Welcome back, another week, another Comacan Questions Interview. This week we interviewed someone that for a long time we only knew online until we were lucky enough to catch up with him for a skate. He is a very talented skateboarder, a creative mind in many aspects and an all around awesome and humble dude. The skateboarding scene is lucky to have people like this guy within its community, please enjoy this week’s interview with Tyler Ens.
Photo by: @effectingonfilm
How did you get into skateboarding?
Since I was around four or five years old, I’ve been drawn to taking risks. It started with learning how to ride a bike, but it wasn’t until I was about ten years old that I got into skateboarding. To be perfectly honest, it was the Tony Hawk Underground video game for the PlayStation 2 that first introduced me to the culture and personality of skateboarding. Even to this day, I’ll go on YouTube and revisit the game vicariously because of how influential it was for me. I knew from the moment I played that game that I wanted to be a skateboarder. I wish I had a better story to tell but, this is the truth Haha.
What does skateboarding mean to you?
I will try and keep this as short as possible as I could talk about this forever. Skateboarding goes far beyond just the act of skateboarding for me. The mentality and behavior I’ve adopted into my daily routines because of skateboarding as a kid has resulted in everything I am today. The immense difficulty, self-discipline, and undistracted focus required to push your personal progression as far as you can take it has saved my life in countless ways. I would say that the struggle to actually accomplish seemingly impossible tasks is what skateboarding means to me the most.
Photo by: @effectingonfilm
We also know you’re involved in music. What inspires you to create music and what type of music do you make?
I love music just as much as I love skateboarding. I make some heavy rap tunes revolving around mentality struggles and dominating behavioral challenges. All my inspiration for making music is primarily derived from substantially working endlessly over the years to become a competent and well-rounded thinker and speaker. It’s scary for me to see people let their potential waste away because changing into a better personal requires too much struggle and sacrifice. It’s heartbreaking to witness, so I continue to make music about how important it indeed is to consistently push yourself.
Photo by: @effectingonfilm
What does creating music mean to you?
Creating music means everything to me at this point in my life. I strive every single day for making better music in hopes to one day establish a fulltime career as a musician. That would genuinely be the biggest dream come true, as I’m sure you could imagine.
Do you have other creative outlets you enjoy?
Although, it may not be as much of a creative outlet as you may think. I’m currently writing a book about the severity of competency in human behaviors. Even though a lot of creativity is essential when writing in an engaging way, to compartmentalize thought and truth is more of a logistical and disciplined endeavor. I’ve been working on this book for over a year now and hope to finish it at the start of the New Year. January or February 2023 is the goal.
How do you help/inspire younger skateboarders?
I ALWAYS reward younger skateboarders when they push themselves and struggle the same way I did as a kid. Always. Encouragement could ultimately be the determining factor for if somebody continues to try their best, or give up and doubt if they will ever try again. Supporting yourself is immensely hard. I have given away skateboards, cash, headphones, trucks and wheels to a couple local skateboarding kids. It makes me personally glow inside to see young kids work endlessly hard and eventually succeed. I was never encouraged as kid so I will always do my best to encourage others.
What inspired you to keep skateboarding?
Growing up skateboarding was difficult for many reasons, but the hardest challenge was dealing with “friends” who became irritated or resentful when I progressed a little more than they did. I have never been arrogant or egotistical when it comes to skateboarding. I have always wanted the best for everybody around me. So when people tried to make me feel bad for my progression, I genuinely didn’t understand it at the time. So, what kept me skateboarding was finding actual friends who supported me no matter what, and they’re the friends I have today. Very thankful for them.
Photo by: @effectingonfilm
Is there anything you particularly like or would like to see changed within the skateboard community?
I love the skateboarding community. For the most part, people who truly hustle to become better and better at skateboarding completely understand the struggles and challenges we all face, so the relatability is always there. That being said, and like I said before, people tend to get a little bitter or resentful when others progress faster than them. We all go through this at some point, myself definitely included when I was a kid to some degree. So if I could see anything change, it would be the consistency of support. Don’t just support others when it’s easy, also support others when it’s difficult as well. But this is tough. Human beings are complex creatures, so this admirable change is absolutely more easier said than done. I think most of us try and work on this issue more often than not.
Any advice to other skateboarders or creators out there?
Of course. I’ll try and keep this as short as possible as well. Like I said before, always try and conjure up the energy to support everybody regardless of skill level. It’s so important, not only for them, but for you as well. Find yourself a good community who works hard and stays focused. You are who you hang out with so, make sure you’re hanging out with like-minded relatable folks. Also, always study others to address what they’re doing right and what you’re doing wrong. If you don’t have a sense of humility, you will never grow the way you would like to. And finally, BE HARD ON YOURSELF. It’s okay to have high expectations for yourself. If you can learn to accept and recover from failures, you will absolutely eventually succeed. In fact, you should feel healthily obligated to struggle for your potential. If you set the bar a little too low to keep comfortable, you may unfortunately sell yourself short without realizing. Do yourself a big favour and work a little harder than you think you can.
Photo by: @effectingonfilm
Anyone you’d like to thank?
Yes. Absolutely. First and foremost, thank you Comacan Skateboards for noticing and supporting me, whether it be my skateboarding or my music. It means the world to me. For real. Thank you to my friends Carl, Pedro Jon, Jordan and Dan. Keep pushing. Thank you to everyone who listens to my music. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Find me on all official music platforms – CH1LD. Finally, thank you skateboarding. I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
Photo by: @effectingonfilm