Stevie Williams, Skater of the Week

This week's Skater of the week is none other than Philly's own Stevie Williams. From humble beginnings to sipping Hennessy on first class flights ( If you don't believe me check his Instagram ) and skating for his own skate brand. It all started Dec. 17th 1979 when Stevie was born. Eleven years later he started skateboarding and four years after that ( at the age of 15 ) left his city behind and began hitchhiking to San Francisco, California. The rest is history. Stevie is now the owner and founder of the DGK skate brand which sells merchandise ranging from boards and apparel, to stickers, snap backs, and videos. Their latest video was released Dec. 14th 2012 titled Parental Advisory. This is some of the newest footage we've seen of Stevie and the DGK crew ( even though its a movie, not a skate tape ) since the Chocolate Tour tape and The Kayo Corp, its Official ( both have some great skate material. ) Was it just me or did the Till Death Tour 2011 tape leave something to be desire? Anyway, Stevie is currently sponsored by DGK Skateboards, Supra Footwear, G-Shock Watches, New Era Cap Company, 9five Eyewear, Gold Wheels, Grizzly Griptape, Venture Trucks, Diamond Supply Company, and Bones Bearings. He was sponsored by Reebok ( 2004 ) but decided not to renew his contract in 2006 when Reebok didn't want to sponsor his crew only him. showing his loyalty Stevie decided to ride without a sponsor ( not for long ) building his brand and street credibility through world wide tours and strategic branding tactics like board signings and opening several skate shops around the nation. In 2006, Williams opened the skate shop L&K Limited in Oceanside, California, together with Nick Lockman, and in 2008, he opened the skate shop Sk8tique in Atlanta, Georgia. Personally I think he should have, and still should open a skate shop in Philadelphia, but with Nocturnal closing its doors and Exit stating that staying afloat during the winter months is nothing short of a miracle, I can understand why a northeast store may not be a prime location. Still, rep for your home town Stevie!! We're out here. Check Love park on a summer Saturday night and you'll see... we're out here. I cant help but wonder if the new skate park on The Ben Franklin Parkway will spur more interest in Pro-skaters opening shops in the City. I hope so. In 2011 Transworld magazine called Stevie Williams the 27th most influential skater of all time. His place is debatable but one thing isn't, he's up there. When it comes to tech tricks Stevie's your guy. A Goofy skater by nature, he comes off as ambidextrous ( does that apply to feet ? ) in all of his videos. Regardless, on thing is for sure, he gets more pop than most pros, and has the meanest switch heel in the game. Be sure to check out the Parental advisory tape and give us some feed back before our review. Also we'd love to post some of our readers videos and pics on the page. You can send those to ThePhillySkater@gmail.com to be included in an upcoming viewer picked best trick contest. Stay tuned in for further details. - The Philly Skater, Over n' Out