Ten Question Tuesdays with Derek Makekau

Foreverskim has become one of the most crucial pillars in skimboarding. The man behind this project is no other than Derek Makekau. Foreverskim has evolved a lot since the early days out on the panhandle of Florida. I first met Derek maybe six years ago in Panama City and ever since have enjoyed to call him a friend. Derek has filled the lost void of Skim Mag. A lot of you groms don’t even know what that is but it was the second edition of a skimboarding magazine. Foreverskim came with the push of technology creating an ever evolving online magazine. Foreverskim features  a cast of the higher hierarchy of skimboarding media such as Aaron Peluso, Ryan Graf, Adam Hayward, Cam Oden, Tad Mask, Dutch Richard, “D”, and so many others I can’t even name at this very second. We sat down with Mr. Makekau via the internet the other night.

SI: Foreverskim has become a crucial pillar in skimboarding. Did you think it would become this powerful in the sport?

Derek: Absolutely not. It started as a passion project and it remains that to this day…the success it has had still takes me by surprise and there are moments where I’m just baffled by how well known it has become. Just the other day at Oktoberfest in Newport Beach, California, a kid introduced himself to me and mentioned how much he loved FSM, and he was from Oklahoma. Things like that are just incredible to me, and I can’t express in words just how proud it makes me that FSM has gotten to where it is today.

SI: What do you think about the overall state of media in skimboarding now?

Derek: It’s constantly improving, and to some extent I think we’re hitting a turning point. Action sports media in general is as well…as are the majority of the different mediums available these days. The internet is revolutionizing the way we look at media, and skimboarding isn’t immune. Look at Youtube, the UST videos, what you guys do with Skim Invasion, the quality Olivier Harrault churns out…we are in a rainstorm of free, top-shelf media. ForeverSkim is just a bucket trying to catch what it can…but fantastic videos are pumped out online so quickly these days that you can’t even keep up.

I think we’re leaps and bounds beyond where we were 5 years ago, let alone 10. I think we still have areas where we can grow and there are enough talented people involved in skimboarding, working for next to nothing or for nothing at all who are passionate enough about this sport to continue to propel us forward. I’m stoked for the next 5 years; it’s exciting and interesting and a little bit scary all at the same time.

SI: There have been a lot of calls for Foreverskim to do print issues…Will this come about?

Derek: Skimboarding cannot support a print magazine. It barely breathes life into ForeverSkim in it’s current format. That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped dreaming about turning the pages of FSM after pulling it off the rack at Barnes and Noble, it just means it’s not something I see happening anytime soon. We are trying to do something this year or the next that can hopefully become an annual sort of thing, but I don’t want to talk about that too much just yet. Let’s just say it’s
a dream I’m constantly looking into fulfilling and the instant I can make it happen, trust me, I’ll be the first person to pick up a copy.

SI: You’re about to move back to Florida soon…How was your extended stay (3 years) in California? And how will Foreverskim be affected in anyway with this move?

Derek: ForeverSkim will continue to operate in the same way it did before I moved out here, although with the added benefit of the relationships I’ve strengthened by spending so much time out here. I love California. It’s great, the people are great, and the skim (whenever I actually made it to the beach) has been fantastic. The cost of living…is not so great.

The move to Florida will mean more flexible budgets and hopefully more traveling. More trips like the one we just made to Costa Rica, more often. That’s the idea, anyways. Stay tuned, it should be interesting.

SI: It’s amazing to look at the first issue and first videos that you were behind and now look at the current product…Was all of your design and editing wizardry self taught or mentored?

Derek: Thanks, it’s incredible when I look at them too. Not to mention the first 5 issues which are sort of…lost. Mentored is an interesting way to word this question. A lot of people know that I didn’t attend college or have any sort of formal training; instead the majority of what I’ve learned I learned through and with my friend and co-founder of FSM Travis Zimmerman, as well as a handful of other people who have been sounding boards and critics throughout the years.

If I had to choose a mentor, I would say the internet has taught me just about everything I know. There are so many free tutorials, walk-throughs and instructional materials online that you can become an expert in just about anything. You don’t need to wait for a graphic design class or a video editing class to dive in…Adobe offers fantastic trials and there’s no reason not to dig in and get your hands dirty on your own. I’ve given myself my fair share of headaches with this approach and banged my head against my computer for longer than I should at times, but it’s how I got to where I am today.

SI: Foreverskim TV was pretty epic and groundbreaking…Will you be revamping it in the future?

Derek: Definitely. It is just a lot for one person to handle, and delegating is not my strongest quality. It’s not dead…just hibernating.

SI: The launch of Foreverskim sparked a handful of other online magazines. What are some of the other online magazines you have really enjoyed?

Derek: Wow, I can’t say I follow a lot of them too religiously. Bak, New Web Pick, Encore…design mags are the ones that I’ve stuck with and still enjoy checking out. I of course had a love/hate relationship with Skimboarder, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t read it with everyone else the day it would drop. I found it inspiring in a few different ways and the work that Grady did design-wise was fantastic; it was cool to see this entirely different style brought to a skimboarding
magazine and the content that goes with it.

SI: You and Matt Adams have really done a successful job on the UST Video Coverage. Will you continue to do this living in Florida?

Derek: At the moment that is the general plan. I will be discussing it more with the UST Directors towards the end of this year to work out the logistics and make sure it’s feasible, but I hope it all goes as planned. Those UST vids have done a lot for promoting our sport and I’d hate to see them disappear, ever…whether I’m involved or not.

SI: You have featured some great music in your videos though the UST and FSM. What are your favorite artist, right now?

Derek: Geez, tough question. I like the new Jet album, Placebo…I can’t get into too many other artists without giving away some music that will be in a few upcoming videos. I have a very diverse taste and like just about anything with a beat; the only music I seem to listen to anymore while I work is the music going into what I’m working on. Otherwise it’s the radio in the car, which I can tolerate.

On a side note, Skim Invasion is fantastic and I’m excited to be a bigger part of it when I’m in Florida. Keep up the good work, guys.