Erick Winkowski is a skater who merely defies categorization. Recognized to many on Instagram as @8ballr, he stands out on the earth of contemporary skateboarding with a method that’s as fluid as it’s unpredictable. It’s laborious to label him as strictly a avenue skater or a transition skater, as a result of he thrives in each worlds.
Watch any of his video elements, and also you’ll be struck by the vary of his skating. One minute he’s grinding large handrails or flipping over big gaps, and the subsequent he’s flying by way of the air with an invert within the deep finish of a pool.
This seamless mix of avenue and transition skating makes him some of the thrilling skate boarders to observe right now.
What makes Winkowski much more distinctive is his alternative of board. Whereas many skaters desire the slim, symmetrical shapes frequent in fashionable avenue skating, Erick typically opts for traditional board shapes straight out of the Nineteen Eighties. These wider, extra old-school decks aren’t only for nostalgia—they’re a mirrored image of his dedication to honoring skateboarding’s heritage whereas pushing its boundaries. Watching him shred on these boards is like seeing the previous and the current collide, and the result’s nothing wanting electrical.
Originating from San Diego, a metropolis with a wealthy skateboarding historical past, Winkowski’s roots are evident in his model. He rides for a few of the most iconic manufacturers within the trade, together with Santa Cruz Skateboards, Unbiased Vehicles, OJ Wheels, Mob Grip, Bronson Velocity Co., and Emerica. These affiliations underscore his connection to the core of skateboarding, however Winkowski’s skating speaks for itself.
His means to carry out technical methods on gnarly terrain, mixed together with his fearless strategy to large transitions, units him aside from anybody else within the recreation.
There’s one thing nearly indescribable about Erick Winkowski. He’s not only a skater with a retro board or somebody who dabbles in several kinds. He’s not one factor, and he’s not a bunch of issues—he’s one thing else completely. His skating feels timeless, pulling from the previous whereas driving ahead into new territory.
Whether or not he’s bombing down a hill or launching out of a deep pool, Winkowski’s means to push the boundaries of what skateboarding could be is what makes him a standout determine within the sport. His distinctive strategy displays each a respect for the place skateboarding has been and one eye on the place it’s going, making him some of the dynamic and modern skaters of his era.
In a world the place skateboarding can generally really feel segmented by model and method, Winkowski breaks down these boundaries effortlessly. Watching him is a reminder that skateboarding doesn’t must be outlined by guidelines or classes—it’s about freedom, creativity, and pushing the bounds of what’s potential. And in that sense, Erick Winkowski is main the best way, one large handrail and deep pool carve at a time. SHOP OUR WINKOSKI SECTION HERE!
