Skaters With Jobs

A look at how skaters balance their jobs and their passion—shot over one day, at work and on a session.

Episode 9: Kerry Weber, Skatepark Owner

Kerry Weber turned a childhood dream into reality with Switch & Signal Skatepark in Pittsburgh. Housed in a former bowling alley, it’s part park, part shop, part café—and all about inclusivity. From first-time skaters to women, trans, and adult beginners, everyone gets space here. The food and gear are vegan, the staff are skaters, and the ethos is simple: no cool-guy vibes, just skateboarding for everyone.

Episode 8: Darren Harper, Maintenance Manager

When Darren Harper’s pro skate career ended, he had no fallback plan. After a brief stint selling drugs, he threw himself into learning trades like plumbing and HVAC—entirely self-taught. Over time, he worked his way up to Maintenance Manager of a large residential building, while also running his own handyman business, Harper Handy.

All the while, he’s been coaching his daughters on what he calls his own skate team. Now, he’s come full circle—earning his name on a DGK board once again, this time alongside Tink and Demi.

Episode 7: Bob Fisk, Record Store Owner

Bob Fisk started skating in 1996—and he’ll be the first to tell you he’s still stuck in that era. His Philly record store, Cratediggaz, feels more like a clubhouse than a shop, shaped by the same ’90s skate influence that guides his taste and the records he collects.

Episode 6: Tom Pontone, Sculptor

Tom’s life revolves around sculpted concrete. At work, he designs fluid, hand-crafted furniture using the material he first chose for its low cost. After hours, he navigates the winding lines of FDR —concrete shaped with a similar touch. The inspiration clearly flows both ways.

Episode 5: Dan Michalik, Furniture Designer

Dan is a pioneer in cork furniture design, a product design professor at Parsons, and—surprisingly—a relatively new skateboarder. I assumed he’d been skating his whole life based on how natural he looks on a board. But he only started during the pandemic, in his mid-40s, to skate with his kids. It’s since become a full-blown obsession.

Episode 4: Joe Kalucki, Farmer

Joe Kalucki is as comfortable planting a field of flowers as he is ghost riding his tractor to grind a parking block mounted on the back—all in the same pair of rubber farm boots. This is what modern first-generation farming looks like at Timberline Farms

Episode 3: Nagisa Landfield, Seamstress

Seamstress, artist, mother of three skating daughters (though she skates more than them), surfer, snowboarder, and founding member of the Brooklyn Skate Moms. Not sure how Nagisa Landfield finds the time, but she does it all with an infectious spirit.

Episode 2: Emrys Berkower, Glassblower

Glassblowing is relentless—no breaks, just heat, control, and flow. Emrys Berkower brings that same precision and intensity to skating.

Episode 1: Arthur Lisi, Equine Farrier

Ever wonder what skaters do when they’re off the board? For episode one of “Skaters With Jobs,” I spent a day with farrier Arthur Lisi, jumping from equestrian farm straight to Freedom Plaza.