Conversations with Tony Sailor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Sailor.

Tony, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Sick On Skates Crew, or SOSCREW, has a story that actually goes back much further than the name itself.

In the early 2000s, I created a skate crew called Georgia Rampage Skate Crew. At the time, the crew was doing really well. We were building relationships, forming the ATL skate community, and bringing skaters together. Then I had to leave for a military deployment.

Before I left, I trusted someone within the crew to help take care of the business and continue what we had started until I returned. I believed she understood the vision and would protect the legacy we had built. Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out that way. The trust I placed in her was taken advantage of, and the direction of the crew changed in ways that didn’t align with what I had built. When I came home, I made the difficult decision to shut Georgia Rampage down.

At the time, that was tough because it felt like something I had invested my time, energy, and heart into had been taken away from me. But looking back, I realize it was also the beginning of something new.

In 2008, I was on a military tour in Iraq, and of course, I brought my skates with me. That’s just how much skating was a part of who I was. I would practice whenever I had the opportunity, and some of the soldiers would watch me skate.

One day, one of the sergeants looked at me skating and said something along the lines of, “Ay, you sick on them skates!”

That statement stuck with me.

I started thinking about it, and eventually the name Sick On Skates was born.

What I didn’t know at the time was that those words would eventually become the foundation for the next chapter of my skating journey.

SOSCREW came from taking everything I experienced with Georgia Rampage—the good, the bad, the lessons, the relationships—and deciding that if I was going to build something again, I wanted to build it differently. I wanted a crew built around trust, collaboration, community, and preserving the culture.

I also wanted the name to represent something bigger than just how well somebody could skate. Being “sick on skates” is about style, individuality, confidence, creativity, and bringing your own personality to the floor.

Today, when I look at SOSCREW, I don’t look at what happened with Georgia Rampage as just a setback. I look at it as part of the journey that brought me here.

Sometimes you have to lose something you worked hard to build before you understand what you’re capable of building next.

SOSCREW is that next chapter for me.

It’s about the culture, the people, the history, and the future of skating. It’s about forming the ATL skate community, creating something people can be proud to be part of, and making sure the culture continues to move forward.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Anything worth building is going to come with challenges, setbacks, and moments where you question whether you should keep going.

I’ve had my share of setbacks, especially with building skate crews and trying to maintain the vision I had for the community. There were times when things didn’t go the way I expected, and I had to step back, reevaluate, and figure out what the next move was.

But I’ve learned that challenges are part of the journey. Everything has its challenges; it’s how you navigate through them that matters. I try not to look at setbacks as failures. Instead, I look at them as lessons. Every difficult situation has taught me something about leadership, trust, business, people, and even myself.

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that you can’t always control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond to it. Sometimes the setback gives you the opportunity to rebuild stronger, wiser, and with a clearer vision.

That’s really how I approach SOSCREW. We keep moving forward, we learn from what happened behind us, and we use those lessons to help shape where we’re going next.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
For the past 25 years, I have dedicated myself to serving in the military, including four years in the Air Force and the remainder in the Army. Throughout my career, I have served in three different MOS’s, completed three deployments, and taken on numerous assignments and leadership roles. One of the positions I am most proud of is serving as a Platoon Sergeant, where I had the opportunity to lead Soldiers, develop people, and help accomplish the mission.

Currently in the Civilian sector, I work in medical supply operations, where I help ensure the right supplies and resources are available to support medical operations. My military experience has taught me how to adapt, communicate, solve problems, and lead people in different environments. It has also given me a strong appreciation for logistics and how important it is to have the right resources in the right place at the right time.

I am currently working toward completing my bachelor’s degree in Military Studies and Logistics, which I expect to complete by the end of the year. My long-term goal is to take the experience and education I have gained throughout my career and move into the ROTC program as an instructor. I want to use what I have learned to help develop and prepare the next generation of leaders.

Outside of my professional career, I spend a lot of my time giving back through skating. Through Evolution Arts, I teach kids how to skate and also teach them basic skate maintenance at several City of Atlanta Recreation Centers. On weekends, my skate team runs a skate program at Stone Mountain Skates from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Throughout the year, we also volunteer our time to support Atlanta through skate activations, community events, and creative projects that help promote and preserve the city’s skate culture.

What I am most proud of is the opportunity to serve and develop people in both my military career and my community. Whether I’m leading Soldiers, working in medical supply operations, teaching a child how to skate, or helping organize a community event, I enjoy creating opportunities for people to learn, grow, and become more confident.

I believe what sets me apart is the combination of military leadership, logistics experience, education, and community involvement. I’ve spent 25 years learning how to lead people and accomplish missions, but I also understand the importance of giving back. For me, leadership isn’t just about what you accomplish for yourself. It’s about what you can teach, build, and leave behind for the people coming after you.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My biggest advice is to put yourself in places where you can meet people who are doing things you want to learn or become better at. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself, ask questions, and build genuine relationships. Networking, to me, isn’t just about what someone can do for you. It’s about what you can bring to the relationship as well.

A lot of my networking has happened naturally through the military, skating, and community involvement. Being around different people and organizations has allowed me to learn from others while also sharing my own experiences. Some of the best connections I’ve made started with something as simple as a conversation.

When it comes to finding a mentor, I look for someone who has experience in an area where I want to grow. I don’t expect them to have all the answers. I want someone who is willing to be honest, challenge me, and share lessons from their own experiences.

I also believe you have to be willing to be a mentor yourself. I’ve learned that sometimes the best way to build relationships is by helping others first. Whether I’m leading Soldiers, teaching kids to skate, or working with people in the community, I try to share what I’ve learned and help someone else move forward.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to stay genuine. You never know who you are going to meet or where a simple conversation can lead. Build relationships, stay connected, follow through on your word, and don’t be afraid to learn from people who have already walked the road you’re trying to travel.

Pricing:

• See sickonskatescrew.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sickonskatescrew.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/sickonskatescrew
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/sickonskatescrew
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sickonskatessk8crew36