In this series of portraits, we introduce you to the best skaters in France who are or have been part of Old Skullz Skateboard in the framework of the Club and stays Skate Camps. Aujourd’hui c’est Liam Lefranc who tells us about his already impressive journey! (Interview by Maxx)
Liam is surely one of the young French talents you can't miss, blowing up on social media. He rips on a skateboard, always has a smile and lives the good skate life while his dad organises surf boat trips in Bali and his brother gets barrelled! Quite a story, the Lefranc family!
Liam recently left for the U.S. to film for the skatepark The Berrics and also enter the contest Tampa AM, Tampa is in Florida and ‘AM’ stands for amateur. It's THE most prestigious competition in the world if you want a career in skateboarding. If there's ONE place where you have to prove yourself to turn pro, it's there. Liam did the Skate Camps with us three years ago at the same time as Max Berguin, (their interview is right lto!).
Portrait
M. Hi Liam, we can see you’re splitting your time between Bali and France. Can you tell us a bit about where you are in life and how you got there? How old are you, and where do you live?
L. I’m 17 and I live in Anglet
M. Which Skate Camp you’ve taken part in (Barca, Hossegor, Provence?)
L. I took part in the Skate Camps in Provence.
M. Do you have any sponsors?
L. Yes : Etnies, Blind, Wallstreet skateshop, Surfburger, Televisistar et Jacker
M. Liam at Tampa AM
M. How did you start skating? What made you want to try?
L. I started after watching the skaters at La Barre. I'd get out of my pushchair and crawl over to a skateboard. One day a guy put me on one and I did it—I could stand up on a skateboard before I could stand up on my own!
M. That’s incredible, man! And now, 14 years later why did you want to do a Skate Camp ?
L. I wanted to do the Skate Camp because I had seen on insta I thought it was so cool and wanted to see what it felt like to experience it.
M. I've just dug out the photos I took of you. It's been a while, but that skate camp was so good! What a team, with Max and Jeannot!
L. HAHA totally!!
M. Have you had any contest results since then?
L. Yes, I've had several good competition results. The latest was at the Aquitaine Championships in the under-16 category.
M. Are you more into street, bowl, or both?
L. Street.
M. Do you have any other goals in skateboarding? (For now or for later?)
L. I would like to release a street part, and I have a recent part on the website of Berrics
M. Your favourite French skater? Your all-time greatest skater?
L. I do not really have a favourite French skater, but otherwise it is Chris Joslin and Zion Wright.
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M. What memories do you have of your Skate Camp In three words?
L. Funny, sociable, great!
M. Haha, sounds good! What did you enjoy most during your stay ?
L. It was the night-time outing in the forest! 🙂
M. Haha, yes, I remember you had fun scaring each other with torches. Which spot or spots did you enjoy skating most?
L. My favorite was Marignane Park
M. Did you learn any tricks during your stay that you couldn't land before? Which ones?
L. I learned my first real tre-flip (360 flip)
M. How long have you been skating?
L. I've been skating since I was 2-3 years old.
M. Are you working on any skate projects at the moment? (contests, a video part, sponsors, studies…)
L. I don't really have any plans. I just skate and take it day by day
M. In a few words, what does a typical day look like for you?
L. I get up, go to school and skate afterward.
M. If people want to follow you on Insta, what's your handle?
M. Oh, and one last question: would you recommend that your mates or kids do a Skate Camp with us? Why?
L. Honestly, go for it and do a Skate Camp it lets you skate with people who share your passion, and it's incredibly motivating!
M. Honestly, Liam, well done for your positive attitude and everything you’ve achieved. I’m so proud to have had you with us. We hope to see you go on to even bigger things. I’m really keeping my fingers crossed for you!
L. No worries, Max, haha, and I’m up for another camp in Barca or wherever, whenever you want!!
Discover more pros during Skate Camps
Photo: Liam over a bench, Dongrego
