Chris Pastras

In Stereo

By Brian Brannon

10.13.08

Perpetually unafraid to defy trends, the Stereo Sound Agency skateboard company has always marched to a different drummer—usually one pounding out an inspirational, improvisational, jazzy, funky beat. Founded in the early ’90s by Chris Pastras and skater/actor/entrepreneur Jason Lee, Stereo has survived through the ups and downs and still remains true to the game. Check this interview with my main man, Chris Pastras.

Chris, Stereo is one of the classic skateboarding companies of all time, from the name, to the image, to the riders, to everything about it. How and when did it start?
Chris Pastras: Thanks much man...It started up in ‘92...we were doing Blue Skateboards which was a sort of precursor to Stereo. I heard through the grapevine that Jim Theibaud and Tommy G. were interested in doing a company with Jason and me. Needless to say, we were hyped on what those guys had done with Real and jumped at the opportunity.  We had started with the reference to Blue Note and kinda retro-based ideas with Blue, but once we got to S.F. and hooked up with Jeff Klindt, Kevin Ancell, and Krush (DLX art department), those ideas really took off. Then with the team and the videos and such, it all kinda fell into place. It was a magical time for sure for us.

Not everyone who watches TV knows that Jason Lee has some of the smoothest moves in skateboarding. Tell us about what he was like back in the day?
Well, Jason has always been a perfectionist with everything, so whatever he does he dives in headfirst and quickly becomes one of the best. He was years ahead of his time in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, so even when he slowed down to pursue acting, it took another three to five years for people to catch up to what he had been doing. I mean, he did kickflip backside tailslides on benches before people could even do solid kickflips. Not to mention he possesses one of the best styles ever.

You’re not a slouch yourself. You always showed a certain element of fun, style and creativity in your riding, what inspires you?
Thanks again Brian, means a lot coming from you. I got really inspired by skateboarding seeing people like Tony Alva, Neil Blender, Mark Gonzales, Lance Mountain early Powell stuff, my brother Rodney Smith who does Shut Skates, and of course, Mike Vallely who was from the next town over in New Jersey. Thanks to Mike and Rodney, I was exposed to a lot of pros, contests, and most importantly, the music, culture and art that surrounds the skate scene which includes people like you with J.F.A. and Thrasher Magazine. Early punk, alternative music, rap music, and people making their own art all changed my life. To this day, I’m still inspired by my childhood vision of skateboarding along with the feeling I get from just riding my board, so as long as I have that kind of enthusiasm for it, I think I’ll be able to stay creative and have fun with it all.

Who were some of the other pros back in the day?
Carl Shipman and Matt Rodriguez, who are back on Stereo under the Classics Division, also Mike Daher, Ethan Fowler, Mike Frazier and Greg Hunt, just to name a few. 

I used to love to watch Paulo Diaz skate. Got any Paulo stories?
Paulo is an amazing skater who is definitely on his own planet at times. One time, he called Deluxe to tell us we had to pay his brother for making music so he could buy instruments, which was pretty ballsy and out there in a Paulo way, considering we’d never even heard his brother’s music. But on a board, he is definitely one of the most gifted and natural skaters ever. I hope we see more of him on a board someday soon. Watching him do a straight nollie over a picnic table at Lockwood was jaw dropping in 1994, and the crazy thing is, it still would be mind-blowing to watch today.

What about now? You guys are still going strong. Who’s on the team these days?
Yea for sure, everyone skates together and gets along really good so it feels more like a family than a team really. Pros are Clint Peterson, Danny Supa, Danny Renaud and Olly Todd, along with the Classic division which is Chris Miller, Jason, Carl, Matt, and myself. The AMs are Benny Fairfax, Dyson Ramones, John Lupfer and Zach Wagner.

I heard you’re working on a video, any truth to that rumor?
Yes indeed, we have a promo vid that is just out right now called The Agency Field Report, those will hopefully be put out on the regular as cheaper, shorter videos, sort of like a Strange Notes… Then we have A Journey Through Sound, which we are shooting to have out this time next year.

Does Jason still find time to skate with his busy schedule?
Here and there, when he’s off from Earl is really when he skates. His son is skating now too, so I think that will help and we’ll get him in the video for sure.

What are the plans for the future?
Just put one foot in front of the other… Been working for Fuel TV all year traveling around doing hosting stuff; that is just wrapping up so the next few months I’ll just be skating and making art and stuff. Looking forward to it… Gotta get myself back into skate mode for the video. Going to Spain with Dekline, which I’m really psyched about. Those guys along with WeSC have really been treating me well and basically letting me do whatever I want on and off my board and supporting it so that has been amazing. That freedom without the pressure of being competitive is making skating really fun for me right now…

Thanks a lot Chris, and feel free to leave any last words. Peace!
Thank you, live for today and don’t take skating or your opportunities for granted, get in where you fit in and do it while you can. Peace!

Duke Spirit
Paul Schmitt
Bo Bridges