Welcome to Living Legends, a new eight-part video series presented to you exclusively by Push.ca and Degree. The idea behind Living Legends is a simple one, we want to honor and document the careers of professional skateboarders and snowboarders that have a significant impact on their sports but remain in the game.

Over the coming months you can expect flurry of historical photos, footage, interviews and back-stories on every individual featured. A new episode of Living Legends drops every two weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for features on some of your all-time favorite pros. This week we jump over to Montreal, featuring Big O ruler Barry Walsh.

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Living Legends: Barry Walsh (By: Frank Daniello)

"I embrace the essence of forwardness," veteran Montreal ripper Barry Walsh says about turning 40-years-old. "I can't stop representing the movement that I fell in love with." Born and raised in the suburb of Verdun, he went for his first roll in '79 and has remained a true bespectacled skateboarding purist ever since. His name is symbolically (or perhaps literally) etched into the Big O's history-laden transitions, and anyone from the old school will testify that Barry has carved his path in the most underground and organic way possible. Not necessarily from breakthrough video parts, but by making his presence known on a down-to-earth level. Aside from his powerful and fundamentally sound vert skills, his personality and street savvy wisdom resonates well with everyone he meets. As Ottawa's Richard Sarrazin says: "I've met a lot of skaters, but Barry has an aura around him. He knows how to talk to people and he knows how to respect them."

Internationally known X Games, Dew Tour and Maloof Money Cup champion Pierre-Luc Gagnon mentions how Barry played a key role in his the early development: "I met him when I was around 10-years-old, and he was the first influence on my skating. When I started he was the only local guy who was sponsored and skating on that level. He's a true pioneer of the Montreal skate scene, and was really nice about supporting me - teaching me the basics on vert and how to go through the right steps to find my own way and find my own style of skating."

Barry left Montreal in 1991 with his sights set on Vancouver's booming vert scene. After experiencing classic west coast ramp situations like the Richmond Skate Ranch, the Clubhouse and Q-Branch throughout the ‘90s, he realized where he needed to be at the start of the new millennium: "I was skating the Big O with the old crew, drinking beers in the sun, and something just clicked." Probably best known for being a key local at the Olympic Stadium's pipe for as long as anyone can remember, he collaborated with close friend Marc Tison and dedicated a solid year compiling content and overseeing Pipe Fiends - a book released in 2006 that stands as a visual celebration of Canada's most iconic natural spot. "Every trick you produce on it is art," Barry explains. "You're manipulating something that was never meant to be skated on. Every time I go there, it feels like the first time again. It doesn't get old."

The first three Living Legends were from the snow world: Dennis Bannock, Shin Campos, and Martin Gallant, but don't worry, there's more skate on the way.