Madera Team 08/09 John Ludwick

name- john ludwick
age- 23
hometown- meredith, new hampshire
who are you getting hooked up by- madera, versa, UGP Shoes, Rye Airfield Skatepark, Team Jeff Dupaul
best three spots to ride- this real good concrete ledge spot near boston, another real good metal ledge spot near boston, and another real good ledge spot near boston.
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best three cities in the US- boston, providence , and San Diego.

1.Why have you fought the New Hampshire winters for this long?

J:New Hampshire is my home. My father, my grandfather, and 3 of my uncles all have had and still own companies here in Meredith. We all live in the same area,. It's seriously called "Ludwickville," and we have a sign saying so.

2.A move to Milwaukee is the plan. When and what swayed your decision?

J:Mike Hinkens is probably my best friend, and he's been an inspiration to me even long before I ever met him. Getting the opportunity to live with him and some other real good kids is seriously amazing. Also, there's no real scene in my area of NH, so spending some time in that area will be the best.

3.How much of an effect does music have on your day-to-day routine?

J:From the moment I wake up, till the moment I fall asleep at night, music is with me and always around me. Music is my inspiration for pretty much everything I do.

4.What has been the most influential band for you? And is there a certain song that hits home the most?

J: "Mewithoutyou" is by far.... by far the most influential band for me. Aaron Weiss has a way of writing that seriously makes you stop and think. They speak a lot about spiritual battles and a lot about struggles we as humans go through. I can't even put it into words, I almost can't ride to them because I get so involved with the mood of the music.
The song that "hits home" I guess would be "my exit unfair" by Mewithoutyou. The lyrics really go right to heart, as do every song from them. But, "my exit unfair" is by far my favorite.

4.How long have you been strumming that guitar?

J:I've been playing guitar since about 7th grade. I taught myself since I didn't know anyone who played, and no one in my family played.

5.You were one of the first recruits for "The Take." How did that come about?

J:Well, I was friends with some of the Binghamton locals and I guess Jeff had been asking some questions about expanding the team. My name got thrown around a few times and Jeff and I started to email back and forth about frame specs. He was interested in what I liked in a frame and what I thought about a lot of things. They ended up making the "onetrueave" prototype with intentions on having me run it. But never called to tell me. They posted it on the Take's site and waited to see if I'd ever check it and notice that it was my frame. Luckily, I checked and called them immediately. Our relationship has grown since. It means so much to me to be apart of such an awesome company that isn't just about riding.

6.If you were stranded on a deserted island, and you could make one thing out of a coconut (not food related) to keep sane, what would it be?

J:Well, I'd probably use it as a basketball and make a hoop out of some weathered bamboo and have pretend games with my imaginary friends. I used to be more dedicated to basketball in school than I am now in riding. I'd definitely practice 3 pointers with coconuts. Lets hope I never get stranded on a deserted island.

7.I'm trying to stay away from riding related questions, but I was curious when you decided to switch over to a flatland frame? What influenced you?

J:I didn't really choose to do it. I had separated my shoulder real bad and cracked my frame at the same time. My friend gave me a 19" flatland frame and as my shoulder rebuilt its strength. I just got used to a 19" frame. And for the record, I learned hang 5's on a 21" Hoffman frame. I've slowly been working my way back up. I'm on a 19.25 now, and still climbing.

8.What's the deal with the secret warehouse full of tight ramps behind North Shore?

J: Buzz (my boss) and I had talked for some time about building a mini ramp back there. When it came time to actually start putting our ideas into motion, building more than just a potentially boring mini ramp came into play. It came out super well and I am super excited about it. We have that place packed every weekend and pretty steady during the week. It's really helped business during this terrible winter out here.

9.You're more of a tech wizard when it comes to riding, but was there a point when you thought you could seriously get hurt trying something?

J:For sure, I used to be somewhat of a hucker. Sometimes I still am, usually at skateparks. Now that my shoulder is pretty much all healed, I've got more things I want to do and hope that my body can still take it.

10.What are you short term plans?

J: I think right now my short term plans include--the move to Wisconsin, Buzz and I have plans to build a big indoor park in NH and I would possibly be a part owner. So, I have my future sights on that.

11.Long term?

J:Long term plans are definitely to keep riding, keep traveling as much as I can, and continue to play music. I hope all three continue to happen for a long time.
God bless....