There's something I've been wanting to ask Magnus Hanson for a while now, since I didn't quite have a handle on it: the difference between a "Rat Boy" and a "Joe Dirt." We finally got that sorted, and then some, when my strategic phone call caught him at the perfect moment—right when he finished skating the North Delta, BC park, and was heading over to the Blazer for a spot mission.

Vitals
Age: 19
Residence: Surrey, BC.
Sponsors: C1RCA footwear, Independent trucks, Real skateboards, Momentum wheels, and Coastal Riders skateshop.
Stance: Regular
Switch mongo push, or regular switch push?: "Switch regular; make switch look regular, or try to anyways."

What's an eventful skate day for you?
Well, everyday's a skate day, and everyday includes going to skate a park and street spots. We all have cars now so we go on missions. Maybe if we're just chillin', we'll go skate a park all day. But for sure we hit North Delta park everyday–it's the best park.

What whip are you pushin' these days?
A '92 Blazer.

What staples do you keep in it at all times?
For music, it's just an iPod tape deck adapter—it's sick. Anyone can just plug in their iPod so we get some good mixes goin'. When I bought the Blazer, it smelled like dog and I can't get the smell out, so I always have an air freshener. When I'm fully prepared, I have Bondo in the car, a hacksaw, mandatory broom, extra boards, shoes to sell, and product to give away to the kids at the North Delta park. The Blazer's always loaded. On rainy days it has a bench in it. We also keep determination and good spirits in the car. No naysayers allowed!

How did the whole "Rat Boy" nickname thing start and what's it all about?
We just call everyone Rat Boy. When someone's sweaty from skating all day, they just look like a dirty skate rat. Anyone who's a skate rat is a Rat Boy, you know?

Backside lipslide to fakie. Photo: Brian Caissie

What's the difference between a "Rat Boy" and a "Joe Dirt" then?
Well, a Joe Dirt is actually a maneuver. It's when you're on a trick—preferably a back boardslide on a ledge where you lock in perfectly, truck to truck—and you're just chillin' on it, beaming the landing. Full out "Joe Dirting" it. It can be any trick where you're plowing through something, though.

What's your favourite U.S. city to skate in?
San Diego. Maybe it's just ‘cause I've had good experiences there, you know? It's more open there, and more like Surrey almost ‘cause it's not as busy, and you go to these industrial area spots in the middle of nowhere where no one's around. It's way sicker.

How about overseas?
It's definitely Barcelona. There's just no beating it. It's just like mentioning something that's undeniably better than everything else.

If the decision was yours for one fast food restaurant to remain open and serve only your signature combo, what would it be?
I'm just gonna say Wendy's because that's just solid, you know? Everyone can agree on Wendy's and I think everyone can agree on the Number 6 combo—Spicy Chicken. I just take the tomato off because asking for no tomato seems to mean I get tomato anyway. I'll save them the work and take it off myself. But basing the opinion of the world off my friends? Definitely the Number 6.

Where was the most epic session you skated so far, and who was it with?
Last September [‘07] when the Decenzo's and I went to Barcelona. We had so many epic sessions over there. It was summer time and there wasn't a care in the world. Just skating or doing whatever we felt like doing. Sometimes you just feel like, "Man, I could die right now and be stoked!" because it's the sickest session.

Magnus Hanson's part from the Momentum Wheel Co. vid, Un Momentum Por Favor, 2007.

The trailer for Digital Skateboarding's Smoke And Mirrors, 2008. Magnus has a full part in the video.

Click here to see Magnus in C1RCA Camping Curse, which features footage from C1RCA Canada's summer '08 camping trip through BC's Okanagan. 

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Other On The Horn interviews: Ryan Decenzo, Sascha Daley, Kyle Desaulniers