Article by Daniel Nodzak
Images provided by Jimmy Cisz
Jimmy Cisz is a fixture of the rollerblading scene on instagram and one of the most exciting park skaters around right now. Not being one to rest on his laurels Jimmy has just released his first VOD part featuring nothing but street content and we had a chance to talk about this latest effort from the Sic Urethane and Faction Skate Company rider.
Hey Jimmy thanks for taking the time to chat with me today. Let's start from the top. Tell me about your background with skating. How did you get started?
What up Blader Union! It all started for me in 1998. I got started when my dad built me some ramps for my bike. I wasn't feeling jumping the bike at that age, so I tried on some old rec rollerblades, it was love ever since.
This is your first VOD. Apart from the obvious financial reasons, what motivated you to film a VOD specifically?
I wanted an entirely street video section. Those who follow my skating know that I post a lot more transition skating than street, so I went out there and put everything I had into this video. I was motivated to have a quality video part I could keep for the rest of my life.
How long have you been filming this video? And as a follow up do you have a story in mind that stands out as memorable that you'd be willing to share with us?
I started filming April 2021 and was done by August, as soon as I touched down in California I was hitting the most iconic spots and best swimming pools in the USA. We actually even spent a day in Malibu finding pools behind houses that had burnt in a wildfire.
Say you were talking with another blader who wasn't familiar with your skating at all. How would you describe your style in your own words?
Raw, unique, diverse, explosive, abstract, technical, creative, confident, and unfiltered.
Are there any skaters that stand out to you as particularly influential on your own skating? And why?
When I was younger pros like Franky Morales, Randy Spizer, and Dre Powell not only inspired me because they're talented, but really made me feel like I was involved in something when I met them. Even though I was 12 years old they were really nice to me.
I notice you've got faction and sic urethane linked up on your IG. Can you tell us a little about how you got involved and what you like about those companies?
I’ve been testing prototypes! It’s been really exciting, this skate is going to be the most customizable boot on the market. Switching to a carbon fiber boot has great advantages for me. Ive been talking to Faction for a long time and I believe in the vision. Sic reached out to me and offered me a spot on the pro team during my birthday in March this year. I finally stopped blowing my wheels in half since! They are awesome.
What do you hope people will take away from your VOD?
My hope is it will inspire people to keep skating! Without the rollerblading community a lot of the great things in my life wouldn't be possible.
Okay thanks for your time Jimmy. Before I let you go, would you like to shoutout anybody?
Huge thanks family and friends first, who have always supported my skating since I was 9 years old. Thank you to those that have found my skating through blade media outlets or instagram, you guys have been steady showing love. Hope to see you soon.
Special thanks to Logan Fuller and Olivia Monks, thanks to their talents artistically this video came out exactly how I wanted it! Last but far from least, thank you to Thats Creep, the mastermind behind the Music, he produced all the tracks in my video and with his company Shadowbanned2k45, he brought the vibe and style to bring it all together. Check him out on instagram!
