What can you say about Dana Ericson? Casual style, no hype no glory, just skateboarding that is clean, as well as raw and pure; street, park, vert (?), mini ramp champ. He’ll skateboard any time, any place, and in any condition. He is the definition of east coast skateboarding at its finest. Ed Driscoll is Dana’s boss at Commonwealth Liquors. He skates the Hellgate ramp better than most. He has a custom grill, but will never rock it in public. He can skate a Zip Zinger in running shoes while carrying his work clothes in a plastic bag and slaughter any spot. He’s been a skate shop grom for almost fifteen years now. In his youth, Dana once asked how to get sponsored.  He was told to just shut up and skateboard. That is what he did, and that is what he does. Best thing about Dana, He has respect for skateboarding. - Chris Rice

RAW: Alright, let’s get it going, Dana. Where are you originally from?

Dana: Boxboro, Massachusetts, right in between Worcester and Boston.

RAW: When did you start skateboarding?

Dana: Probably in 1994 or 1995. Fourth grade or so.

RAW: It’s always good to know this one. What was your first skateboard (the whole setup)?

Dana: I had a John Lucero Madrid old schooler with Tracker plastic trucks and Bones wheels.  I got it from my cousin. My first board I tried tricks on was some Tree Fort with cleargriptape. Ha ha.

RAW: Do you still have it?

Dana: Damn, I think my mom trashed that one. I think the wheels are still floating around somewhere.

RAW: Why did you even start skating, man?

Dana: You see it and you’re blown away, and it just started from there for me.

RAW: What blew you away about seeing skateboarding for the first time(s)?

Dana: When you see skating for the first time, the first thing that enters your mind is “Damn, I wanna do that. It looks fun.” You see someone ollie for the first time and you just want to figure that shit out. How it works. How you do it. That’s how it started for me, it was just right up my alley.

RAW: Word. Who were your major influences growing up as a skateboarder?

Dana: I used to go to the Cape a lot to visit my grandma, so I’d see dudes like Zered (Bassett), Louis (Sarowski), Jereme (Rogers) and Rob Cabral and I’d just be blown away. Otherthan that all the old school Boston heads. I got that 3D Innovations video and couldn’t believe all this crazy shit was going down like 25 minutes from my Mom’s house. I was blown away.

RAW: I can certainly relate to that. That video is the definition of skating in Boston for me. What stood out to you about Messin’ Around?

Dana: It’s just raw skating in the city, you know? You get the vibe of what skating should look like, just cruising around with a camera randomly getting footage.

RAW: Which parts, tricks or spots from it stand out the most to you?

Dana: Robbie Gangemi and Mike Graham stood out to me.  You just see ability and style. Don't matter where the spot is, just killing it going way faster and harder. Plus, it’s Boston! That’s my city, you know? You see spots they killed in 1995 or 1996 and we still skate them today.

RAW: Damn, dude. I couldn’t agree more. On a different note, where have you travelled on a skateboard besides Boston?

Dana: All across New England, New York, Philly, DC, SF and LA. I’m keeping it domestic for now.

RAW: Out of all the places you've skated, what was/is your favorite?

Dana: Damn, favorite spots? There’s so many, any good ramp session is always fun.  As far as street spots, anything with a bank or a nice ledge.  SF has the hills. Philly has some shit I really like, some real cutty banks and shit.  I used to go down there and stay with my aunt, go skate Love and City Hall. Yah, Love Park just has a vibe to it. You're there and you can’t believe you're skating there.

RAW: What about your travels on a skateboard is important to you today?

Dana: Just keeping it fresh. Usually, I’m tied down here in Boston between school, an internship and work. I love skating new spots, just searching out anywhere for new spots.

RAW: Sounds like a full plate, man. Do you see skateboarding in other things that you do, like school or work?

Dana: You learn style from skateboarding. Your sense of what style is can stand out in anything, whether it be music, videos, painting, etc. So, yeah, I see aspects of skateboarding in everything I do.

RAW: What is the best thing to you about skating a new spot?

Dana: New spots are just a new angle.  You can figure out what you want to do with the spot if you've never seen it before and maybe you can come up with something new. It’s all about keeping it fun and fresh.  

RAW: I know we were talking earlier about early influences. In skateboarding, it always seems that some people are timeless for us and some are right here and now. Who are your favorite skateboarders, past and present?

Dana: Damn, that’s a hard one.  Cardiel, Gonz, Keenan, Gino…the usuals. I could go on for a minute. Other than that, this kid Rob Cabral. He’s been skating forever and just kills it. Ed Driscoll, too. That kid is asleep at the wheel. All the Boston heads, old and new.

RAW: Why do you respect the favorite skateboarders you mentioned?

Dana: They're just originals, you know? You look at someone like cardiel and you know he’s so psyched on what he’s doing and having so much fun, and those are the best people to watch. Rob Cabral is like that, he’s been skating and killing it forever because he can. He doesn’t give a fuck. He just goes out and skates. 

RAW: Definitely. Skateboarding is universal, but what is important to you about being an East Coast skateboarder?

Dana: Just being grimy, basically. Skating around the city all day all dirty and shit, skating curbs, sleeping at spots, Not giving a fuck what’s gonna happen, skating around acting a fool. Just go out and skate with your friends, that’s what it’s all about.

RAW: Sleeping at spots. Alright. What spots have you slept at?

Dana: I've slept at Aquarium. I missed the commuter rail back to my mom’s house so I just posted up there for a night.

RAW: You also mentioned being grimy and not giving a fuck. Why do you think skateboarders are the way we are?

Dana: I mean not all skaters are dirty, but, when I go out and skate around the city, my white tee looks like a dishrag by the end of the day.

RAW: What do you plan to do with skateboarding in the near future (travels, etc.)?

Dana: I’m about to graduate real soon, so I'm about to save some money doing this skate camp up in New Hampshire for the summer, then just travel and hit up some cities I haven't been to yet.

RAW: Who do you skate for now?

Dana: Big thanks to Chris Rice at Identity Skate Shop, Seamus at Zoo York, Tom at Bay State Wheels and everyone at RAW. 

RAW: Aside from the skateboarders that you admire, who else has had an impact on your life as a skateboarder?