Silverfish got in touch with them via their website after kai met Mark Jackson one of their charter members from Nevada at the Coleman Slide Clinic. The editor simply arranged interviews with members into the following format. One of our goals at silverfish is to help increase the number groups such as the DHB. The DHB have done right by bringing together many people to share in the experience. The following attests to that. This is the DownHillBillies in their own words.

The origins of DHB are as Marion Karr recalls “I got back into skateboarding through longboarding after a 20+ year “hiatus” and thought I was the only around riding. I ran into a friend of mine Shannon St. Clair who told me that he had a few friends that wanted to get back into riding. His brother Evan and I had ridden together some and one day we all just got together. Darren Holt (DHolt), Jay Mishoe (Jaybird), and Rookie Rudisill, all showed up to ride together and the DownHill Billies were born!” With the histories of many riders involving such breaks in skating it is not unusual to see the resurgence which is beginning now. With the deep history of skating that they have moments such as the one SST remembers as his finest and first DHB moment “My first experience riding some where other than my drive way was bombing in the country club with Jaybird in the fall of 1985, I had just gotten my first real board, a Sims new wave with Indys and krypto's. I think Jay had a Sims flagship. There were about 7 or 8 of us just flying down the hills at night. I of course, didn't know that was a DHB moment but it was; Its cool how skating for me has come full circle in 20 years.”

Marion tells the origins of the DHB name “The name was derived as a session with the locals at a place called the Spot. We were brainstorming about what to call ourselves and someone said we were hillbillies. Then another person said we go downhill. Rookie yells out downhill billies and the name stuck.” He continues on with the background of their logos “As far as the logos, we have two. The first one with the goat (our racing, bombing, and killing it) was done by Tim Shawl (www.timshawl.com) who does a lot of work for Chicken at Pocket Pistols. I had bought a slalom board from him and he and I hit it off. He offered to do our logo and the design was awesome. Our second logo, the, Hillbilly (our “after hours” chilling out logo) was done by J.J. Rudisill (http://www.jjrudisill.com/) an accomplished graphic artist and brother to our webmaster Rookie. Both reflect what we are all about.” With a direct approach that was described by many of the members, Brent Griffith gives a feeling for the crew “we are a bunch or southern hillbillies/rednecks who love to skate. It’s the whole southern “sweet as hell ice tea” hospitality thing. You know, come on in, take your coat off and skate a while.” The overall response from many of the DHB members is a feeling of welcoming and positive vibes. Members tell of sessions where smiling all day left there jaws sore and Lenny recalls “Rolling into Statesville for the first time with Dave G and as soon as we got out of the car, we were literally surrounded by all these really happy folks welcoming us into the group and telling us how stoked they were we made the trip. That set the tone for this whole friendship/team/group! Everybody's stoked and as a result, everybody has a great time.”

With much of the history of the DHB being recent many of the members caught word of the DHB movement from internet resources such as http://www.ncdsa.com , http://www.slalmomskateboarder .com and the http://www.downhillbillies.org to spread the word of their Jam Sessions both Benjamin Barkey “I started noticing a “northcarolinalongboarder” posting on the slalom forum of NCDSA. I live in the mountain region of southern WestbygodVirginia, only an hour and a half from the North Carolina Boarder. I noticed plans for an event. Unfortunately, the first JAM was held right about the time my first born son, Griffin, was to arrive so I missed out. Clearing my calendar I made sure to make it for the second. I was so wound up to skate I spent the whole jam rolling.” and Lenny Poage “a discussion arose on NCDSA about unifying all these small pockets of skaters in the South East U.S. I had tons of friends all over, but there was no "unity" just isolated pockets of skaters. Then, as part of the discussion, Marion (The Tecumseh of the group), posted an open invite to be a DHB. It sounded fun and the rest is history.” It is obvious that while the internet is a valuable resource and tool for the communication of activities, the magnetizing factor that attracts attendees to DHB session is the members acceptance of others and eager desire to share the stoke.

With weekly sessions, six sessions in six months and a session slated for June 25th that reported to being “bigger than Jabba the Hut and Funkier than a fat man's feet!” It would ring true that having constant sessions and a reliable crew are a foundation for the DHB. Details on the next session are “June 25th, Hobby Park Soap Box Derby Hill in Winston Salem, NC. A full on family oriented open jam format with longboarding, running some cones, and just sharing the vibe at the heart of it.” Attracting the interest of riders and promoting the lifestyle in their local scene is what DHB is all about. With the Hobby Park session in the works the DHB is also aiming their sights for a slalom race weekend possibly in Nov, to draw a national crowd would be pie for a crew this devoted. Just as important as the sessions themselves, are the spots to hit. With friends and family scouting hills, the internet also plays a part finding good locations. Lenny passed on this priceless quote with regards to finding good runs “I heard on the radio several years back that Woody Guthrie said the process of writing was like fishing. His songs were floating in a stream. If he was "fishing" he could catch them and write them. If he wasn't, they'd pass him along and go to the next person who does have their line in the water. Finding a run is like that. If you keep your eyes open, you'll find them all around you. “

To support and propel the DHB it has its' sponsors, supporters and resources. Mentioned time and time again is the families of the members as well as the members themselves for supporting the efforts. Lenny who is also on the is also on the Gravity Family Team credits “Families have been really supportive of us (especially Marion's family for putting me up in the spare room several times!!)”. Marion mentions some of the retail interest and support as “ Our supporters are far and wide. Keith Hollien of Radikal Trucks has taken an interest in us along with Jack Smith at Bahne. Also, Fatboy of Longboards by Fatboy is a charter member. Dave Gale has been an inspiration to us all and has helped all of us fuel our stoke.Our resources for now are limited. Our funding has come from shirt sales but we are now looking for new ways to generate revenue." SST gives his support for Blacksheep in Charlotte as being the best shop around. Credit has to be given to the DHB members who drive cross states to make it to the Jams. In their action though they show how truly rewarding riding with such a like minded crew can be. Often the biggest stokers are the ones that lay it all out and challenge themselves thereby inspiring the rest of the crew. Their near sacrifices are the things that bring the stoke out, across the board the DHB agrees that those that hold this title are “SST (Shannon St. Clair), Mac T (Evan St. Clair) and Dex from Dex Skateboards. All three go big every time they step on the board. I have often given Mac T the “Flirtin’ With Disaster Award” for the riding on the edge style he always brings to the sessions.”

The future of the DHB is already carrying momentum; SST wants to make more videos, a full length video in the works. Participation being a pure goal that will not only increase the momentum but also prime already loaded skills. Brent Griffith speaks of attrition when he says “My hope is that the DHB can get skaters who have hung it up to come back out and skate. I know several guys who I skated with back in the day who I think would dig what the DHB are all about. Also I would like to see if the DHB could attract younger skaters to the types of skating that the DHB are involved in mostly.” he goes on to say “To me, grass roots organization like the DHB and others seem to be the best right now. Skating has had so many ups and downs but the hardcore grass roots skaters seem to prevail. People who love it so much they try and make a positive impact no matter how big or small. Any and everybody who skates should try to be a positive proponent of skating.” Benjamin Barkey hinting at the ability for multiple disciplines to be involved when he adds “I have skated for over thirty years and have seen the boom and bust cycles in skateboarding, mostly caused by the sport getting too industry, rather than rider, driven. I have seen an industry work to narrow, rather than expand, skaters horizons. Things seem to be coming full circle with younger kids getting off the rails and skating transitions, downhill and even slalom.” Marions’ goals are three; To put on a weekend of slalom racing that is a national draw( potential dates of Nov. 5th and 6th). Build our organization to have pockets of DHB’s skating together in as many states as possible. Convince the local city and county officials to build a skatepark in the Statesville area that will be an additional draw for people to come skate here. All of which will serve to not only benefit the DHB organization but the entire skating community as well.

The DHB serves as an example like so many other grassroots groups do, that if you have the desire it is possible to collect a crew of like minded riders and share the experience of the ride. I make no assumptions as to the individuality of the DHB crew from our contact with them I would call them a rare few who many are lucky enough to have the opportunity to ride with. If you are in the area, or even if you aren’t but if you have four wheels and some gas I would suggest hitting up the next DHB session. If you don’t it’s your loss or as SST put it “Come and skate with us or be square”. If riding with the DHB isn’t possible follow their lead and gather your own crew. Hit up your local shop or talk to longboarders you run into. Check out the forums and event lists and try to make it out. If you want you could always become the local DHB rep.

The writer would like to thank everyone who helped with this article. Mark from Nevada, Benjamin Barkey, Mark Nix, Lenny Poage, Marion Karr, SST and Brent Griffith.