Vlad Esaulkov
April 02, 2009 @ 5:00 AM
Last year Vlad finally moved to Moscow too. To this day, he stays at his friends’ couches, moving from one place to another. Even Vlad himself can hardly count how many apartments and houses he’s stayed in. It would seem natural that if he doesn’t have money for rent, he should stay with his sister, but she’s said that she would allow him to live with her only if he enters university. In her opinion, skateboarding is one of the most stupid activities of our time and definitely not a thing that her brother should associate his future with. Every time they meet Vlad gets a giant dose of brainwashing. She’s even offered to pay for his education if he’ll skate less and change his interests. Therefore Vlad continues his homeless life in Moscow and lives here thanks to the hospitality and kindness of his friends. By the way, his mom has always been totally supportive and has never said anything against his skating.
Vlad has recently finished filming his part for the “Absurd Theatre”, the newest and possible the best Russian skatevideo ever. Production time for this flick was quite short, around 8 months from the beginning to the end. Most of the riders got enough footage for good parts at the last moment. But Vlad had enough for at least two equally strong parts. During filming he went to Belorussia, Greece, Spain and The United Arab Emirates. On each trip Vlad was M.V.P. killing one spot after another. I promise, you will be impressed by his part, so try to get paws on this video. His part is the last one, so if you don’t understand Russian titles just wait until the end.
Recently Vlad has made a career decision that I really respect. Right now he skates for a Russian board company called Union, which is run by his friends. He was offered a place in the European team of a famous American board company, but he turned the offer down. He said that he doesn’t want to change his board sponsor only because he can be on the European team. I am pretty sure that his comrades from Union would understand, if he changed Union for a well know brand, but the fact that Vlad preferred to help his friends with promotion of their newborn company shows him have a big heart.
Right now Vlad is absolutely happy with what he is doing. He is content that he decided to move to Moscow and continue to skate. He’s got good Russian sponsors; he regularly goes on skate trips, earns some money and does this doing what he likes the most. Had he staid in Yekaterinburg, it’s not very likely that he’d had done better. Most of his friends who he started to skate with got sucked into routine jobs or studying or, as it often happens to skaters, into partying. Vlad knows that he has potential and enough skill to succeed outside Russia. He just doesn’t want to rush things. He is still a teenager and has plenty of time. I personally believe that we will run into his name in foreign skate mags much more than this once. New season is coming to Russia soon, winter and snow will be replaced by spring and sun. Right now Vlad is in the best condition he has ever been in. He is ready for big deals. Looks like his sister will never allow him to stay her apartment.
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Vlad is 18 years old and he rides for Union Skateboards, Adio shoes, Quiksilver clothing and Tensor trucks
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