Greg Lutzka

Greg Lutzka
Personal information
Full name Gregory Lutzka
Born (1984-04-20) 20 April 1984
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight 140 lb (64 kg)
Sport
Country  United States
Sport Skateboarding

Greg Lutzka (born April 20, 1984) is a "goofy-footed"[1] (naturally places his right foot at the nose of the skateboard) professional skateboarder.

Early life

Lutzka was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States (US).[2] Lutzka explained in 2014 that he "grew up on skates," and first tried ice skating at the age of two before playing ice hockey in high school.[3]

Lutzka commenced skateboarding at the age of nine after discovering it through his peers in the ice hockey team. Skateboarding was initially an activity that he enjoyed as an aside to ice hockey, but three years later, Lutzka replaced ice hockey with skateboarding because he "loved it so much."[3]

Professional skateboarding

Lutzka was first sponsored at the age of 15 and he explained in 2014 that, upon attaining sponsorship, he realized that professional skateboarding was a feasible option for him. Volcom and Oakley were two of the brands that supported Lutzka, while he was connected with established skateboarders like Rodney Mullen and Tony Hawk. Lutzka relocated to California, U.S., at the request of his sponsors.[3]

Lutzka was one of the original team members of the Almost skateboard deck brand that was cofounded by Mullen and Daewon Song.[4]

Luztka is a former team member of the Globe shoe company team and released one signature shoe model with the brand, named the "Culprit" (also released in a "high-top" model, whereby the length of the shoe is extended to cover the lower shin).[5] A full-length Lutzka video part appears in the United By Fate series of short episodic films that were released by Globe between 2007 and 2009[6][7]—Lutzka's part, edited to the Justice song "D.A.N.C.E.", is the feature section of the fourth episode.[8]

Following the completion of his contract with Globe, Lutzka negotiated a skate shoe contract with tennis shoe company K-Swiss in 2009[9][10] and, as of August 2012, continues to develop the company's skateboard area. In an August 2012 interview with the internet-based Jenkem publication, Lutzka explained:

They’re building up the program but the economy kind of took a hit right now so like every company is cutting back. Actually I don’t think they’re cutting back that much as they are just taking time to think about the decisions we make. My shoe is pretty much done it just comes down to when they want to release it.[11]

In addition to changing shoe sponsors, Lutzka left Almost to join the Darkstar company (both brands are part of the same distribution house, Dwindle Distribution). Lutzka explained his decision to change sponsors in an interview with Poweredge Magazine:

Now it’s [Almost] just a lot different than it was then; it’s just a different program now than when I was on there. When I was on there it was me [Ryan] Sheckler and Torey Pudwill. Obviously none of us are there now but to me being on a skateboard company is about who you hang out with and who you vibe with and I vibe with those dudes really well, but I was skating with Ryan Decenzo a lot and we travel a lot together because of the Maloof Cup and the Dew Tour. We also skate street a lot together and film with the same dudes. It was a good fit for me with Darkstar because I hang out with Decenzo and I’ve known Chet [Thomas] because he’s helped me with my career since the beginning, so it was a really good fit. Pierre [PLG] was always at all the events and I’m really good friends with Pierre so at the end of the day I hang out with those dudes more than anybody else in skateboarding, so it works.[12]

An August 12, 2014, edition of Thrasher Magazine's "Skateline" program announced that Lutzka had parted ways with K-Swiss and joined the Osiris Shoes company.[13] While an official announcement from either Osiris or K-Swiss was not published, the Osiris blog first featured Lutzka on June 22, 2014.[14]

In a September 2014 interview, Lutzka offered advice to young skateboarders:

Skateboarding is all about having fun and having fun with your friends; it’s always been that way, and it’ll always be that way. I think that is number one. Some kids just want to get sponsored and become a pro skater, but most of the pros didn’t ever look at it that way. They just did it because they loved it, got really good at it and opportunities just came from that. Number one, to me, is just enjoying skateboarding because you love it.[3]

Sponsors

As of October 2014, Lutzka is sponsored by Darkstar Skateboards, Independent Truck Company, Ricta Wheels, FKD bearings, Osiris Shoes, Rockstar, Kicker, Daphine, Footprint Insoles,Rockstar energy drinks and OC Ramps.[15]

Media appearances

Commercials

Music videos

Television

Film

Entrepreneur

Following his move to Osiris Shoes, Lutzka said that he would like to be a sales representative for skateboard brands that he believes in after his skateboarding career ends.[15] Lutzka then revealed in September 2014 that he had started a yet-unnamed clothing company, following advice from sponsors, and was also interested in real estate.[3]

Personal life

Lutzka resides in Mission Viejo, California, US. He moved there in 2004, after living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his mother Lori, father, Jeff, and brother Andy. He explained in 2014 that he enjoys snowboarding and playing guitar when he is not skateboarding. Lutzka concluded his 2014 interview with the statement: "I want to continue to be a good role model. Finally, just enjoy life— people don’t realize how important that is."[3]

Contest results

Following his selection in the initial round of contracts that were offered by the Street League Skateboarding (SLS) skateboard contest company, Lutzka later negotiated a release from SLS as the contract required participants to compete exclusively in SLS events. Following Lutzka's departure, SLS founder Rob Dyrdek stated: "Despite being signed to a three-year agreement we understood that the companies that are willing to pay Greg expect him to win contests. It was clear after the first year that would never happen in Street League, so when Greg asked us to release him we decided it was the right thing to do."[21]

Videography

References

  1. ↑ "Greg Lutzka". OC Ramps. Oc Ramps, Inc. March 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  2. ↑ PeacemakerTurkish (21 February 2008). "Oakley Our Life - Greg Lutzka". YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Jessie Setkus, Jeff Farsai (24 September 2014). "GREG LUTZKA TELLS US WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A PROFESSIONAL SKATEBOARDER". Locale. Locale. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  4. ↑ theweekendbuzz (13 January 2012). "Chris Haslam & John Rattray Are Laser Tag Losers & Voltron: Weekend Buzz ..." (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  5. ↑ "LUTZKA CULPRIT - LIGHT SKY BLUE". The Sneaker Freaker Museum. sneaker freaker. 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  6. ↑ "Globe - United By Fate". Skatevideosite.com. Skatevideosite.com. 2005–2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  7. ↑ Kelly, Ben (11 November 2009). "GLOBE’S UNITED BY FATE EPISODE 6 TRAILER". Transworld SKATEboarding. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  8. ↑ Curtis, Carleton (31 October 2008). "GLOBE, UNITED BY FATE EPISODE 4: GREG LUTZKA" (Video upload). Transworld SKATEboarding. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  9. ↑ Transworld (24 June 2009). "GREG LUTZKA JOINS K-SWISS". Transworld Business. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  10. ↑ skatejoey (18 August 2009). "Greg Lutzka Joins K Swiss" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  11. ↑ Maloney, Pat; Ian Michna; Lauren Kolesinskas (August 2012). "GREG LUTZKA TALKS TEQUILA, NICKY HILTON AND BEING A "CONTEST SKATER"". Jenkem. Jenkem. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  12. ↑ "Greg Lutzka". Poweredge Magazine. Poweredge Magazine. 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  13. ↑ "SKATELINE - Clint Walker, Jason Park B/S 360 Kickflip Blunt NBD, Greg Lutzka and more" (Video upload). ThrasherMagazine on YouTube. Google Inc. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  14. ↑ "Go Skate Day - Sun Diego Pro Am". Osiris Shoes. Osiris Shoes. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  15. 1 2 "Team - Greg Lutzka". Osiris Shoes. Osiris Shoes. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  16. ↑ jimpo123456 (20 October 2009). "Ryan Sheckler AXE Commercial - Double Pits to Chesty". YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  17. ↑ FarEastMovementVEVO (29 October 2010). "Far East Movement - Rocketeer ft. Ryan Tedder". YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  18. ↑ ShwayzeVEVO (8 November 2011). "Shwayze & Cisco - Drunk Off Your Love ft. Sky Blu from LMFAO". YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  19. ↑ MusicSnoopDog (30 October 2009). "Snoop Dogg Ft. The Dream - "Gangsta Luv" (Official Music Video 2009) *HOT NEW*". YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  20. ↑ "Time Warp". Discovery Press Web. Discovery Communications, Inc. 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  21. ↑ Salo, Adam (25 April 2011). "Maloof Money Cup skaters announced". ESPN Action Sports. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  22. ↑ "Greg Lutzka wins the Slaughter At The Opera contest". EuropeSkate. Europeskate.com. 1 March 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  23. ↑ "Greg Lutzka skate videos". Skatevideosite.com. Skatevideosite.com. 2005–2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
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