Stevland stopped by to provide us with some insight into his personal life and career as a founding member of Doppelgänger Produktion. After speaking briefly at Lb HQ, we hit the downtown streets for an exclusive session featured in this month's issue. Photography by BladderBoy.

How are you Stev?

Doing good, thanks, how are you?

Solid. The move from San Van kicked my ass, but solid nonetheless. Moving sucks. Enjoying your new home in Port Carverton?

Yes and no. It's great to have a new city to dig for new spots. Then again, PC has a lot of oversized stuff. A lot of spots look the same. But I still skate the hell out of it.

Hear ya. I haven't seen half of the city yet. Still poking around ya know. You exploring?

For sure, I’m always exploring. That’s my main motivation I guess. Finding new spots. Not the obvious stuff. Like spots you skated past a hundred times and suddenly you realize how to make it work.

Yeah, I think there are a ton of spots lurking in the shadows. That's literally true - just have to find them. What's your favorite area of PC so far? Any spots in particular?

Favorite area has to be downtown. It has the most variety. For a favorite spot, it’s too early to know, I guess.

I am a big fan of your DP parts and solos. Who or what inspires your work?

Besides my own team, I’m a huge sucker for Mr. horsehead. I think we have a similar approach by thinking outside of the box and pushing it a little. Watching a horsehead video usually results in me deleting my own clips. Besides that, I love videos that feature things I can’t do. Southie - for his long ass tech lines. Demz - for crazy cam work. Knex - for being crazy in general.

So how did DP start? Who were the founding members?

Back in Old San Van I started uploading single clips to youtube. Tnofilms saw them and approached me. I guess he liked them. We live like 90 minutes away from each other, so we started talking, showing each other our clips etc. Tno wanted to make a team right away, but I hesitated. Then I started the Strictly series. One video for each district in Old San Van. Tno liked the idea and joined in. I think it was the third in the series, Strictly Res, when I agreed to make a team.

Where did the DP name come from?

Doppelgänger, because it’s a german word used in English as well. And since we’re both german, it’s produktion with a "k". The whole abbreviation thing and it’s other meaning, wasn’t part of the plan, hehe.

I believe you. Seriously. I do.

It’s always fun to see the reactions when you rock a DP shirt though. From grossed out looks, to questions if you like Deep Purple or “Deutsche Post” (German Mail). My favorite convo though went something like this:

“Hey, I see you like Depeche Mode?”

“Nah mate, that would be DM”

“Ohhhh, that’s right”

I had a good laugh.

Well, it's been years since the DP was first established. What role do you play on DP now?

I think "anchor" fits quite good. I don’t see myself as a leader, but I guess the major decisions are made by me. Backed up by the team though. I also usually edit the team videos. And obviously I don’t tell my boys what to do and what *not* to do. But when it’s time for a team video, I can get a little annoying when someone’s slacking.

Who's slacking? Name names please.

They know who they are. But the worst is Midnight. There were times when I kicked him off the team twice a day. Fun memories. When he reads this he’ll probably tells you about all the videos he does. But that’s just a façade. He’s slacking; he probably bribes his roommate to film stuff for him. Right Midnight? ;)

Is DP actively recruiting new team members in PC?

Nope.

Any DP newcomers we should look out for?

Maybe...

I guess I'll keep an eye on the DP blog for more details, thank you. You've helped build a very talented team over the years. What the greatest asset that *you* bring to the team? This is not a job interview by the way.

I guess you have to ask my team.

If you'll be my translator, I'll ask tno next time I bump into him. You know he asked me if I was into rollerblades the first time I met him? I took it as friendly jest instead of an insult. Was I right?

First of all, you shouldn't take anything on the internet as an insult. Secondly, tnofilms is a strange man, hahaha. He has a rollerblading background himself. I don't know about this particular situation, but I can tell you this: you'll probably never meet another person taking things as easy and lighthearted as tno, I don't think he ever tries to insult anyone. And the rest just gets lost in translation. For you guys at least.

I'm just giving tno a hard time. I'd love to film him one day. He's got mad style. How would you describe DP's style overall?

I think the good thing about DP is that we cover all bases. Well, maybe not *all*, but for example - dead red and tno, they're both tech. Skhate and me, on the other hand, like to push the limits. Fast and huge.

What DP video are you most proud of?

That would be DP54. collabo with our good friends from 1954. To this day I’m still 100% behind this video. It's basically the only video I stand behind to that extent since I’m very critical towards my own work. Great skating from everyone, great track, and dare I say, great edit.

Your work behind the camera and in the edit bay rivals your skills on the board. Have any past experience with shooting and editing?

I been working for a local tv station for basically the last 10 years. I started with filming, but very soon found my love for editing. Doing this skate thing is a welcome diversion to the hectic day to day work in television news.

What software and hardware do you use?

Quadcore with 4gb RAM, Windows 7, 64bit, Sony Vegas 9, AE CS4, Photoshop CS5.

What do you do when you are not skating or editing?

I like playing the videogames. I like watching the French arthouse films - black & white, at least one person smokes. And I like drinking the beer with my friends.

I must say, DP definitely rocks rad graphics. Who is the genius behind the artwork?

Tno does the majority of the GC stuff for DP, but schnavolda, falling, jack and midnight bring it as well.

Who do you like outside of DP?

The ones I mentioned before - 54, ‘naut, AM. Especially bullet, eflixxx & slamooh.

Is there a DP park we should know about?

Midnight’s DP’s playhaus just opened. Double polejam kicks ass. Get in there while it’s hot.

Any advice for someone trying to start a skate team? I see them popping up every day in PC.

I think people need to get away from the idea of HAVING to be on a team at all costs. There’s nothing wrong with going solo. See it like this: no one will tell you what to do.

"Hey, I’m making a team, anyone wanna join?"

"Yup, I’m in."

"Cool, we're a team now."

Doesn't usually work out. If you join up with people, make sure you know more about them than one single trick clip. Also, stay true to yourself. Don't adapt to someone else’s style or skate in a certain way, just because the community seems to like that way more. My philosophy goes something like this: I want people that can skate - diversity Is king - but I also want people I enjoy hanging out with, even going a bit further than the skate thing. Being the "Oasis" or the "Stones" of skate doesn't work out for me.

What are the future plans for DP?

I guess we just continue what we’ve been doing the last couple of years. Having fun, making videos, passing out drunk on our couches.

Speaking of passing out drunk, are there any personal goals you'd like to achieve as a skater?

Being interviewed in a skateboard magazine…oh…wait…

Scratch that off the bucket list. Is DP ever going to revisit San Van for a video in the future?

Most definitely. It’s where it’s all started. SV is king.

What do you miss most about San Vanelona? Favorite Spot?

The city itself. SV has so much character, so many great spots. As for my favorite? Gonna have to say the art gallery.

Favorite trick?

Frontside flip.

Favorite obstacle?

Any kind of skinny ledge.

What trick do you find most difficult?

Hurricanes.

Last trick you learned?

Hurricanes, kinda. Still hard to do.

What do you think your greatest weakness is?

The technical stuff.

What's your board setup? Any sponsors?

Nope. I go for custom graphics usually, trucks all loose, wheels all soft. Good for the skinnies.

What do you find most rewarding about skateboarding?

Finally nailing that goddamn trick.

Favorite album to listen to when skating?

A Tribe Called Quest – the Low End Theory, best album there is.

Shoutouts?

Everyone who is/was DP. The Hood, Animal Machine, Couch, SSS, Alzheimer, OATS, the other teams i may have forgotten. The community who watches and likes the videos and all that jazz. And a special shoutout to skHate and eflixxx, we hang out almost every day. Always fun.

Finish this sentence: 10 years from now I will be....

…hopefully as wise as my role model and mentor, Jack Barclay.

Finally, of course, if you could make any object fall from the sky and safely land in front of you, what would it be?

The blonde from ABBA in her prime.

Effin-a right! Thanks for dropping by Lb HQ, Stevland. Cheers!

Alright (In a Karl Pilkington voice). Also... Midnight, you're off the team!

Cheers mate, thanks for having me.

One more thing... Midnight, you're off the team!