I don’t know about you but when I was growing up riding bikes and skateboards, I was always psyched on the older local guys. Seeing someone shred in person on a regular basis was so much more influential than whatever was going on in the magazines or videos. It just seemed and was more real. Mark Choquette, along with guys like Vic Bettencourt, Mike Rotundo, John Maul, Pat Connors, and Don Houle, was always on one of those guys. Going to Skater’s Island in Middleton, RI was always a good time and I would be lying if seeing Mark ride the snake run at the Island didn’t have a huge influence on how I ride my bike today. For about a week now I’ve been going back and forth through email with Mark about riding bikes and boards, playing music, and how to really get a photo in the magazines. Check out what Mark has to say and to see Mark ride check out videos like S&M’s Please Kill Me, Animal’s Can I Eat?, and Base Brooklyn’s Neighborhood Superheroes.

*The photo above is by Chris Dempsey. It’s crazy how similar it is to the Transworld Cover. Thanks Chris!

In The Gnar: First off, I heard you’re gonna be a dad, Congratulations! You must be psyched!
Mark Choquette: Yep, it’s true. I’m super amped! It’s a boy.

ITG: Alright now I’ll start out with the basics dude, how old are you and where are you calling home now?
MC: I’m turning 33 on March 17th and Providence R.I. is my home.

ITG: Are you originally from Rhode Island, I thought I read somewhere that you were originally from CT? Is that how you were involved with BASE Brooklyn? I know they had a lot of CT dudes like Jeff Allen, etc.
MC: Yep im originally from Terryville CT. I moved to RI about 8 yrs ago. CT just didn’t have anything for me anymore. Now there is tons of new shit to ride. It’s kinda funny, I move away and all these new spots pop up. Tedd Nelson got the Base thing going for me, he knew those guys for years. Oh, I talked to Jeff the other day too.

ITG: I know you were in the roofing business but I’m pretty sure I remember Vic (Bettencourt) saying you quit the working man life, what are you up to now?
MC: Well, I didn’t really quit it. Some shit happened with that roofing thing, I don’t care to talk about that. After that I’ve been just bouncing around job to job. Then I got a job building shit for Urban Outfitters, haha that was nuts. Now I’m laid off from there and there are no jobs in this damn state.

ITG: Damn I actually heard that being the “art” person at Urban Outfitters was kind of a cool job, is that what you were doing?
MC: Yeah, it was fuckin great for a while. Heather Houle got me the job there, then she quit and the place went crazy. But it was cool all kinds of girls everywhere, sometimes if you were working upstairs girls would come out of the fitting rooms in their undies. Haha they would ask you how shit looked on them. Haha that was great!

ITG: Haha that’s ridiculous. So what did you first start out doing, BMX, skateboarding, or surfing?
MC: Started the BMX first I was 10yrs old, kinda been skating just as long but I’ve never been good at it, wouldn’t say I was ever a surfer, tried it a dozen times. It didn’t click with me.

ITG: Sorry I thought Coleman or Vic said you surfed a fair amount. I feel like surf, skate, and bmx was popular in Rhode Island and CT in the eighties, was it or are my recollections wrong?

MC: Don’t say sorry, you did nothing wrong. I guess it was. Yeah you’re right about that. It’s pretty popular now too. Have you seen all these kids everywhere?

ITG: Yeah man, it’s nuts. You should see southern California. If the conditions for the two were perfect, you know good spots, good friends, etc., which would you rather do, BMX or skate?
MC: I’d pick BMX for sure, but just cruising around a city these days, it’s just way for fun for me. I avoid going places, just don’t like it. I’m getting more weird in my old age.

ITG: Actually what about music. Would you rather be playing music? What’s up with the band, do you guys have anything coming out or any gigs coming up?
MC: I’d rather roll around on my bike during the day and play music all night. We have a demo recorded, shows are few and far between. I don’t know why. We’re a bunch of drunken fools. We can’t seem to ever get our shit together. We need someone to take care of us, haha.

The Ones

ITG: Alright so If you guys could play a gig with 4 other bands who would you want to be on the bill? You can pick from bands that are still working and not working and pick the era too.
MC: Oh very good. Katy Perry for sure. (We’re) big fans of her. Springsteen maybe? Born To Run era. Pete Doherty. Yeah I like that guy too. Um who else? So many to choose from. Maybe the Descendents.

ITG: That’s a pretty good lineup. The Descendents would definitely be on my list, My World era. I remember when you got the cover of Transworld (Barrier Air one), I was so psyched to see someone I actually thought was rad get it, not to mention riding an awesome spot. Were you psyched to get a cover on a magazine, was that you’re only cover? Also speaking of older coverage, how did it feel to be compared to John Cardiel in that Low Profile of Dig?

MC: So you think I’m rad? i think your rad too, maybe we can get rad together sometime? Yeah, I was psyched. 2 covers bro! Both Transworld. It was Keith Mulligan who shot them. I think that’s the only reason I got those covers. I was like hey if I get a cover i’ll buy you dinner and beer and he said done deal. So that’s how you make that happen kids, take note. I can’t be compared to Cardiel, he skates.

ITG: Fair enough but I would be psyched if someone compared my riding to Cards’ skateboarding, no?
MC: Yeah it’s awesome to be compared to him but I think it’s pretty far off. He’s done so much sick stuff! On a skateboard, what have I ever really done? Not too much, I’m real uncomfortable with that question.

ITG: Are you still riding an S&M? Were you and Moeller friends before you were on S&M flow? Did you see their new flick? It’s pretty crazy.
MC: Yeah, I got an older Stricker. No I didn’t know him at all. I met him once before I was getting stuff from S&M. Pretty sure he thinks I’m a retard. Haha.

ITG: Haha, who else did you used to get stuff from? Didn’t you get stuff from Standard too?

MC: Um, Animal, Standard, S&M, Profile, Base, Vans, man that was the best. It sucks paying for shoes now! I think there were others. I got a bad memory. Oh, that’s right I’m on Dead Memory now, haha and Happy Hour, Stricker’s fictitious clothing company. Well he did make a few shirts. Do you think you could get me some shoes? size 10

ITG: Man I can barely scrap together a free pair of sneaks here and there, I don’t know how you expect me to get you some haha. It’s a budget life out here. Okay, mellow day on a BMX or mellow day on the cruiser on the bike path?
MC: They’re all mellow days now. I’m just that way right now, maybe i’ll feel different next Thursday.

ITG: What’s the best Sloppy Sam skatepark? Your reasons can be completely selfish since you work for him on occasion.
MC: That Maine one for sure, I’ve never ridden it though.

ITG: What’s the best trip you’ve ever been on? The worst?
MC: Trip to europe with Stricker & Wizzy Poo. That was also the worst. Haha Wizzy Poo!

Tabletop in Spain. Photo by Brian Wizmerski

ITG: Speaking of trips and after seeing that other cover, I was watching an FBM flick the other day and there was a rad clip of you riding a full pipe, I think the Amarillo fullpipe, seeing that you had the cover of TWorld riding the Glory Hole, how important was riding stuff like that? Are you over riding “secret spots” like that now or is it just too much work?
MC: Yeah that was the Amarillo Pipe. That was a crazy trip! Mike Tag and I were at a party in Austin, TX and we decided that we wanted to find that pipe. So we left first thing in the morning, no idea where to even look. We found it! We rule! Ha…Um, how important was stuff like that? That stuff was just fun, important? I don’t know. Yeah, I might be over “secret spots” or not, I don’t know. I’m a real moody person. I’d rather ride down to the river and people watch right now.

Amarillo Pipe. Stills from FBM's All Time Low

ITG: That is so sick. There’s crazy stories about that pipe like the one of Phelps and Salba getting caught. Alright, I’ll finish it up with a question that can be as simple or detailed as you want, descirbe your perfect Sunday.
MC: I’ve been cooking super good meals on Sunday lately. That’s a good Sunday. Then get drunk and have a soak in the tub. Pure bliss. Haha man I sound lame!

ITG: It’s cool man we all have our guilty pleasures haha! Thanks so much Mark!