We recently caught up with Crimson Skateboards team manager Charlie Thomas, which wasn't an easy task. He and team Crimson had just finished trekking across the Midwest doing demos and signings-hitting 23 stops in just 15 days. Yeah, we think it sounded like fun, too, but just a tad exhausting, so we were pretty happy when Charlie set some time aside to chat with us about skating, veganism, and KFC.
What are some of your favorite places to skate, and why?
Street skating and mini ramps are my favorite. Just being able to push down the street and adapt to things that weren't meant for skating feels the best.
How old were you when you went vegan, and what kind of an impact has the lifestyle had on your overall life, including your skating?
I moved out to California when I was 23 to be closer to the skateboard industry. A short time before moving out, I gave up eating meat for Lent, and my body started feeling better and I found myself not craving meat, so when I made the move, I decided to stick to a vegetarian diet. After a little more than a year, I decided that going vegan would only mean cutting a few more things out of my diet that my body didn't need anyway. Since becoming vegan, my overall health has improved and I feel better than I have in many years. It also feels good to give back by not contributing to the harming of animals and living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle through veganism. I feel like I have added some longevity to my skateboarding career by leading a vegan lifestyle.
There is definitely a higher percentage of skaters who are vegetarian or vegan, when compared to other sports. Any ideas on why this might be?
I think that the individualism in skateboarding and its camaraderie contribute to the higher percentage of vegetarian or vegan athletes than other sports. There is no coach, trainer, or other authority figure telling you what to eat and how to train. Skaters are always more willing to listen to their peers about new things and are more open-minded and willing to try new things.
What's your favorite vegan snack that's always within arm's reach?
I can't really say that I have one favorite in particular. It varies all the time, but some of my favorites include Odwalla bars, veggie jerky, almond butter balls, and dark chocolate mint squares.
If you could say anything to Col. Sanders, what would it be?
You should start using soy protein and stop killing chickens!
Any advice for people out there who are considering going vegetarian or vegan but are afraid they're not going to have anything to eat?
Nothing could be further from the truth! There is so much more than just fruits and vegetables in the veggie diet. With all the meat and dairy substitutes out there today, your favorite meat dish can easily be made vegan. . Don't be afraid to try some new things.
What do you think is the most effective way of dealing with companies like KFC?
The best way of dealing with them is through public knowledge and educating the general public about where their meals come from.
Why do you think it's important to speak out about issues that you feel strongly about?
If we don't stand up for the things that we believe in, then things will never change and you are doomed to let others make your choices for you.
Any last words of great wisdom to pass on?
Don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. I also believe that if you explain to people the benefits of leading a vegetarian lifestyle, rather than trying to force-feed the info to them, you'll be a lot more successful.
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Want to help animals but haven't quite made the switch to a veg diet yet? Start by taking the Veg Pledge! It's much easier than you think to stop eating animals, so give it a try—click below to get started. You won't be sorry.
Get even more active for animals by joining the peta2 Street Team. You'll be helping animals and earning free stuff at the same time. It's a win-win situation.
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