Adrenalin Winner Interviews

Robert Hunter, Nati Skate Train
Cincinnati, OH
Three-Time Adrenalin Award Winner for Favorite Skate Club, Favorite DJ and Social Service Award

MBR: Where are you originally from?
Rob: Cincinnati

MBR: Where did the name of your club/organization come from?
Rob: The 'Nati Skate train was started by my mother, my aunt and myself seven years ago. We were interested in hosting a skating party and we came up with the name because we wanted to have a name for our group.

After attending a few out-of-town extravaganzas I really wanted to bring the energy and creativity I experienced out-of-town home to the skaters in Cincinnati. I was young and cocky then and the trips I made to Atlanta and St. Louis were a very humbling experience not to mention very "skate" educational. We were trying to come up with a catchy name for our club and we decided on The 'Nati Skate Train because "'Nati" is slang for Cincinnati and in Cincinnati we are known for skating fast and hard in "trains" of 3 or more people. The 'Nati Skate Train has been rolling hard ever since.

MBR: We all have reasons why we skate. Why do you skate? What motivates you to skate?
Rob: I skate because I am a music lover. Skating is a form of self-expression to that music, much like dancing but I'm not into the club scene. I have done it [skated], faithfully, weekly, since I was five.

MBR: When you first heard of the Adrenalin Awards, what were your thoughts? How did you feel about it?
Rob: I read about the Adrenalin Awards through SkateGroove. I thought it would be cool to be nominated and win but I never thought I would be nominated.

MBR: How did you feel when you found out you were an Adrenalin Nominee?
Rob: I was honored. Over the years, I have met so many people who I think are super at what they do and for me to be nominated and to be considered among the best in certain categories is overwhelming because I have seen what others can do.

MBR: Did you campaign to get people to vote for you or did you just sit back and let the voters make an unsolicited decision?
Rob: I did a little of both. I campaigned with my family and friends but for the most part, I sat back and let the people vote on their own. I also campaigned for a few other people on the ballot who I thought deserved to win.

MBR: Did you think you had a chance at winning? If not, who in your category did you think would win?
Rob: I really thought Big Bob was going to win Favorite DJ, the Easy Rollers for Favorite Skate Club and Joi Stafford for Social Service.

MBR: How did you feel when you won?
Rob: I was honored. I never thought I would win and it felt good because I knew my Mom was there with me and I knew she was proud. I had a feeling of accomplishment. I felt like I did something relevant for the people that love to skate just like me. Maybe I read too much into it but I am very proud of my Adrenalin Award.

MBR: Were you nervous when you went up to accept your award?
Rob: I was extremely nervous and I was trying so hard to play cool. Not many people know me outside of skating and I think many people have the wrong impression of me; so when I accepted my award I tried really hard to show my appreciation for the recognition as well as my love for skating.

MBR: Have you won any trophies in skating competitions?
Rob: Yes, I have five. Two for best male skater, two for best doubles/pairs/couples and one for best trio.

MBR: Is the Adrenalin Award any different from the others that you have won?
Rob: The Adrenalin Award is more on a national level. The others were from skate parties. A panel of judges didn't decide the Adrenalin Award winner. It was the skater's choice; whom they believed was best. It is different because it is everyone's opinion in the skate society instead of the smaller circle of people at a skate party. Then people had more time to sit and think about their vote and decision.

MBR: What do you think the Adrenalin Awards means to the roller skating community?
Rob: I can't say what it means to everyone in the skate community but it should be a sign of appreciation to the people that go the extra mile to ensure skating lives forever and skaters have quality events they can attend.

MBR: Do you have any comments or other information you would like to share?
Rob: When I accepted my Adrenalin Awards I forgot to mention some people that were responsible for the NST receiving the recognition it did. Almost everyone know my mother and my aunt started the NST but I have to give much thanks to Stacey "Ms. Rollin' Diva" Davis for bringing the NST to the forefront of peoples minds. Stacey worked very hard to make sure the member of the NST were outfitted properly and our designs were cutting edge. I see skate clubs now with designs and shirts that were inspired by Stacey's vision. I also have to give recognition to the original members of the NST: Tweety, Sexy Red, Twinkle Toes, Risse Cup, Lady Luck, Stan E Stan, Salim The Dream, Jus Five' Two'', Quiet Storm, Ms. Owwwww (don't hurt 'em), One 2 C, and One Bad Granny. The NST was voted favorite skate club because of you and your personalities.

As more and more parties burst on the scene and as each party gets more and more extravagant we must keep in mind the community and the youth. We need to open our own skating rinks to serve black and neighboring communities and we must embrace our youth so we can get them on the floor and off the street. Keep Rollin'

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