TENGA VOICE: Eli Reed (Pro Skater)

"TENGA's very different, nothing really compares to TENGA - not just because of how well they work but "they're original.""

This edition features Eli Reed, an NY-based pro skater representing the East Coast. Read on for our conversation about what it’s like to be a pro skater, his visit to Japan, and TENGA!

Tell us a little bit about what it’s like being a "Pro Skater" in the US. A lot of places in Japan ban skateboarding and keep it heavily restricted. Is the situation any better back in your homeland?

I’m not sure if I can answer what it’s like overall, but skateboarding is pretty much restricted all over the world unless you’re in a skate park.

Speaking of which, thanks for joining us at the HLNA skate park here in Tokyo the other day.

No problem, it was a lot of fun!

I imagine you must keep in good athletic shape to do what you do, but do you have any other sporting background?

I try to stay limber through stretching and basic routines, but not much otherwise. I played a lot of basketball as a kid before I really picked up skateboarding.

Skating as a profession: how hard is it to make a living out of it and get to where you are now? Tell us a little about the ER Brand.

It’s really fuckin’ hard, bro. You’ve gotta have real motivation behind you. I skate for respect. I have a brand now called ER (Eli Reed), but it’s really just an extension of me and my personality.

How did you first encounter TENGA?

I get along with the guys at Frank 151, who worked with TENGA on the Keith Haring collaboration project, and they told me about it. I saw the products for the first time during a visit to their office in New York.

What was your first impression of our products?

They’re cool, bro. A little odd the first time you see them, and I don’t know how the average American would view them. But they’re very different and nothing really compares to TENGA—not just because of how well they work, but because they’re original.

Lastly, any words for Japanese skaters out there?

Keep skating, no matter what.

During his trip to Japan, Eli joined us at the KAWAKAZE Skate Park in Yamanashi Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, which is currently being torn down due to government orders. You can view his interview at the park right here.