Corey Duffel Real Street interview

Real Street: Corey Duffel

Walnut Creek, Calif. 26 Years OldTags: Skate, Corey Duffel, Real Street, X Games, X Games 16

Real Street: Corey Duffel

ESPN.com: Tell us a little about filming for this Real Street video. How did it feel to film for this compared to filming for other video parts you've worked on in the past?
Corey Duffel: I only had six weeks to film for this part, man. I came straight out of a really bad knee injury into filming. There was no down time at all. I know a lot of these guys will have footage in these parts that is like two years old. Not me (laughs). Half of it is homey-cam stuff too!

Brian YoungDuffel looking pensive in a field but not pensive about the field of competition.

Speaking of filming, what filmer/editor did you work with for the Real Street vid and what's you're relationship like with him?
That was the real crazy part about this project. I didn't have a set filmer. There aren't too many filmers up here (Walnut Creek, Ca). So half the time I was calling a friend trying to get him to go out after a full week of working a normal job. It was not easy. TransWorld filmer Chris Ray put it all together for me though. I am so happy he did it too because he was right in the middle of filming for the new TWS video, "Hallelujah." So we got everything together and turned it in I think like, three weeks early, just so Ray had time to finish "Hallelujah." I am so thankful he helped me out. We've been skating together since we were kids -- seriously, since we were, like, 11. He's a good friend.

Did anything crazy happen during the filming of this part?
I hurt this muscle between my toes called my calcaneum. It makes it hard for me to move my big toe. It hurts super bad.

That's a weird injury.
You're telling me. It sucks always being hurt. Nothing bad ever used to happen to me below the waist until about two years ago. Now I can't not get hurt.

Dave ChamiCorey Duffel uses the bank to hit the wall on this burly wallride.

What do you think of the whole concept of video part for cash and prizes as opposed to a structured contest?
I guess it's cool. It is a step in the right direction. I've never been that big a fan of contests. To me it's all about how you look on a skateboard. That's something that is almost impossible to judge. I mean if Chris Cole is in it [a regular contest], no one else has a chance you know?

Was there anything you wanted to get for this part that you couldn't?
Everything! I just didn't have enough time to film for something this gnarly. Mike Sinclair [Team Manager for Foundation and mastermind behind the Real Street idea. --Ed.] told me about it six weeks ago. He was just like, "You wanna do this man?" I told him that I was just coming off of the injury and I didn't think it was enough time. He didn't care though; he pretty much made me do it (laughs).

Dave ChamiCorey Duffel blasts a frontside ollie at the legendary Hook ditch.

Of the other skaters in the contest, what skater's part are you looking forward to watching? Apart from yourself, who would you put your money on to win the whole thing?
It's so hard for me to say man. How do you judge crazy switch ledge tricks that dudes like Luan Oliveira and Sierra Fellers do against big rails and gaps like Tommy (Sandoval) and I do? I got my money on Leo (Romero). If he has any of the footage of him grinding up rails, he's got it in the bag for sure.

If you win, what will you do with the $50,000? Is it going straight into Death Beat (Corey's T-shirt and accessory company)?
I would love to put it back into the company and really get it started. The thing is, since I've been hurt I developed this really bad habit for motorcycles, man. It's bad. I owe the DMV so much money. I'd probably pay the government back some of their money and probably buy some more bikes!

Who would you like to see in next year's Real Street contest?
Some of the realest street-dudes out there like Heath Kirchart and Jason Dill. Man, how cool would it be to see Anthony Van Engelen in there?

I see where you are coming from about the style thing. The judges really have their work cut out for them.
Yeah they do. I'm just glad I'm skating in it and not judging. I wouldn't know what to do.