Ban KarpinskiDane Burman, f/s feeble.After winning the 2010 "Australian Skater of the Year" award, Sydney's Dane Burman took some contest savings and invested in a plane ticket to Vista, Calif., where he roughed it in the Black Box warehouse for several months.
Eventually, Burman found himself being added to the main Zero and Fallen Footwear rosters, filming a section in Zero's "Strange World" and currently working on new parts for Zero's "Cold War" and Fallen's "Road Less Traveled."
Now back in Australia and suffering from bruised ribs, we caught up with Burman to discuss his rise through the Zero ranks and his haphazard attempts at becoming a barber. Enter Dane Burman.
ESPN: Why are all Australians such super humans?
Burman: I wouldn't say we're super humans, I don't see many of us possessing any sort of power. (Matt) Mumford has the awesome ability to smash his head apart at any given moment, Dustin (Dollin) has the ability to tear his ACL and be skating again a week later, I guess … Are there any other Australians? Oh Chima (Ferguson) … He's pretty super human, but he's good at everything.
How did you end up with a part in "Strange World"?
My part in "Strange World" came about after being on Zero and Fallen flow in Australia for years. I won a few grand in a comp one day and used the money to buy a plane ticket to the U.S. I stayed at Black Box and begged people to take me skating every day. I ended up filming a handful of tricks and then went home after three months. After that, Jamie called me and asked me to come back if I thought I could film a full part for the video. He flew me back and I finished my part in about six months.
What's your best story about cutting off someone's hair?
(Laughs) I don't know if I have many stories about cutting off hair. My friend Callum has super long blond hair and I've had a hack at it a few times when he was partying, and I did cut out one of Ed Duff's dreads in a restaurant one night. He was talking about how he'd wanted to cut them for ages but didn't have the guts to really commit to it. So I walked behind him, flipped out a knife and cut one … It didn't go down well …
Who is your favorite Australian skateboarder of all time?
My favorite Australian skateboarder is probably Dustin (Dollin). I love dudes with a lot of heart and you can see it in Dustin's skating. He's just going for it because he loves getting it, you know? He's not scared to get broken off, he's just after that feeling constantly. I love that.
Why haven't you moved to the States permanently?
I haven't moved permanently because it's a pain to get a visa. I'd like to be there but it's not that simple. I really need to get on that, but I don't really have the money or the means right now.
Ben Karpinski180 switch crook down a freshly painted square rail.
What do you spend your time doing when you're hurt?
When I'm hurt I still just go around with all the boys. Watch them skate, heckle them, and do all the stuff that goes along with skating without actually skating. I've done it the last few days because I fell on my ribs skating a rail and my chest is all messed up. If it's so bad I can't walk I'll sit around and set up boards or just sit on the 'net for days …
What is in the works for Dane Burman?
I guess right now I'm helping Chris Middlebrook finish off his part in the next Transworld video. It's another one where filmers all have their own montage. And then I'm also trying to get a bunch done for the next Zero video "Cold War." I'm not sure how long I've got for that but my part is looking über weak. And I'd like to be going on more Fallen trips to film for Road Less Traveled [what is it?] too. I've been having fun traveling the world and just seeing so much different stuff so it'll be interesting to see how that video turns out. I think I'll really enjoy it though because it'll just remind me of how awesome all the cities are that we've been to.
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