My Interview with Salvage Boards Founder, Andre Drescher (Yahoo! Sports Reprint - 2011) #ThrowbackThursday

Ask a group of people what constitutes a craftsman and you are likely to get a variety of answers. Nestled within the Pacific Northwest City of Olympia, near the southern end of Puget Sound, is an old school skateboarder and surfer. His name is Andre Drescher and he owns Salvage Boards.

Sporting a look that resembles a cleaned up Jerry Garcia, with the sounds of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the air, a swirl of sawdust around his feet and a vibe all his own, Drescher puts a little bit of soul into every skateboard he makes. To me that makes him a craftsman, which is why I sought him out for an interview in 2011.

Here’s what Drescher had to say when asked about his craft, skateboarding and what it is like being a small businessman in today’s world:

Gonzalez: Please explain what inspired you to start Salvage Boards and give a bit of history about the company.

Drescher: I grew up in Mission Beach California where I had been skateboarding and surfing since I was about ten. Kids in my neighborhood were either in the water or skating the streets, and we weren’t rich so we would do what we had to do to keep the fun going. We would experiment with making our own boards, and for me this started at around the age of twelve.

Many years later when my son Jesse became interested in skateboarding we did what most folks do, we made the rounds visiting various skate shops, checking out all the different boards. The boards and gear changed a bit since I was a kid, but pretty much every company was cranking out the same stuff. Each board was very similar to all the others, so I decided that instead of going with the standard mass-produced board I would make one myself, thus making it a one-of-a-kind and it would also hold sentimental value, since I crafted it by hand.

Once I started with that one board I guess I was hooked and my love of skateboard making was rekindled. The idea of using salvaged wood made sense to me, I just couldn’t see going main stream with my boards I wanted them to be unique and not like the others, plus I wanted in some way to make a difference. As the boards evolved they started to become a statement about how I view the unnecessary waste and consumption of our natural resources. I wanted my business to be a positive contribution by being ecologically conscious, so that’s basically how Salvage Boards was born.

Gonzalez: As someone who has been in the skate scene since the 1970s what would you say has been the biggest change to the sport and what are your thoughts on that change?

Drescher: Well, I guess the fact that skate boarding became a sport and a huge industry is a major change when you look at the evolution of skating. Park skating took off and was enmeshed with the extreme sports period, which made park skating very popular and the industry remained focused on this style for a long time. There has been a very competitive edge to park skating and that has created some important benefits, such as technological advancements that have benefited all skaters, but sometimes whether its surfing or skating there can be an element of exclusivity, so I really enjoy the idea of opening up the sport to everyone.

One of the things that I really try to emphasize when it comes to skateboarding is that it should be inclusive and about the fun. Novices can get intimidated by the more experienced rider, so one of my goals with Salvage Boards is to make everyone feel welcome and hopefully we can erode some of the barriers that get formed when riders take themselves too seriously. Skateboarding is a great high and there’s no better feeling than the camaraderie you have when you’re cruising and carving with your friends.

Gonzalez: Do you find the public’s interest in longboarding increasing and if so, what do you think that will mean for Salvage Boards as well as the skateboarding industry as a whole?

Drescher: I see longboarding becoming popular and finally gaining recognition not only here in the U.S., but also worldwide. I have friends that have really taken to downhill longboarding and it seems to be taking a path similar to surfing. With surfing some of us would travel the distance in search of that perfect wave and now I’m checking out videos and blogs of longboarders traveling to find the best hills. I see this bringing more attention to the longboarding scene.

I’ve also noticed that longboarding is becoming an alternative to our usual modes of transportation. Due to our economy consumers out of necessity have increased their use of public transportation, and bike riding as well as skateboarding, which is really evident when you live in a college town as I do.

Our students here in Olympia, Washington, tend to be ecologically conscious and aware that their generation is facing some very serious challenges, one of them being climate change, so because of our shared concern Salvage Boards has gained a lot of interest and support from our community by promoting a green product.

Gonzalez: In your opinion how does the culture of longboarding differ from other skateboarding disciplines?

Drescher: Since I was a kid in Mission Beach I remember there were two types of skaters and the difference between the two was also reflected in ones style of surfing. I rode a longboard surfboard and I enjoyed catching the waves that gave me the longest ride, and there were the surfers that rode the short surfboards and they were all about shredding, so I guess the similarities correspond. I’m a mellow dude, so I like casual cruising and skating down hills that allow me to gain speed and carve freely basically simulating surfing. And then you have the short boarders who might just be a bit ampier and really enjoy doing tricks and ripping it up, it’s all good.

Gonzalez: Do you still skateboard? If so, what is your favorite skateboard set-up, how often do you skate and where?

Drescher: Yeah, I’m forty-seven now, but I still get out as often as time and weather will permit. I go out riding with our Salvage Board crew the “Crash Test Dummies” they’re a great group of kids that support what we do, and I couldn’t be luckier to have them as friends.

In the Pacific Northwest we definitely have a short season, so we go heavy in the summer and get very stoked when we get a few dry days in the winter, but we try not to let it dampen our spirits, no pun intended.

My favorite set up lately is my 38” pintail with 76mm wheels. We have a few choice spots in the outlying areas of Oly that we like to ride and when the business activity slows down we bomb through town, but we keep it chill and make a point not to ruffle any feathers.

Gonzalez: In your personal opinion, how has the skateboarding scene in Washington State changed over the years and what is it like now?

Drescher: I can only speak for the last six-years since I’m a transplant to Washington state and I’m really only privy to the skating scene here in Olympia which is where I now call home. From what I understand there’s been a local skating presence here for quite a while and there are also skaters who migrate here as students to attend The Evergreen State College.

These skaters bring their own personal flavor of skating from all over the U.S. and abroad. I have noticed an increasing interest and participation in boarding specifically in downhill longboarding, it’s not really what I’m involved in personally, but I’m really interested to see how far this sport will go. I think interest in longboarding is going to continue to increase and I’m looking forward to contributing my share of enthusiasm for longboarding.

Gonzalez: I have read that you have created custom skateboards out of church pews, cabinets, doors and a whole host of other recycled materials. With that said, what has been your most favorite medium to work with?

Drescher: When you are dealing with salvaged wood products it’s a treasure hunt and supply isn’t always consistent, so rather than lean on a specific wood product my primary objective at Salvage Boards is to reclaim the best quality wood that will withstand the abuse of skateboarding, so I root out the high grade birch and maple because it works best and it’s the most aesthetically appealing.

Gonzalez: What has been your most memorable custom skateboard project to date and why?

Drescher: Besides the first board I made for my son Jesse it would have to be the board I made for a family friend. The board was made as a memorial for our friend’s father who died in a motorcycle accident this year. I made the board out of an old church pew that had a natural concave built right into the wood. Our friend’s father was a union carpenter, so we put artwork on it that reflected his affiliation with his local union and a drawing of an arm holding a hammer. This particular board holds a lot of sentimental value for everyone involved.

Gonzalez: Do you have any new custom boards releasing in the near future and if so what are they and when are they releasing?

Drescher: At present I have a collection of thirteen designs which are my standard shapes and I’m working on a new design, which I will have more details nearer to its release in April 2012. The new design I’m calling my hybrid and it will still have the old school flavor I am known for, but it will be a bit different from what I have been making to date.

For those who are not familiar with Salvage Boards they are not replicas of the older 70’s boards they are bits and pieces of past memories combined with an appreciation for the beauty of wood that otherwise would have ended up in a landfill. So I want to share a bit of history and I do this by bringing back a style reminiscent of what I grew up with. My designs expose the natural wood rather than hide it with graphics and grip tape. I make my own grip that allows the artwork as well as the wood grain to pop through.

Gonzalez: What inspires you to create a new board?

Drescher: This newer generation really inspires me to create these boards, because I want them to experience and understand what quality and craftsmanship looks like. I ride with a lot of kids my sons age, he’s 19, so many of these kids have only been exposed to the newer decks, which many are mass produced and imported by the major companies.

Today we are getting cookie cutter mass produced products that are shiny and pretty, but they have no soul and unfortunately our kids are becoming accustomed to and accepting of inferior products that are stamped out exclusively for big profit. These boards are shipped in and marketed to our youth without any regard of the impact it is placing on our global environment, our economy, and the future of our kids to obtain viable employment opportunities, so this is also a total disregard to the youth who are the very consumers these companies are marketing to.

All U.S. business’s in general need to be responsible to our kids future and work toward building and maintaining a manufacturing base here, which is greatly needed. I’m a small craftsman who hopes to expand and create jobs in manufacturing, so this is a subject that I feel strongly about. It’s about our kids having an ability to make their dreams come true, so this is what inspires me.

Gonzalez: How long does it take you to create a custom board from idea to finished product?

Drescher: It varies, but if we’re talking about custom artwork on an existing shape probably one week, but if we are talking about a custom shape, that entails a process that is more involved, so probably about three weeks on average. My business at this point is small but as it expands so will its efficiency and the ability to implement processes that will increase speed.

Gonzalez: Among the other artists who work with skateboards whose work do you favor?

Drescher: One of my skater buddies turned me on to Haroshi, his work is incredible and in a realm in which I could never enter. I am amazed at what he is able to create from old decks. I think his work is a major statement about the limitless possibilities there are for creating beauty out of something that would otherwise be considered refuse.

Gonzalez: I love Haroshis work as well. The man is clearly a creative genius. How much are your custom made boards selling for and how can skaters get their hands on one?

Drescher: I keep my prices very competitive and sometimes I get people saying I should sell them for much more because of all the work it takes in sourcing my wood and the fact that they are hand crafted and not mass produced, but I plan to keep my prices competitive because I really want everyone to ride my boards not just an elite group who have deep pockets.

My decks that are up to 36” sell for $89 and over 36” are $99, but the price does increase for custom artwork and a custom shape, but even on customs my board prices will never become out of reach for the average shopper. I have a new website and I can also be reached through email at salvageboards@yahoo.com and Facebook.

Gonzalez: How have the recession and the recent downgrading of America’s credit rating affected your business and what are you doing differently, if anything, to counter the effects?

Drescher: I’m a small business man who has always had to be very frugal and resourceful, so that behavior hasn’t changed. Making products out of a salvaged material is by nature a practice of desired sustainability so as long as I keep my eye on this goal I will just continue to forge ahead on my path to the best of my ability.

There are extenuating circumstances that affect every business man, but I feel as long as I stay true to my core values for Salvage Boards we will just take it as it comes and stay positive. Boarding is a great stress reliever and makes you pretty agile, which helps as your trying to maneuver in today’s business world. When the going gets tough at least I have boarding to look forward to. It’s all good.

Gonzalez: What social causes are you passionate about and why?

Drescher: I’m all about making positive changes in one self, which radiates within your immediate family, thus branching out to ones community and this in turn promotes positive changes globally. When you uplift someone in your life it has an effect on another, a pay it forward type of philosophy. I have been involved in charities to raise funds for college scholarships and other fundraisers for programs such as Habitat for Humanity. We also try to lend our hand in supporting artisans and we are presently putting together a fundraiser focused on our local starving artists to promote their work.

Gonzalez: What person do you most admire (living or dead) and why?

Drescher: The person that popped into my mind is Albert Einstein, because although he was a genius he also had a wisdom that was down to earth and humble. I admire that no matter how much intellect he had he never took himself too seriously and I think that is something we can all learn from.

These are some of my favorite quotes, which I think are relevant. “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” and finally: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Gonzalez: If you could make a custom skateboard for any famous person in the world, who would it be and what would the skateboard’s design entail?

Drescher: I have been a huge fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers since their early years. I love their music which resonates to me a familiarity within their lyrics and style that leads me to believe we may have had similar experiences growing up in Southern California. I would make a board for Anthony Kiedis the lead singer and I would do it in a style that would be my interpretation of how I see, hear and feel about their music. As a matter of fact I listen to their music all the time when I’m making boards so I guess they all have a bit of Peppers in each one.

Gonzalez: If you could only be remembered for one thing what would it be and why?

Drescher: How much I care about my family. My family consists of my wife and children, but also extends to friends and to my greater community, so what I would like to be remembered for is that I made an attempt to be a good friend and I think that that’s what life is all about, be nice to those who love you and try to reach out to those who don’t, but whatever the outcome we will all be better for trying.

Author's Note: This interview was originally published on Yahoo! Sports in 2011. Since then, all rights to the article have reverted back to me.