Vertical Rollerskating > People > Perry Gruner
Perry Gruner
Perry was a local at the legendary Green Ramp in Karlsruhe. He always pushed his tricks to the limit and ultra-high airs where his hall mark.
Enjoy the photos of him and the interview.
The photos are published with permission and copyrighted by their
respective photographers. Perry answered the questions in March 2010
Interview
When did you begin vertical roller skating?
That was at the age of about 12 (1978)
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Rider: Perry Gruner
Trick: Layback Air
Spot: Private Ramp
Ettlingen
Photographer: Chris Eggers |
What got you into it?
Back in the time there where Chris Eggers, Alex Zosel, Bernd Kebschul and Markus
Reiser. Chris and Alex where my classmates at school. Sometime they started building
a half pipe. Alex' father had a garden and gave permission to build it there.
A plan was made, wood was bought and organized and then the ramp building began.
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Rider: Perry Gruner
Trick: Air
Spot: Private Ramp
Ettlingen
Photographer: Chris Eggers |
How did you get the roller skates you had been riding?
I build the skates myself. Alu base plate, skateboard trucks and wheels (a bit on the wide side) and used ice skate boots.
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Rider: Perry Gruner
Trick: Air
Spot: Private Ramp
Ettlingen
Photographer: Chris Eggers |
Are you still riding?
No! The skates hang on a nail in my cellar. I lost interest some time. There where
other priortities. Girl friend, another sport, not risking any more injuries, ...
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Rider: Perry Gruner
Trick: Handplant
Spot: Green Ramp
Karlsruhe
Photographer: Bernhard Scheffold
Date: June 1990 |
Any thought about the Green Ramp and the Green Ramp Jam?
The Green Ramp was an absolutely fast and ingenious ramp.
With Jam I associate the events at the ramp: --> It was a fanstastic
community back in the times. Alas, the roller skaters where a minority
but they where accepted nevertheless. The visiting skaters also where nice
people without exception. We had lots of fun.
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Rider: Perry Gruner
Trick: Handplant
Spot: Green Ramp
Karlsruhe
Photographer: Bernhard Scheffold
Date: June 1990 |
You had a real power style. Any tips for other roller skaters how to
power airs and handplant like that?
I think it's a mental thing. The prerequisite is no fear and no compromise.
Either you wnat to show good tricks or you just lull around. The most beautiful thing
to me was to fly as long as possible. That's the cause for the fun with the airs.
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Rider: Perry Gruner
Trick: Handplant
Spot: Green Ramp
Karlsruhe
Photographer: Bernhard Scheffold
Date: June 1990 |
Your most impressive moment in the years you've been riding roller skates?
That had to be the moment when I won the Highest Air Contest. It had already been night.
The floodlight was on, the music was super, the audience pushed the skaters and the guys on
the ramp where in top mood. For this reason alone the airs surely where 50 % higher than usual.
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Rider: Perry Gruner
Trick: Air
Spot: Green Ramp
Karlsruhe
Photographer: Bernhard Scheffold
Date: June 1990 |
Why did you stop?
Like I already mentioned, there had been other priorities. Another reason where the
injuries you can't avoid when you are skating (abrasions, strains, bruises, ...).
Another reason where differences among some of the skaters which resulted in me not
wanting to engage myself with the ramp anymore.
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Rider: Perry Gruner
Trick: Air
Spot: Green Ramp
Karlsruhe
Photographer: Bernhard Scheffold
Date: June 1990 |
What are you up to today?
I'm a freelancer. In my private live I am married with two kids. In my sports live
I am playing in a volley ball team, I' riding ski (aggressively) and I'm riding mountain bike.
With my kids I like riding inline skates. That's something different alltogether, however.
When I'm watching today's skaters on the sports channel, I'd like to skate myself again. They are doing completely
different tricks than there where in my times, however.
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