Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Williams.
Richard, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Being raised in a military family, home was wherever we landed. It wasn’t until my parents retired in Georgia that a permanent refuge became a more feasible reality.
I’ve loved skating since I was a kid. The idea that I could get somewhere quicker than simply being on foot has perpetually fascinated me. When I was around seventeen, I bought my first pair of aggressive inline skates, and I’ve not looked back. My world became a giant skatepark.
I’m 36 now, and the sport has given me so many opportunities within my career and friend group. Much love to Skatepile.com, K2 Skates and Rollerblade USA for putting me on their teams throughout the years. Making fun skate videos with my friends from an early age has placed me in some truly unique situations. I have been blessed to create visual content with car manufacturers, exotic resorts, music festivals and so much more. I was even able to create content for Rollerblade USA in Times Square! In the truest sense, I owe my life to skating. I don’t know where I would be without it.
During the pandemic, the popularity of outdoor skating exploded, and I felt the need to create a space for new and experienced skaters to connect with one another. SK8TL (https://www.instagram.com/sk8tl_official/?hl=en) is my lovechild. What began as a small group of skaters meeting at Lee+White has blossomed into a full-on movement. The goal of SK8TL is as simple as it gets. Skating together is penultimate for the proliferation of the sport, and we aim to host events that bring all inline/quad doctrines into one place. And we couldn’t have done any of this without the support of our 5000+ followers.
I’m happy to report that many groups have formed since the inception of SK8TL. Shout out to Rollerslay, Trans Sk8 Club, BOSSATL, Smooth Rollers, Sick on Skates Crew, Atl Rollerbabes, Atlanta Peachtree Road Rollers, and Bad B*tch Skate Club for continuing the mission of keeping the skating spirit alive.
And I would be remiss to not mention the amazing skate shops, RollATL and Skate Escape for their generosity to our cause.
For the future, I hope to continue to supply the scene with more opportunities to skate together, celebrate one another, and putting on more competition-based series at skateparks all around Atlanta. Try to make it out this June 3rd for our second annual Captains of Concrete Skating competition! Thanks largely in part to individual donors and sponsors, we have accrued on helluva prize pack for inline and quad skaters who choose to compete. https://www.gofundme.com/f/captains-of-concrete-2023-lets-goooooo?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
And also, stay tuned for the group’s first full-length video that intends to showcase the brightest stars in our growing family.
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?
It most certainly has not been a smooth road to get to where I am now.
From being bullied for inline skating as a high schooler to being bullied by one of Atlanta’s “journalism” hubs, it just seemed that for the longest, I could not just make things happen for the skaters without pushback. Luckily, I have friends and family who’ve stood up for me and SK8TL when it felt too daunting to stand up by myself.
Through these struggles among many more, I have learned that it takes a community to roll strong. At the end of the day, I just hope that the folks who’ve helped me to get to where I am today are able to win all they strive to achieve.
Special shout to my day ones, Brandon Andersen, Juan Espinosa, Hannah Allen, Savannah Linders, Tom Hyser, and Auston Robinson.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I create video content for a myriad of different industries. I specialize in action sports, but I’m more than happy to point my lens at anyone who truly cares about their craft.
I would say what sets me apart from others is that I don’t require the newest in camera technology to continue my passion. I am a guerilla content creator, and I love a quick turnaround.
Any big plans?
I hope that one day, I am able to create a legacy for the Atlanta skating community. To leave a mark on a sport that has given me so much would simply mean the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/sk8tl_official/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawfootageatl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichardatRAWFootage
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-williams-2713b855/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RAWFootageATL
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdhK9A5WiZ5KEZjvBusKscA
- Other: https://www.gofundme.com/f/captains-of-concrete-2023-lets-goooooo?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
Image Credits
Rachel Grace Nick Chattam Juan Espinosa Savannah Linders Tyre Grannemann Jonathan Labez
