Thursday, January 13

Rollerblading Revolutionary

By Chris Mitchell

Every interview needs to begin with the basic biography facts of the target skater. Jon Julio was born on March 6, 1977 in Milpitas, Calif. Julio is currently ranked 11th in the world in street with a 12th place finish at the World Championships in Fort Myers, Florida. Jon is 5' 6" and 150 pounds. He rides for USD Synergy United Fifty/50 and England, all companies he has a controlling interest in. Jon is also a partner in a new company called "Runners Project." That covers the Julio information you probably already know.

Jon Julio never planned on making a career out of skating. He grew up with strict parents that took real convincing before they finally believed Jon could make a decent living in aggressive skating. Not many people dedicate their daily lives to growing old with and retiring from aggressive skating. Few plan to skate until they are 40 and are also involved in so many aspects of the sport. Julio has achieved celebrity status on the skater level, although he tries not to recognize it. Jon Julio, one of the most respected skaters in the aggressive industry, has his hands involved in just about every corner of skating, and he is now considered an integral part of the industry. He is always copied, but never imitated --his style and fluid moves on skates have made him the focus of ads, magazines and videos and put him in the minds of the huge market of young skaters. Probably the most impressive part about Jon Julio is that after all is said and done, he is still a role model.

Jon sees himself skating well into the future. He'd like to be skating until he is 40. For now, Jon said he is trying to focus on his new company "Runners Project" and keep things real. Jon will skate with almost anyone and has people in and out all the time. If you see him up in Northern California say what's up, but treat him as an equal, not a superstar. In closing Jon thanks all his companies: Synergy, USD, United, Fifty/50 and England and all of his crew in NorCal. Definitely check out the Runners Project web site for Christmas. Good luck to Jon in the future and I hope to see him at future ASA stops and industry jams.