Images by Dean Bradshaw
Originally from Tsawwassen, BC, Sean Hayes left the Metro Vancouver area about four years ago for sunny southern California, where he now lives with his wife in Oceanside and still skates regularly. The move was initially sparked by an offer to become the Plan B team manager in 2007, before he eventually established himself as an independent Action Sports Coach in January 2010.
“I think what I’m doing is still a little ahead of the curve, where some skaters are looking at it like, ‘What does a skater need a coach for?'” Sean says, as if he was reading my mind. “I’ll tell you what: if you want to get on a big company or win a big contest, you have to skate really well. To skate really well you can sit on your couch and mess around at the skatepark, or you can get there with a plan.”
As you’ll learn, it was an interesting journey that brought the 27 year-old to this present reality, and in his rookie year as an Action Sports Coach he already helped skaters like Ryan Sheckler, Jordan Hoffart, Sascha Daley and Aldrin Garcia reach substantial goals.
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What’s your drink of choice?
Whistler Mountain tap water…..Best water on earth.
Are you working with anyone on any projects right now?
The biggest project I am working on is with Redbull athlete Ryan Decenzo. He hired me for summer to help him prepare for the major events as his performance coach and to travel with him to events to help him execute his best work. The other big project I am involved in is managing skateboarding’s hottest new website, Hellaclips.com , check it out!
What’s the worst clothing trend you’ve been a part of?
Baggy pants, 90’s…enough said.
What are you listening to right now?
Kundalini trance music.
What do your parents think of what you are doing?
They are pumped!
What group were you part of in high school?
Sk8 or die…
Who do you spend the most time with?
The voices in my mind and my beautiful wife.
What’s the next big thing in skating?
Being an all around skater that destroys all skate spots, win contest, has good style, is cool, creative and fun to watch.
What does the word genius mean to you?
I have this tatooed on my ribs:
“Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit”
There has not been any great talent without an element of madness – Seneca
Who inspires you?
Danny Way, Travis Pastrana, Todd Jacobs, Alessandra Solari, Lance Armstrong…So many, pretty much anyone that is pushing the limits.
What’s the dark side of becoming a professional skateboarder?
Drugs, alcohol, women.
Have you had to sacrifice anything to get where you are?
I moved away from my home country, family, friends…I walked away from a $100,000/year job to follow my path being a coach.
What was the turning point in your career, and when did things start taking off?
Ryan Sheckler winning X-Games gold, Aldrin Garcia setting new world record for highest ollie.
Why do you do what you do?
Because it makes me happy:)
How has skating as an industry changed since you first started?
More money, more problems:(
What’s next for you?
X-Games with Ryan Decenzo, trying to take out the big dogs of skating and win the gold medal!
