I’ve got my first longboard almost 4 years ago, in May 2015. I’ve got into longboarding by other kids that live in the small city Winschoten.

What’s your favorite trick or thing to do on a board and why?

Everything with a crossland variation, but my favourite trick is the Inward heel crossland!

How did longboarding change you as a person?

I started longboarding for fun, not realising that it would become a huge part of my life. When I skate, it clears my mind and helps me thinking straight (except when I’m in a battle with a hard trick ;D).

It also taught me not to give up too fast, even when things look really difficult, the effort you’ve put into that thing would then be for nothing.

Do you currently have a sponsor? How did that happen?

Some interesting things are happening right now, but I’m not sure how much I can say about that yet. 😉

What are the benefits or perks of being sponsored?

For some people, like me, a sponsor might be necessary because I’m 16 years old and because of my school I’m not able to have a job, and usually 1 board lasts me 2 to 3 months, which would be almost 800 euros in year for just the decks.

I’ve been sponsored by Timberboards and Slide Perfect before. Being sponsored is amazing if you look at the community where you’re working with and the stuff that you’re getting for free, but it also sets quite some pressure in my mind sometimes.

I want to perform as good as I can do when I’m recording clips or skating at contests, and when it doesn’t work out it feels like a disappointment for the companies that you’re working with (even though its not their intention). It can make you forget the reason why you started to skate. Besides that it gives you a lot of exciting and amazing experiences with great people.

Do you have an everyday board, the board that you always ride with?

I’m currently skating on a Bastlboards Forró, that I’ll use until it’s done. It’s one of my favourite decks so far!

Describe your setup, what do you like about it?

I’m skating a Bastlboards Forró, with Caliber 180 mm v2 fifty’s trucks, Slide Perfect cloudy stratus 60 mm wheels and Zealous Bearings.

Do you have a friends you skate with regularly?

We don’t have a crew name or anything like that, but I’m skating a lot with my good friends Max Pieters, Merijn Jansse van Noordwijk, Wouter Woortman and Kenley Uil. I’ve known Merijn and Max from primary school and met the other guys by skating.

Who inspires you (longboarder or skateboarder) that makes you want to push your progression! Why?

There are quite some people that I look up to, but mostly Aboubakery Seck and Pablo Nicieza López-Tapia are some huge inspirations. Both guys have an amazing style, and some crazy tricks. But my friends that live near me are also a big inspiration for me, together we learn a lot of tricks while having a lot of fun.

How did this person affect the way you longboard?

My friends remind me what longboarding is all about, – having a great time together!

Describe briefly what do you do outside longboarding?

I’m currently in middle school, in Dutch you call it: VWO. It’s a pre-university education.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

9/10 times, when I try out new tricks, they work out in 5 minutes, or they don’t work out at all and I can get really frustrated, believe me, really frustrated haha.

What are your struggles right now?

The combination of school, skating and friends.

What are you most passionate about?

Skating, sometimes too much where it gets to a point that I choose skating over school, oops.

One piece of advice when struggling to land a trick

When you’re trying something for a long time and it still doesn’t work out and you’re getting frustrated, please stop and try something else and come back to it later, and keep in your mind that it’s all about having fun.

Quote that keeps you motivated

Go shred! It’s all about the big smile! – Bastlboards

Suggested Music

I’m a big fan of Tom Odell, Mac DeMarco and Billie Eilish, these artist have some great songs where I can listen to non-stop, they have some fast and slower songs that are perfect for skating.

Social Media

You can find me on Instagram at @tomisboos , and on facebook and youtube as Tom Bos.