to skate at 140kph (87mph)

#6 - Brennan Bast and what it is like to skate at 140kph (87mph)

Brennan Bast is one of the fastest downhill skateboarders in Australia, we interviewed him at Newtons about racing, trying to break the World Speed record and how to get into downhill skateboarding.
Jun 02, 201840:26
#5 - Dan Pape: the longboarding visionary

#5 - Dan Pape: the longboarding visionary

Dan Pape interview part one: The start of Canadian downhill to SkateSlate
May 24, 201801:55:07
#4 - James Hopkin: Top Ten Newtons

#4 - James Hopkin: Top Ten Newtons

My top ten Newton's stories from the World Cup skateboard downhill race ASRA does on Mt Panorama
Jan 16, 201801:20:27
#1 - Introduction and Max Ballesteros Mt Kiera race final

#1 - Introduction and Max Ballesteros Mt Kiera race final

The introductory episode with bonus Max Ballesteros interview
Dec 30, 201721:21
#3 - Jeremy Bogan: How to make the ultimate electric skateboard

#3 - Jeremy Bogan: How to make the ultimate electric skateboard

How to build the perfect electric skateboard with Jeremy Bogan from Jed Boards.
Dec 30, 201756:16
#2 - Emily Pross: Why she is faster than you!

#2 - Emily Pross: Why she is faster than you!

Emily Pross is one of the fastest human on a skateboard. Currently ranked number 1 in womens and 9th overall. We find out what makes Emily so unique.
Dec 30, 201701:36:56