éS Skateboarding

Go big or go home is an awful cliché, but quite simply was the case when John Rattray moved across the Atlantic Ocean from his native, Scotland. Landing his wheels in California to fulfill his destiny of terrorizing the streets in the United States, John’s "Take No Prisoners" approach to attacking handrails, huge gaps and stairs along with super-fast technical lines has gained him notoriety as a destroyer on his skateboard.

Born in the year of the Snake, not the Ratt, in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, John’s turbulent childhood is shrouded in mystery. A fateful purchase of a $9.99 skateboard from a department store by his grandmother set the wee 9 year old towards a career spanning several continents and landing his remains at his present dwelling of Encinitas, CA in 2001.

Originally a founding member of the Blueprint Skateboards squad, John acquired a global-reputation as a ripper on his board with celebrated video parts in Anthems, Waiting for the World and First Broadcast. Once in the states, John was swiftly drafted by the Chief, Jamie Thomas to join the gnarly ranks of the Zero Skateboards squad which was followed by his eye-opening video parts in Dying to Live, New Blood and Strange World.

John now divides his time between skateboarding daily and multiple artistic passions encompassing illustration, collage and painting along with being a singer, songwriter, filmer and editor. John is very approachable and if you happen to meet atop a roll in, will always welcome a discussion of the finer points of music, film and literature.