Talking With SK8RATS Creator Shane Auckland
How did Sk8rats get started?
SK8RATS as a brand started back in like 2011 after I left working for The Berrics. My good friend Jake Shumaker who I grew up with in Machias WA, Jake put some graphics together and made our logo and I got SK8RATS trademarked and got the online store going.
The first Sk8rats video that came out in 2004. How do you feel when you look back to those days?
So hyped you know about SK8RATS Volume One haha. Those were the days and I had no idea what I was really doing. I feel like the early days will always be the best days because you’re truly out here having fun, just being a kid and having fun.
Do you have a favorite out of all the full-lengths you filmed? And if you do, why is that one your favorite?
If I had to pick probably SK8RATS Volume One. It’s the worst in regard to filming and editing, but the best at the same time, just pure fun with my friends and not taking things to serious and being a kid. Adulthood sucks haha.
Do you like re-watching the videos you filmed after their finished and out? Or do you avoid watching them once it’s done and published?
I’m totally down to re-watch our vids, that’s never really bothered me. It’s fun watching all the memories with friends.
What are you filming with nowadays? Do you still have the VX?
So most of my SK8RATS content is still all VX1000 and freelance work for other skate companies I use my HXP170.
Do you have a grand vision when filming for something? Or do you avoid overthinking when filming for a video?
I don’t really think too much for grand vision when filming. I kinda like it coming together naturally and putting the puzzle together later on, but with that said, I do kinda have an idea where certain tricks will fall on the timeline and how I might transition a clip to clip, depending how I filmed it. I do kinda edit in my head while filming thinking how it this clip will come into play, so a little bit of vision you could say.
Do you remember the first camera you got?
I do indeed, my folks got it for me from a pawnshop, it was some sort of VHS-C Camera.
What aspects of being a filmer do you enjoy the most? And which do you enjoy the least?
The parts I enjoy the most is the adventure filming gives you, which goes along with street skating in general. It’s always an adventure and something new. Plus all the creativity it brings. The worst parts are probably the toll it does to your body. I’m 35 this year and my left knee has no cartilage left in it from filming and there’s arthritis forming in my hands and right elbow. I’ve definitely have sacrificed my body for filming the homies but I don’t regret it at all.
As sk8rats has grown over the years, what are some of the most important business lessons and also life lessons that you’ve learned?
If I’m being honest, the main lesson is that there is no real money in the skateboarding industry. It’s very small percentage of companies out there making real money and money that can pay their riders a real wage. If you start some sort of skate company, do it because you love skating and not really looking to make money. I feel like the biggest life lesson you can take from skating is get back up and try again, the patience skating teaches is amazing.
What was the process of getting your product into skate shops? How did you navigate that when you first began the process?
Just getting skate shops emails and phone numbers and hitting them up. It’s pretty much just always been me getting gear into shops and our online store.
On your website you mention that in 2011 you teamed up with Corey Kennedy and Jake Shumaker to take sk8rats to the next level. What was 2011 like? And what kind of changes happened after teaming up with those two friends?
In the time frame is when I left The Berrics after working there for a few years, I figured why not get some gear made and start a little online store made/website and see where it goes. My good friend Jake who I grew up with in Machias WA was there from the beginning of SK8RATS Volume One and made the SK8RATS Logo. Jake is a legend!
What advice would you give to a young skateboard videographer now that you’ve been filming for so long?
The best advice I could give is to do it because you love it, at this point with DVDs being dead and social media taking over the world, there’s not much money in being a skate filmer, so you gotta do it because you love it.
What are some of your favorite skate videos and/or video parts?
Rick McCrank has always been my fav, so any part from Rick will always be a fav. I mean his Yeah Right part is just so iconic in my opinion. Video wise probably anything Jason Hernandez is attached to. His filming and editing is so good. I will always strive to be as good as Jason, as should everyone else. Filming these days have gotten so lazy in my opinion, everyone just films dad cam style.
Do you have any favorite filmer parts?
That’s an easy one, any of Grant Yansura’s parts <3
Are you working on anything new?
Currently my good friend Travis Harrison and I have a new SK8RATS part that we sent over to Thrasher. I have this 8 min long edit I did with Cory from last summer that Girl Skateboards should be posting soon. Shawn Hale and I have a new VX part we are wrapping up soon, keep an eye out for those projects!
Any final thoughts?
Thank you for hitting me up to do this interview, and for anyone out there looking to pick up a camera, remember to do it because you love it, don’t try and chase the clout or anything, just enjoy the time with your friends and be creative. Also make sure you steady shot is turned off when filming fish.
Sk8rats social:
Website: https://sk8rats.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sk8rat
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sk8rats/
Interview by: Erick Carrada