Over at Concrete we ran a Paul Liliani feature in Issue 113 (flip to it online here) and in the intro Supra Distribution TM Dane Collison wrote about how Paul "definitely has the demeanour of a grown-ass man." I was reminded of that once I got to speak with him for the first time to do this interview. Turns out Dane was right. Paul is not your average 19-year-old.

The High Park, Toronto resident has somehow already reached the geriatric stage of cutting his coffee intake to "maybe three-a-day - Americanos definitely, not a lot of water." He also speaks highly of the delectable veal marrow in Ossobucco, and that his favourite web parts of 2011 are from non North Americans.

Post-interview Dane emailed: "When watching Paul skate, it really doesn't take long to realize the raw talent, even if before the session he tells you how much he's blowing it, or not feeling it, or the spot sucks. He's got so much damn pop, too. It's nuts."

Oh, right. The pop. I keep hearing about that from people and seeing the YouTube proof. When I brought it up with Paul he came up with a practical response: "I kind of like to just try and jump as high as I can, and flick as hard as I can when I'm doing any trick. I kinda half-ass skating in general, but I don't like to half-ass tricks."

With Lakai, Fourstar, Spitfire, Venture, Alien Workshop, Junction, Green Apple, and Sam James Coffee Bar as his sponsors, along with a sick SBC cover, a feature interview, and a recent Color cover this year, I think it's safe to say there's nothing half-assed about his skating.

You've got to be the first guy I've talked to who rides for two shops. How do you swing that?
Well, Junction is in Toronto and it's my dad's shop that's been open for about five years, so I could never stop repping that. Green Apple is in Winnipeg, and they help me out a bunch, too. So I've gotta try and help Ryan [McGuigan] and Mike [McDermott] out. I'm not asking for much, so it doesn't seem to be problem [laughs].

Do the Green Apple dudes step onto Junction's turf?
Mike and my dad get along pretty good. He came and stayed with us for a couple weeks this past summer. Ryan usually comes to Toronto a couple times-a-year, and once-a-year he'll bring a bunch of people from the team to come stay at my house for a week or two.

I just recently did a "Rise Up" interview with Adam Fontaine, and he rides for Cariboo beer. You have unique beverage sponsor as well...
Beer would be nice, but that's a recipe for disaster [laughs]. In the early stages of Sam James opening up his coffee bar we got a little team going. When he's workin' I get a free coffee.

Since this is our first conversation, I spoke to a few people beforehand and they seem to say the same thing right off the bat - you're very opinionated...
Ah, really? I guess you could say that [laughs]. I guess I talk too much about anything and everything, and I'm seemingly narrow-minded. Oh well...

Well, what's your opinion on quality web parts having too short of a shelf life online?
It's kind of annoying, but I guess too many people are too good at skateboarding these days and it kind of just devalues the whole video process. I would prefer more videos to come out like they used to, with high anticipation. But it's kinda unrealistic because you've got to keep up with everyone else not only as a skateboarder, but as a company or brand. You have to be constantly putting stuff out.

Which 2011 web parts do you consider as really proper?
That Lucas Puig Transworld part because he's so well-rounded and skates everything, and that Nick Boserio Alien Workshop part because he's basically the gnarliest guy I've ever seen. He does a bunch of shit that I would never even think about doing.

(keep reading for the story of "Haircut" and his classic Mercedes)