Todd Jordan
Todd Jordan
Todd Jordan Photography: Allen Ying
Words By Allen Ying
Whats goin on today Todd? Whats your day looking like?
Cold. I got some coffee brewing and once Im done answering these questions Im gonna see how soon I can get out of N.Y.
You and Benny Fairfax killed that Red Bull Seek and Destroy thing, huh?
Red Bull gives me headaches. That definitely wasnt me.
Who? What? Whos Olly Todd? Whys he ripping off your name?
I know, right. Best thing is that my mom one time thought that he was me. She called and was like, I saw your picture in some new magazine. I was asking her which one and she said, Youre doing an ollie in London. Then when I explained who it was to her she was still like, Oh my God! I cant believe it. He looks just like you. I met Olly before and told him this story. He was definitely flattered. Hes a cool guy though.
What music are you listening to 99% of the time? Morrissey?
No. I got such an array of music. Bridget Bardot is playing while I answer these. It helps to have something playing in French. This way it cant influence my answers. I definitley listen to a lot of Morrissey though.
Whats goin on today Todd? Whats your day looking like?
Cold. I got some coffee brewing and once Im done answering these questions Im gonna see how soon I can get out of N.Y.
You and Benny Fairfax killed that Red Bull Seek and Destroy thing, huh?
Red Bull gives me headaches. That definitely wasnt me.
Who? What? Whos Olly Todd? Whys he ripping off your name?
I know, right. Best thing is that my mom one time thought that he was me. She called and was like, I saw your picture in some new magazine. I was asking her which one and she said, Youre doing an ollie in London. Then when I explained who it was to her she was still like, Oh my God! I cant believe it. He looks just like you. I met Olly before and told him this story. He was definitely flattered. Hes a cool guy though.
What music are you listening to 99% of the time? Morrissey?
No. I got such an array of music. Bridget Bardot is playing while I answer these. It helps to have something playing in French. This way it cant influence my answers. I definitley listen to a lot of Morrissey though.
Trick: Kicklip Photography: Allen Ying
Youre pretty obsessed huh? What is it about that music?
I definitely wouldnt say Im obsessed. Im not obsessed with anything right now. Its good stuff though. Its good lonely winter music.
You ever see him play live? What was that like? Life-changing?
Ive seen him live once and it was a seriously amazing show. Im not sure of his exact age but Morrissey is definitely getting up there and he just killed it. And he still managed to be shirtless by the end of the show. As far as life-changing goes, I dont think so. But I drove from N.Y. to Chicago with two friends to see the show. 13 hours straight there, in Chicago for like 8 hours, and then 15 hours straight home. If anything changed my life it was that journey.
Did you ever see Zoo Yorks Mixtape 2? You had some pretty impressive footy in there. That is like, a lifetime ago. What have you been doing since then?
Collecting footage. Right now I have 45 minutes straight of footage. Im gonna get like 20 more minutes, and then do one of the self-promo videos that everyone does now. But fuck my friends. This ones gonna be a straight hour of me skating. And about half of it is skate park footage so its gonna be really sick.
You were in college then? And then got a Bachelors Degree?
I was. And yes, I got a BFA, a Bachelors of Fine Art. Sounds nice, right?
I definitely wouldnt say Im obsessed. Im not obsessed with anything right now. Its good stuff though. Its good lonely winter music.
You ever see him play live? What was that like? Life-changing?
Ive seen him live once and it was a seriously amazing show. Im not sure of his exact age but Morrissey is definitely getting up there and he just killed it. And he still managed to be shirtless by the end of the show. As far as life-changing goes, I dont think so. But I drove from N.Y. to Chicago with two friends to see the show. 13 hours straight there, in Chicago for like 8 hours, and then 15 hours straight home. If anything changed my life it was that journey.
Did you ever see Zoo Yorks Mixtape 2? You had some pretty impressive footy in there. That is like, a lifetime ago. What have you been doing since then?
Collecting footage. Right now I have 45 minutes straight of footage. Im gonna get like 20 more minutes, and then do one of the self-promo videos that everyone does now. But fuck my friends. This ones gonna be a straight hour of me skating. And about half of it is skate park footage so its gonna be really sick.
You were in college then? And then got a Bachelors Degree?
I was. And yes, I got a BFA, a Bachelors of Fine Art. Sounds nice, right?
Trick: Frontside 5-0 Photography: Allen Ying
How many models have you railed in the college darkroom?
There were a lot of people using those darkrooms at the same time. I had my own apartment at the time, about 10 blocks from the school. So I guess thats where I used to get down.
How old are you anyhow?
Twenty-six.
What do we have to look forward to in your next big video part?
Definitely some skate footage. Lots and lots of tricks down big handrails. And I ollied the biggest set of stairs that Ive ever ollied. Such an accomplishment.
It seems like half the pros up here in N.Y., and definitely all of the ams, dont really make a living off skateboarding, and have to have full-time jobs on the side. What do you think about that? Do you fall into that category?
I dont know whats up with that. Im sure it still has a lot to do with the entire industry being on the opposite coast. But kids skating in N.Y. dont seem to be as skate-career oriented as west siders. But I dont know any pros that have side jobs. Maybe pros with side jobs.
There were a lot of people using those darkrooms at the same time. I had my own apartment at the time, about 10 blocks from the school. So I guess thats where I used to get down.
How old are you anyhow?
Twenty-six.
What do we have to look forward to in your next big video part?
Definitely some skate footage. Lots and lots of tricks down big handrails. And I ollied the biggest set of stairs that Ive ever ollied. Such an accomplishment.
It seems like half the pros up here in N.Y., and definitely all of the ams, dont really make a living off skateboarding, and have to have full-time jobs on the side. What do you think about that? Do you fall into that category?
I dont know whats up with that. Im sure it still has a lot to do with the entire industry being on the opposite coast. But kids skating in N.Y. dont seem to be as skate-career oriented as west siders. But I dont know any pros that have side jobs. Maybe pros with side jobs.
Trick: Manual 180 Photography: Allen Ying
When Shut decided to come back, was there anything in particular that made you switch over, or was it kind of an obvious move?
It just felt right at the time. I was skating for Creation, which didnt feel like it was going in the direction I had hoped, and just didnt feel to be me. Its nice to be back with the people I essentially started off with.
So youve got Nike and Shut. Do you bother with any other sponsors?
WE Clothing helps me out a lot. Diamond Hardware keeps Independent trucks onto my boards. And Rockstar Bearings, its more like a club of some sort, but they help out a lot of kids here in N.Y.
Whats your take on skateboard photography and the photographers that do it?
I like seeing skate photographers experiment a little. I dont even look at many skate mags anymore cause its like you see the same magazine every month. Fisheye photos of tricks down stairs or on rails. Its like a formula thats evolved over the years. Flashes go in the same spot. Same lens on the camera. Get down low. Make that shit look huge I dont know. I could go on, but it doesnt matter. I like Brian Gaberman. I think hes the only photographer that shoots skating that when Im flipping through the pages of a magazine, I can recognize his stuff.
As cliché a question as this is, how would you describe your photography?
Very cliché. I guess I would describe my photography as relaxing or calming. Or maybe those are the moments I photograph. Relaxing moments that happen in my hectic days. I photograph the hectic moments as well, but dont really show them. If anyone would like to see my photographs you can go to www.phhfineart.com.
It just felt right at the time. I was skating for Creation, which didnt feel like it was going in the direction I had hoped, and just didnt feel to be me. Its nice to be back with the people I essentially started off with.
So youve got Nike and Shut. Do you bother with any other sponsors?
WE Clothing helps me out a lot. Diamond Hardware keeps Independent trucks onto my boards. And Rockstar Bearings, its more like a club of some sort, but they help out a lot of kids here in N.Y.
Whats your take on skateboard photography and the photographers that do it?
I like seeing skate photographers experiment a little. I dont even look at many skate mags anymore cause its like you see the same magazine every month. Fisheye photos of tricks down stairs or on rails. Its like a formula thats evolved over the years. Flashes go in the same spot. Same lens on the camera. Get down low. Make that shit look huge I dont know. I could go on, but it doesnt matter. I like Brian Gaberman. I think hes the only photographer that shoots skating that when Im flipping through the pages of a magazine, I can recognize his stuff.
As cliché a question as this is, how would you describe your photography?
Very cliché. I guess I would describe my photography as relaxing or calming. Or maybe those are the moments I photograph. Relaxing moments that happen in my hectic days. I photograph the hectic moments as well, but dont really show them. If anyone would like to see my photographs you can go to www.phhfineart.com.
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