The Tyler Braithewaite story

 You didn't believe me that Matt was a ninja, did you? Well then how would you explain his popping up behind that barrier without a moment's notice? I don't think you can... So today Tyler Braithewaite is our source of entertainment, and what a fine source of entertainment he can be. I mean that in a good way. Because he does cool tricks. So today is Tyler's couple minutes of Bolts of Thunder blog fame with his interview and a sequence of him skating. I met Tyler the first weekend I got back from Paris. He rode up to me with his friend Finn (Finn, if you think you're getting out of this, you're not. We'll find you, we will film you, and we will interview you...) and another friend that I don't know because he doesn't follow our blog, and Tyler said, "Hey, Bolts of Thunder." That was when I learned what it felt like to be a star, and I got hooked. So I've been following Tyler around ever since so that I can keep hearing him talking about Bolts of Thunder and make me feel important. He is my drug. So keep your eyes out for Tyler Braithewaite in "Bolts of Thunder Gone Wild," because he's going to be in there, whether he likes it or not. So in this interview, Tyler describes the fine process of slowly becoming addicted to the Bolts of Thunder blog, who he'd chose to save him on an island, and how he's become so skater savy (is that a word? My spell check says it's not. I say it is.) in just a couple years. The sequence above comes from a hot Saturday afternoon over the Provo river where Tyler pulled off a boardslide slip off the other side with Matt lurking in the shadows. Enjoy!

(MrThunderBolt) So how long have you been addicted to Bolts of Thunder? What got you hooked?

(Tyler) I go look through sam's blog a few times a week when i'm really bored at school, he hadn't updated so I started looking at the links he put on the side, 'BOLTS OF THUNDER!!!' Being one of the first links is where I entertained myself that day. Then I found my self coming back everyday. Now I can't get enough. Thunderbolt and proud of it

Give us the low down; who are you, how old are you, what do you like to do, etc.? Let our readers know who you are...

My name is Tyler Braithwaite, i'm 17 years old, I Like to skateboard, ride my bike, and read. I also enjoy social networking 'cause I am a teenager and we do that kinda stuff. (twitter, tumblr, facebook, blah, blah, blah)

The classic island scenario. Who would you choose to be stranded with you on the island? You know the drill.

If I Was stranded on an island with a bolts of thunder member.... It'd have to be Dave Law, I know him the best and we recently went camping and that was fun. Plus Dave seems nature savvy.

If Bolts of Thunder made music, what kind of music would we make, what kind of band/ group would we be? Who would play what instruments? What kind of audience would we cater to? Remember, as an official follower of the blog, and because you've filmed tricks for the video, you have full right to be in the band.

If anyone actually plays anything, they do that, the rest will play maracas and shakers, i'll whistle, and Jon, you can sing. We'll cater to people going through mid-life chrisis' who buy ugly motorcycles and are looking for something new to try to be 'hip'

Who's part in "Bolts of Thunder Gone Wild" are you most excited to see?

Dave Law, Jon Hart, Sam milianta, Nick Edwards part is gonna be epic, word on the street. But everybody as well, i'm having a ton of fun filming for this video and i'm excited to see what everyone else does, and the fun they have, and the fun Jon and Matt have editing.

So it looks like you're following in Sam's footsteps by becoming a skate dictionary. What's your mode of operation in studying, recalling, and retaining such information?

I get my information from plenty of sources, mostly read magazines, watch old videos from before I was born, listen to what my elders say. Patrick o'dells epicly later'd videos really give you some good insight on skateboarders. I take alot of interest in things I do, like sam said. I like being knowledgeable, I used to be into basketball and football before I Started skating, I Could tell you so much about a ton of players, not anymore though, pushed that out. I call those the dark days.


What advice would you give to any other local kids out there that want to become involved in Bolts of Thunder as you have?

Follow the blog, for starters. Then follow Jon around for weeks discretely finally introduce yourself. Make him film you. And when he texts you to go skate, actually go.


Have you ever gotten in a fight? If so, would you mind explaining what happened?

No fights, yet. I want to though.

Anything else you want to say for our blog readers?

Yes, skate for the fun of skating. If you're doing it for any other reason, you're doing it wrong.