Tim Simmons

Tim came of age in Gahanna, Ohio during the ‘85 skate boom, and quickly developed into one of the Columbus scene’s most memorable prodigies. A Sunsports disciple and team rider, Tim won the famed skatepark’s inaugural contest series in 1990. He would eventually be discovered there by Steve Caballero and Powell-Peralta team manager Jim Fitzpatrick. In one of the most memorable stories told on the podcast to date, Tim was later invited out to the Santa Barbara headquarters by Jim, rubbing elbows and seeing the inner workings of the iconic brand at the end of their dominance. In 1993 he was invited to join Ron Allen’s short lived Fun Skateboards, joining a roster of young legends including Keith Hufnagel, Keenan Milton, and Eric Pupecki. Despite his enormous talent, Tim would eventually forego pursuing a career on the board, instead choosing to earn advanced degrees from Ohio State, sparked by his passion for literature and self-discovery. His career eventually landed him I n Florida, where after many twists and turns, he would go on to launch Shapes Skateboards, a full service custom woodshop serving brands across the nation. He plans to soon relocate back to Ohio with his family and continue his successful business closer to home. This is a fascinating interview into the story of a highly referenced and requested skater, who despite his legacy in the Columbus scene, is quick to deflect credit to others who inspired him along the way. Thank you Tim for your candidness and insight into a fascinating life in skateboarding.