Ben Fernyhough

Interview by Warren Toombs

Ben Fernyhough is a UO student from Seattle who loves skateboarding. In response to the winter rain, Ben and his roommates constructed a half-pipe in their garage so that they would not have to leave their house in order to skate.

How long have you been skateboarding?

I have been skating since seventh grade. It is my favorite thing to do. I grew up skating and will continue to skate for as long as I can.

Have you ever been seriously injured while skateboarding?

Yes. I have. Earlier in the year I was at a skate park and broke my leg trying to do a trick that I land all the time. That is the worst part about it. It wasn’t even a difficult trick. I don’t know. It was just one of those things. I have broken other bones too but that was the most recent.

Have the injuries ever made you want to quit?

Never. I grew up skating. I have never once thought about giving up because of an injury. The thing is, it is all part of the game.

What do you mean?

I mean, a broken leg is not fun. But you have to be willing to take a risk. That is where all of the thrill comes from. Falling down and getting back up is what real skating is all about.

Have you ever gotten in trouble for skating where you were not supposed to?

Yes. Most of the time it is not a big deal if the cops show up. They usually just tell us to leave. However, one time, a policeman gave me and my friends trespassing tickets. That was a bummer.

Tell me about the half-pipe in your garage.

Its great. I can skate whenever I want, regardless of the weather. It definitely comes in handy during the winter when it is always raining. A lot of mornings I will wake up and cook breakfast. Then, while the eggs and bacon are cooking over the stove, I will walk into the garage, do a quick little session, come back into the kitchen, flip the bacon, and then do it all again. So I am actually working up an appetite by skating and cooking breakfast at the same time. It is a dream situation.

What is the history of the half-pipe?

Well, we built it over the summer. It was a really fun project and when it was finished we were really proud of ourselves. None of us had any experience with building, so it was kind of improvised. But it turned out great and actually didn’t cost that much to build.