Andi Welther Blood And Thunder

November 14, 2008 @ 10:46 AM

Are you making a good living out of your job?
It’s okay, I guess.

Do you have a goal in skateboarding?
To keep doing it as long as it’s fun, maybe earn a little money with it. I’m not skating to become a star or rich, I just want to skate, and…[long pause] hmm.

Seen the Simpsons movie? “Homer, I love you because…see, I just don’t know how to finish that sentence anymore”?
Haha, yeah, maybe I’m at that point right now. Nah, I want to make something out of it. Skate as long as I can, see new countries, go on tours, maybe skate a few contests… I’m not the contest type of guy, but there are a few that are really fun to attend.

You were amazing in the semi finals in Basel 2007 – that would have won every final.
That’s my problem. Out of a sudden, it worked in Basel—to an extent that astounded even myself. But that’s how it is. Either it works perfectly, or not at all. In case of the latter, there’s still the parties. But my party days are over as well. Not over, I still love to go out with my girl Sandra, but I’ve done my share. I’m still young, there’s still a few coming.

That was then. Let’s fast forward a bit, August 13th 2008:

Did you switch?
What? Oh, the computer? Nah, I still have that Vaio. But it’s fucked, I need to figure something out here…gotta get a new one.

And which camera is it now?
I got myself a D300. That one’s pretty cool. I’ve even got a photo in Place magazine! Full page!

You know that all the photographers hate you now, right?
Certainly. Hahaha!

Hey, when we did the interview a few months ago, did you know Sandra was pregnant already?
Let me think…no, we didn’t know it. We found out shortly after. But the actual starting point was in September anyway, in Moscow.

Was it on purpose?
In a way, yes. We pushed our luck, and landed first try. Might have been a tiny bit of a joke, “Let’s make a baby!”, but we knew that it just might happen. I was ready for it, Sandy as well, so we just went for it. I wouldn’t have thought that it’d work out on the first try though.

Cecilia Madonna is six weeks old now…how’s life as a newborn daddy?
It has turned upside down. I used to live with my parents, no responsibilities whatsoever, and now I’m married, we have our own place and have to run a household. I took the steps to standing on my own two legs in one leap, including a kid, the marriage, and all that. From nought to sixty in an instant. But it’s all good, I can handle it, Sandy can handle it. She’s a great mother. We have to be there for Cecilia 24 hours a day, so that keeps us on our toes. There’s no more room for spontaneous trips or actions.

How do you handle your “duties”? Or do you get paternity leave from your sponsors?
If I’m gone from home, it’s maybe for a week right now. Sandra doesn’t need me here all the time, and I don’t want to be away for too long anyway.

Willow will be a dad as well…
I know! When are they due?

Soon, I think.
Great. Willow, if you should decide to be there in the hospital…have fun! [Laughs] That’s cool. That’s a good reason to go on holidays with them.

What if Cecilia brings home Willow’s son one day, and he’s exactly like his father?
I don’t know about that…maybe when she’s 30, then I’ll allow it.

30?!
Aw, I don’t know. If he’s like Willow…there’s way worse guys out there, I guess I’d be cool with it. That’s some years down the line, thank God. I’m curious about how I’ll handle it when the time comes, though, when she starts falling in love and shit…

Every dad’s nightmare, I could imagine…
…I’ll just do the Al Bundy. Nah, I’ll be cool with it.

Andi skates for Volcom clothing, éS footwear, Blind skateboards, Von Zipper, Indy (dist.), Ricta (dist), S-Store skateshop

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