Check In: Campbell Scarborough

Interview: @phoenixprojeck

We checked in with ROTY prospect Campbell Scarborough to get the inside scoop on anything and everything to do with her newest Winch part: ROAM

PP: Putting out a Winch video sits pretty high on the bucket list for most riders. When in the process did the project shift from feeling like an idea you were working on to an “oh I’m gonna pull this off”?

CS: I started stacking about two years ago. I was limited to stacking clips off and on over time due to contests, training, and filming other projects. But at the end of this contest season, I made the decision to lock in and grind through the last handful of spots. I would say once I made that decision, I definitely knew it was going to be something I’d be proud of.

PP: You clipped up at some pretty legendary spots, what was it like stepping to spots so important to the history of winching?

CS: I grew up watching legends hit these spots, so actually going there in person and seeing the spots through my own vision and ideas was such a cool feeling. 

Although, living in Orlando made it difficult to find spots that haven’t been hit yet. So it’s always a give and a take.

PP: What winch did you use?

CS: A Rewinch — super rad company making such a dope winch. It’s easy to use and it lets you dial in the exact speed you’re looking for. I highly recommend it!!

PP: Who’s the #1 person you want with you at a spot?

CS: Definitely John Dreiling. He was the first person to take me winching; he was with me at a lot of the spots from ROAM, including my ender. It’s super nice to have someone that you can trust behind the lens, bounce ideas off of, won’t complain if it’s taking a while to get the clip you want, and believes in you just as much if not more than you do. John has a ton of winch experience and really just knows how to push me to do the best I can.

PP: What was the biggest challenge you faced making ROAM?

CS: Honestly the biggest challenge, and one that you don’t really think about, is getting people to help. Winching takes a whole crew of people who are willing to take time out of their busy lives to help. It’s so different than asking a homie to hold a camera at the cable once you’ve already dialed in a trick and you are ready to go. You need people that are willing to drive across town or across the state, that can help you set up, that understand how to drive a winch, are willing to hold a camera for hours, and have the patience to be in the thick of it with you until you get the trick you want. It’s a difficult process, and coordinating the right people’s schedules is always a challenge.

PP: Dry start vs DIY pool?

CS: Ahhhhh, well I’ve never done a dry start, so I’m not sure what it’s like, but the pool start was pretty cool. It was just very time-consuming and difficult to figure out. We had to build the pool at the spot and figure out how to keep water in it. Then riding it was challenging because when I’d ollie like normal, my board would hit the bottom. So I had to figure out how to ollie big enough to get on the rail while also not hitting the bottom of the pool. 

PP: There aren’t many girls out there pushing things on the winching side, especially in North America. ROAM is going to have a big impact in motivating a whole lot more girls to try out winching. What advice do you have for girls out there who’ve watched your part and are feeling inspired to make a winch project of their own?

CS: Do it. Just go out and winch. You don’t have to do anything gnarly at the beginning; even just a small ledge or grass slide is a great place to just mess around. Find a good crew of people that you trust to step into action if something goes wrong, people that know your riding and will help push you to do better.

PP: Anyone you’d like to thank?

CS: There are so many!! It would have been impossible for me to create ROAM without so many amazing people backing me. My biggest sponsor, Hyperlite, for encouraging me to do my thing, to ride and create whatever I have a vision for. 

I’d like to throw a massive thank you to my parents for trusting me through this process. As a parent, it has to be hard to let your kid go chuck themselves on concrete in alligator- infested waters, but they always believed in me. My mom would make me winch day snack bags, and check in later to ask if I got the clip, and my dad always told me I got it and to push myself. My parents are the raddest!

And to everyone who got in the trenches with me, got in some cold water, held a camera, or drove the winch! Johnny D, for introducing me to winching and for making my ender clip possible on a very tight time table. Gavin, for filming the best angles, and so many more who jumped in on trips to help me get everything I needed. I couldn’t have done this without you all!

PP: Will we be seeing another winch part from ya in the future?

CS: Definitely 

Check out Roam and Soupy Sundaes below.