Conversations with Coach Evan, The “Shred Sensei”

Today we’d like to introduce you to Coach Evan, The “Shred Sensei”.

Hi Coach Evan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
At 10 years old, in the late 90s, I saw a videogame made by Tony Hawk and instantly fell in love with skateboarding as a toy, activity, community, and lifestyle. Although I didn’t know about any skate lessons or camps, I studied as much as I possibly could from still photos and photo sequences in skateboard magazines. It was also the era before you could just Youtube a tutorial video or google search for a local instructor. I obsessively studied pro skater stunt highlight videos on repeat. I only got mild injuries and was often frustrated, intimidated, and discouraged, but because of this intense draw to skateboarding, I didn’t give up. Eventually, I applied for a sponsorship and made the cut. I also placed well in some local and online contests and learned that sometimes heart, determination, passion, and persistence can beat out natural talent.

Not only did I get sponsorships, hired performance gigs, and speaking opportunities, but I also got invited to travel to perform and teach around the World. Since 2006, I’ve been honing my craft as a skateboarding educator. My small business has steadily grown to reach and serve more people in my local area, and the internet allows me to speak to those feeling stuck or stalled out in their own progression. My business serves those who wish to learn basics like safety, balance, proper technique, and skatepark etiquette, or progress to compete, get sponsored and stand out with more advanced and unique tricks. I believe God blessed me with the skills, and abilities to connect with my students in a fun, clear way, that empowers them to enjoy the process of failure and success. Honestly, this sport is failing forward towards each win, and my students get to do that more safely than I did growing up. I intend to serve many more people as I perfect my methods and expand in the future.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Just like my students, I’ve battled with self-doubt, and procrastination at times. My journey has not been as successful as I hoped in some ways, and more successful than I can believe. For instance, I’ve not yet been awarded the coveted achievement of a signature model skateboard, but I have gotten to make a humble living through skateboarding, travel to many places in the world, share my faith and methods with thousands, and even meet my wife because of skateboarding.

Some other bumps in the road are the non-skate-related challenges common within entrepreneurship like learning more about running a business, self-marketing, and scaling. Another struggle worth mentioning is that I live in a state where it snows and gets cold in the winter, but I’ve been stretched to learn how to survive and continue operating without an expensive indoor facility. Skateboarding teaches me to persist and not give up so enduring the elements and learning to teach my students the same has been an unexpected blessing.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
This past October, I had the huge honor to be featured on-screen at a local skateboarding movie premiere alongside some of my biggest inspirations and mentors. Many of my clients came and got to see the other side of my skateboarding, which is a completely different pace than how they see me at work. I grew up watching three local skaters push the limits and boundaries while making their own skate movies every couple of years. I was a huge fan and my style developed specifically due to the influence they had on me. After years of interaction, I earned trust with them, became friends, and ended up working on a project together. We spent almost a decade helping each other work to level up our maneuvers and film them in an exciting way, then painstakingly edited the clips together to match music that fits each skater’s personality.

Not only did I get to showcase some exciting unique tricks that night, but I got lots of my music recommendations and artistic shots filmed on the GoPro and iPhone also featured throughout the film. This is the number one type of project that is my favorite to create as an athlete and artist. Musicians have their albums and greatest hits compilations, and we have skate videos. I pride myself on putting forth loads of effort to create professional-caliber skate videos on a shoestring budget, while also inspiring young skaters as role models. I am unique because I resist the common pitfalls in skateboarding such as alcoholism, drug use, profanity, vandalism, and anti-God-related imagery. The movie premiere was validation for me that it IS possible to be a God-fearing husband, involved dad, positive role model, entrepreneur, and successful creative skateboarder without compromising my values.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned so far along my journey is that you have to set measurable goals, chip away at them, and eventually, they become attainable.

It is quite common to see the big picture but not be able to see which steps lead to that end goal. I’m learning to embrace consistent, daily investments that aren’t seen by the public, but the payoff in the long run.

Pricing:

• Customizable Birthday Parties Starting at $300
• Group lessons for only $40/student (minimum signup- 2 students)
• Private Skateboarding Coaching program lesson packages vary. Inquire for details.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @rockymountain_shredschool
• Facebook: facebook.com/rmshredschool
• Youtube: @shred-sensei

Image Credits
Michael Torres, Joel Freeman, and John Andrus