Nick Matthews is pro for Antihero, Nike and Huf Worldwide.

His powerful skateboarding first popped on to our radar after we saw his sick clips in Huf edits. It wasn’t just Nick’s ability to make grinds on chest high ledges look like curbs or his long Ollies over gaps at speed nailed with next level precision but also his well-dipped Back Smiths and stylish bag of ledge and flip tricks, that have all seen him very rapidly became one of our favourite skaters to watch.

So following Antihero turning him pro we had to hit him up to find out how it all got started, get his thoughts on a series of parts and edits he’s in, stories behind some of the most standout tricks he’s done so far and after we did, we were hyped to find out Nick wanted to join The No Comply Network.

Read Nick’s interview to find out how he started skating in Chicago, his early inspirations and influences in Illinois, Blake Matthews, his first skate crew, how he got on HUF, Tyler Cichy, Antihero, Frank Gerwer, skating in the UK on the Turbo Island Tour, filming with Mack Scharff and Tyler Smolinski, Huf Forever, his tips on dipping Back Smiths, his favourite Keith Hufnagel video parts, skate videos, skaters, style, spots of all-time and more.

Read it all below to find it all out for yourself.

 

 

Nick: Shot by Dom Westbury

 

 

What’s your full name?

Nick James Matthews

 

 

Where did you grow up and where are you living right now?

I grew up in a Chicago suburb called Naperville, Illinois. I’m living in Chicago now.

 

 

Right, so how did you first see skateboarding in Chicago?

I saw my brother Blake skateboarding in the driveway and wanted to do it after that. I got my own board shortly after that!

 

 

Nick, Ollie into Driveway Bank: Shot by Michael Burnett

 

 

Sick, so Blake played a major role in your skating then. What was your first setup?

My first setup was a Alien Workshop complete from RQ Boardshop – my mom bought it me for my birthday.

 

 

 

 

So, who was in your first skate crew and where did you go skate?

My first crew was my brother and my friends from my hometown in Naperville.

 

 

Nick, Handrail Gap Backside Lipslide: Shot by Jacob Messex

 

 

Cool. So, at the time what skate videos did you have the most on rotation??

I can’t remember my first video but I remember watching Yeah Right a lot and some local videos that had spots in Chicago and the Chicago land area

 

 

 

 

Yeah Right was an instant classic. Speaking of skate videos, your brother Blake skates and films. Do you have a memorable story from growing up with him and skating?

There’s so many memorable moments with him but probably just street skating for the first time. Our parents would drive us or drop us off at spots and now we’re still able to go out and skate together.

 

 

 

 

What’s the most memorable clip Blake’s filmed of you over the years?

There’s so many but probably this back fifty I did on this handrail over a curb that you have to pop out on. It’s in my Venture part.

 

 

 

 

It’s probably one of the most memorable to me because we had to do a bunch of landscaping there, as it was barely a spot but it just looked really cool!

 

 

Nick, Backside 50-50 Pop Out: Shot by Bart Jones

 

 

Which skaters from Illinois did you look up to the most as a kid?

Neen Williams and Marisa Dal Santo and a lot of local skaters that rode for the local skate shop Uprise Skateshop or RQ Boardshop.

I remember seeing them both around where I grew up. They were always so impressive to see skate in person and were always super nice to me.

 

 

Nick, Switch 180 Backside Nosegrind: Shot by Michael Burnett

 

 

Right. That’s good to know. Neen went on to be sponsored by Deathwish and Marisa got on Zero but who was your first sponsor?

My first sponsor was Krush Skatepark – it was a really good park my parents would always take me to.

I remember my mom was there and the manager of the skatepark talked to her about it. Then as I was leaving he talked to me and said I was on the team.

 

 

Nick, Block Ollie to Back Lip: Shot by Michael Burnett

 

 

Sick. That’s rad how that went down. So, was there a point that you started to take skating more seriously, that you realised you had the potential to skate as your career or did it come organically?

I’ve always dreamed of doing it as a career but I think it came more organically. I think getting hit up by Tyler Cichy to get fully on HUF made me realise it’s possible and then I was able to get on Antihero and Nike after that.

I love skateboarding so I’d be doing it either way though. I definitely feel blessed I get to do it as a career with the sponsors I have.

 

 

Nick, Backside Flip: Shot for Huf Worldwide

 

 

For sure. So how did you meet Tyler and start skating for HUF?

Tyler reached out to me when they started doing clothing exclusively. We’d already been friends and were skating together when I’d go out to LA. I was so hyped when he hit me up.

 

 

 

 

What is your favourite trick by Keith Hufnagel?

Probably the tricks he’s done at Brown Marble from the ledge to ledge but there’s too many of his tricks to name that are amazing.

 

 

 

 

Do you have a favourite Keith Hufnagel video part?

 I really enjoy all of them but his part’s in Real’s Non-Fiction and FTC’s Penal Code are so sick to me. I don’t think he’s ever filmed a bad part.

 

 

 

 

Your Gap Back Lip over that planter as a tribute to Keith was dope. How did you find that spot and what was the response like to your footage?

 We were on a HUF trip in 2020 and we went to it but I was to scared to try it at the time.

I ended up going back with my brother Blake a year later and was able to do it that day. I feel like people thought it was a cool nod to Keith.

 

 

Nick, Planter Gap Back Lip: Shot by Mike Heikkila

 

 

You’ve got a load of sick flip tricks but which is your favourite to put down on flatground?

Probably just a Tre Flip or Kickflip but really anything that feels good at the time when I do it!

 

 

Nick, Ollie up, Tre Flip: Shot by Bradford Bishop

 

 

Your Roxbury Banks Back Smith off the drop ledge into the bank from Thrasher’s Am Scramble video was wild. How did it go down that day and what was the toughest thing about finally nailing it?

We ended up going there on the trip a few of us were skating it and I ended up trying Back Smith.

I slammed pretty hard on a couple tries but I really wanted to land it because it seemed like they were about to tear it out and I knew that spot looked cool in footage and photos.

I ended up persevering through it and I was happy it worked out!

 

 

 

 

Your dipped BS Smiths are unique to you. Do you have any tips for skaters out there who want to get them down with style too?

It’s honestly pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I just try to stand up straight with my weight on my back truck

 

 

Nick, Gap Up Backside Smith Grind: Shot by Mike Heikkila

 

 

Your footage in the HUF x Thrasher Brazil tour was really banging. What was that tour like and what were some of the most memorable moments for you?

Yeah that was one of the most fun trips I’ve been on. My most memorable moment was probably just being out there with everyone and skating all the amazing spots and meeting a bunch of cool people out there.

 

 

 

 

What trick were you the most stoked on to see go down on that HUF x Thrasher Brazil tour?

Probably Mason Silva‘s Frontside Lipslide on the ledge that was shaped like a skateboard at the demo. I remember being hyped on how that came out in the edit.

 

 

Nick, Frontside 5-0, Brazil: Shot by Mike Heikkila

 

 

The Back Smith you did on the really tall flat bar out of the bump in the HUF x Nike SB video was next level. How did you find that spot and how did it go down?

It’s at the island in San Francisco. I would always go there when I was out there and mess with it.

It finally worked out when we were filming for the HUF x Nike Dunk video. I had been there a lot of different times trying it.

The day I landed it I was like, this is the last time I try it! I don’t care if I land it or not. I’m definitely glad it worked out!

 

 

 

 

What’s your favourite thing about filming with Tyler Smolinski?

Tyler is super laid back and fun to be around and is a great filmer.

 

 

Favourite thing about filming with Mack Scharff?

There’s so many but probably driving cross country from my house to NYC with Mack, Blake and Gus Gordon. That was a really fun summer and we all just skated and hung out everyday.

Or going to Mexico around his birthday with my brother, Gus, Finn Pope, Tony Trujillo and a bunch of other friends.

 

 

Dopest thing about skating for HUF?

My favourite thing is being with the team we’re all friends and it’s really fun getting to go on trips with everyone.

 

 

Nick, Backside Tailslide: Shot by Michael Burnett

 

 

Working on any new HUF projects you can mention?

We’re kinda always working on something. I think there will be another short video that will come out soon that will be sick

 

 

Look forward to that. So, your section in HUF Forever is one of our favourites. What trick were you most stoked on to get for it?

 Probably my last trick and the bump to 50-50 grind on the yellow rail because those are next to Lake shore drive in Chicago and I’ve always driven by those spots.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, with the board break rollaway, that was so rad. Who had your favourite part in HUF Forever?

 I honestly loved everyone’s parts it was really cool to see them all. Everyone skates cool and different on HUF.

 

 

 

 

I’ve seen you post some great photos you’ve shot in the past. What is it about photography that clicked with you?

I honestly just do it for fun I don’t really even know what I’m doing! I just had a point and shoot and I would just take photos when I was on a trip or wherever

 

 

Do you still shoot much, and if so, what kind of camera do you have?

I shoot sometimes still I have a Sony RX100 and a couple point and shoots – I just do it for fun though.

I like to shoot my friends and whatever I think looks interesting.

 

 

Do you make any other kinds of art?

No not really but that’d definitely be cool to do some day. Maybe I’ll get into that later in life.

 

 

Do it, if it’s anything like your skating, there’ll be a lot of attention to detail. So, how did you get on Antihero?

I got on Antihero through Frank Gerwer. Antihero is my favourite company.

I was already friends with Frank and I was just like whatever I’m just gonna ask if I can get boards from Antihero I knew it wasn’t very likely that they’d be down but I was like whatever, the worst they can say is no!

It took me a while to finally reach out to him though because I was so nervous. I can’t believe it worked out, I was tripping, I still can’t believe it. Frank and John Alden have helped me out so much.

 

 

Nick, Fakie Willy Grind: Shot by Joe Brook

 

 

What was it like travelling and skating in the UK on that Antihero Tour?

It was so sick going on that trip. It was so fun watching everyone skate and hang out with everyone.

I was super nervous at first but everyone is so cool and down to earth.

 

 

 

 

After that trip, where would you say is your favourite UK city to skate?

Everywhere was pretty sick but probably Bristol was my favourite city for sure. They have that amazing plaza and skatepark and the whole vibe of that city was really sick.

 

 

Your BS Flip Nosegrind and FS Blunt Pop Out to road at the ledge by The Wolverhampton Civic Centre banks in the ‘Turbo Island’ edit were sick. What inspired you to do them and how long did they take?

I was just skating it with Frank and was randomly able to get into the Backside Flip Nosegrind and that just was able to work out.

The Front Blunt took longer for sure I just tried to go fast and pop out as much as I could.

 

 

What was your favourite trick you did on that UK Antihero tour?

Probably the Ollie over the pole and gap at night.

John Alden found that spot by the hotel and showed me it and then I just started trying it. It was fun too because all of us were already chilling outside over there at night. After I landed it we all just kicked it there with everyone.

 

 

Nick, Ollie, London: Shot by Joe Brook

 

 

Gnarliest trick you saw go down on that tour?

That was probably the best skating I’ve ever seen happen in person. Just watching everyone film and skate the demos everyday was insane.

There was way too much good skating from everyone to just pick one thing.

I remember Frank was skating really good that whole trip. He Switch Hardflipped a street gap first try when we were in London one day.

 

 

What’s your favourite thing about skating for Antihero?

 Everyone on the team is so sick. I feel like everyone on the team truly loves skating and skates for the right reasons.

 

 

 

 

It’s fun to go on trips and be able to see everyone skate and hang out with everyone.

All those guys are super cool and inspire me and make me hyped on skating.

 

 

Nick, Kicker to Box Ollie: Shot by Mike Heikkila

 

 

Working on any new Antihero projects?

 We’re working on another video that I think is gonna come out at the end of the year.

 

 

Bet that will be sick! So, your Ollie over the block, the really long black marble ledge one in Chicago is gnarly, how did you decide to do it and how long did it take to nail it?

We always skate there and I remember my friend was saying to Ollie it one day and I kinda started trying it and then it became a thing every time I would go I’d try to Ollie it.

The day I did it I actually was just trying to land it and it worked out.

 

 

Nick, Block Ollie: Shot by Bart Jones

 

 

You’ve done some of the longest Ollies we’ve seen but which has been the most standout for you?

Probably the one at the Wendy’s ledge just because I grew up skating there and we always end up skating at that spot.

 

 

Where have been some of your favourite places in the world to skate?

I was just in Taiwan on a Nike trip this year that was a pretty amazing place to skate. Also Brazil was really fun too.

 

 

Right but when you’re back in The States where do you usually skate the most right now and who with?

I’m down to skate anywhere but my favourite places are probably Chicago, New York and SF because you can skate from spot to spot easily and those places are always fun to be at.

I’ve been in NYC skating with my brother Brian Anderson, Gus Gordon and a bunch of my other friends too

 

 

What a rad crew. This is always a tough one but do you have a favourite skate video of all-time?

I love pretty much all of the Deluxe videos it’s too hard to pick one

 

 

Definitely. Who’s your favourite skater of all-time?

Probably Huf because of the way he skates and his style.

 
 

 

 

 

Who’s got your favourite style on a skateboard?

The first people that come to mind are Julien Stranger and Brian Anderson they both have amazing style I really enjoy watching them skate

 

 

 

 

Favourite skate spot in America?

Probably The Island in SF or Post Office in Chicago

 

 

Nick, Dipped Back Smith: Shot by Joel Meinholz

 

 

In Chicago?

Probably the post office ledges because it has good ledges and flat ground and that where everyone hangs out

 

 

Ok and where’s your favourite skate spot in the world?

Island in SF or anywhere with good flatground that you don’t get kicked out of!

 

 

Any upcoming plans you want to mention?

Nothing specific at the moment. I just want to skate and work on more projects

 

 

Sounds like a solid plan. Any shoutouts you want to make before I let you go?

Thanks to my family, friends, and everyone at Deluxe, Nike, HUF and Uprise and anyone else who’s ever helped me out!

 

 

Any last words?

Thanks for reading this!