Under the radar, that's what the skate scene in Pittsburgh historically has been, but not anymore. More than ever before there are some serious rippers coming out of 'the Burgh.' From the land of crazed Steelers fans, to the legions of loyal Penguins fans, folks in Pittsburgh have deep convictions and the skills to back them up! This is true of Drew Windon. A big part of the new generation of Pittsburgh skaters, Drew is a dedicated ripper that has really started to be noticed. Drew and his crew are straight skate rats and their efforts are now being seen by more than the East Coast. Here's a short interview with Drew as well as some new footage to hype the upcoming Bolts and Buttah video, also check out his part with Zach Funk and Austin Kanfoush in FOCUS Mag's Rise & Shine, its sick! - Keir Johnson

Keir: Ok Drew, what are your stats?

Drew: I'm 18 years old, I'm from Pittsburgh, PA and I rep One Up skate shop!

Keir: Seems like things are really jumping off in Pittsburgh these days, what's the scene like?

Drew: The scene is ill right now! There was drought for awhile but now when you're skating around town you'll always see kids out ripping! There are a lot of younger crews killing it now too. Go Skateboarding Day this year in Pittsburgh was a shocker to me, I had no clue that many kids around the city skated.

Keir: Can you talk a little about One Up skate shop?

Drew: Without disrespecting any other shops in the Pittsburgh area, One Up is the only real shop. They support good companies and help out their riders way too good! Greg and Jerry are always thinking of ways and events to help out the scene here, thats one thing that a lot of shops lack it seems. It's just nothing but good vibes from the second you walk in the shop to the second you walk out up there.

Keir: A lot of folks first took notice of you and your homies Zach Funk and Austin Kanfoush through the part you all shared in the FOCUS video, what was that like for you?

Drew: It was definitely good, I like that FOCUS is out there for the East Coast and that they stuck to that principal for the video. As far as making the part, we'd been filming for this video called Bolts and Buttah for about a year and half now, by the way that video should actually be premiering finally at the end of this summer, look out for it. Basically Mark Brandstetter (FOCUS video) asked myself, Austin, and Zach if we wanted to split a part. We were psyched, so we just took the footy from our video and shipped it out to Mark. It never really affected the progress of Bolts and Buttah so it all worked out for the best!

Keir: Pittsburgh has a rad skate history, also with people like Matt Miller and others out there repping Pirates hats on the regular, who are some of the sickest OG skaters in Pittsburgh right now?

Drew: Well obviously the Panza (Henry and Nick) brothers, I've never seen nipple high ledges get sessioned until I started skating with them, they are both on another level. Also Big Jerms (Jeremy Koulosek) is so good and so smooth and unfortunately no one outside of 'the burgh' has a clue, which sucks! Jerry Cooper, now that he can switch heel, haha, nah he's the man and a sick Pittsburgh OG! Other than the dudes that hold down Pittsburgh there are of course Kevin Taylor, Mark Branstetter, he's just sick at life! And Matt Reason who still lives out here and does construction now.

Keir: What are you up to this summer?

Drew: Skating, that's all I have been doing everyday, then getting down at night somewhat! I'm looking for a part time job right now just so I can eat on a regular basis and be able to drive myself and others around. If it wasn't for my boy Lunchbox, I don't know what I'd do, he helps out by driving me around and funding some meals, he's a champ straight up!

Keir: What are your goals for skating?

Drew: Win the Dew Cup! Nah just keep skateboarding, if any opportunities were to come up I'd definitely take them, but other than that just avoid anything that takes the fun out of skating!

Keir: Avoid those things by all means, ok Drew who are you thankful to?

Drew: Greg, Jerry, Lunchbox, Justin Zach and Addison Funk, Austin, Benny, Dave, Rob, Chris, Nick, Henry, Jerms, Norm, the whole crew, everyone involved with One Up and 48 Blocks for this interview! I could go on for days.