[ JAPANESE / ENGLISH ]

Special thanks_DC Japan

VHSMAG (V)：　How did you get hooked up with DC?

Ish Cepeda (I)：　I met one of the DC reps at Surf Expo in Orlando, he got my info and all that but he never sent any shoes! I got the actual team manager’s email Jimmy Astleford, and Jimmy liked my skating and he sent me my first box. Shouts out to Jimmy, he’s not with DC anymore but that’s my guy.

V：　How has the brand contributed to what you do?

I：　They helped me travel all over the world, and kept me financially stable for all these years. Super thankful for them.

V：　What's your favorite video part that DC put out so far?

I：　Wes Kremer DC part the year he won SOTY.

V：　Did you ever get influenced by skaters that rode or ridden for DC?

I：　For sure!! So many! Even some of the skaters in Florida that were just getting flowed.

V：　Can you share any favorite memories or experiences from working with DC?

I：　Man, countless memories haha. Just being on the road, telling stories and stuff. Sharing life experiences, that shits the best.

V：　How do you think DC stands out in the skate industry compared to other brands?

I：　I think every brand stands out in their own way. DC for sure has its own identity though. All the 90s and early 2000s stuff is so iconic.

V：　Tell us about Gas Giants.

I：　That's my brand!! It started out as a YouTube channel for me to show the world the kind of stuff my homies and I do. It caught some buzz, and I decided to make some merch, and now I have a brand haha, pretty crazy.

V：　What does a typical day in your life look like as a pro skater / entrepreneur?

I：　I like to wake up and get outside as soon as I can. Get some sunlight in the morning, get ready for the day. Then usually i'll hit the homies up to see who’s skating. But if I’m not skating I’m usually doing something for Gas Giants.

V：　You just released the Metric S colorway. Can you talk about how it came about?

I：　DC hit me up to do a shoe for spring 2024, I was so hyped. This is my 2nd colorway with DC. I'm stoked to be able to keep this going.

V：　You had the Metric commercial back in 2022. Has the shoe been one of your favorites?

I：　I love it man. It’s a perfect mix of a sneaker and a skate shoe. I can skate in it, but I can also go out to dinner in them, you know? It’s a super versatile shoe. They make a lot of different colors so I can put together a lot of different fits with the Metrics.

V：　And you had a commercial linked to the shoe release.

I：　Yup!! We shot a super dope commercial for it, and I’m going to put out some footage on the Gas Giants YouTube.

V：　How do you see DC evolving in the future, and what excites you most about the brand's direction?

I：　Sky's the limit fo real, we have a super dope team with dudes like Lucien Clarke, John Shannahan, Josh Kalis, and plenty more. I think as long as we continue to do dope shit. Sky's the limit.

V：　What are some of the most memorable projects you've worked on in the past?

I：　The first April video!! That was a super fun time in my life, I went on a bunch of trips and filmed an amazing video with the whole April squad.

V：　Any project you're currently working on?

I：　Dropping a small project for the shoe, after that I'm gonna be filming with April guys the rest of the year. Also working on some stuff with Davonte Jolly for Guess Jeans.

V：　Anything planned with DC or anything you want to make happen with them?

I：　I need that pro model shoe!!!!

Ish Cepeda
@ishcepeda

Originally from Florida, he's known for his sharp technical skating. He skates for DC and April while running his own brand, Gas Giants.