Richard Mulder: Former professional skateboarder turned Financial Advisor

I must admit, I was quite nervous when Travis asked me to pen the intro to Richard's interview. I've known Richard for a very long time and for the past few weeks I've been searching for the right words that'll make people understand how good a skater he is, what a great friend is but, most importantly, how real he is.

The first time I met Richie was at the infamous Chaffey school. I remember looking across the playground - or skateground as I liked to call it - and I had no idea who he was but he was killing it. He was so consistent and he could skate everything, but what stood out to me was his style. When Richie skates he skates his own way and its instantly recognizable, unmistakable, and a great thing to watch. Throughout the day I tried to gather up enough courage to introduce myself but before I could he skated up to me and said, 'Hi, my name's Richard, we're gonna go skate this manie pad, wanna go?' And we've been friends ever since.

With Richie there's absolutely no pretense - if you see him skating go up and talk to him, you'll see what I mean. If you're a friend of Richie's you've got a friend for life, and I feel extremely fortunate that he chose to open that door for me all those years ago.

--Timothy Dowling

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How did you feel about the war between Rocco and Swank and the ad that was released announcing that you had joined World Industries? -- Isaac Mckay-Randozzi, Pinole, CA.

In hindsight, just turning 15 years old, I didn’t have a complete understanding of what was really going on behind the scenes. I was just skateboarding. There was a time when I was on Foundation where I would session with Daniel Castillo and Daewon almost every weekend. So when I got asked to skate for World Industries, it felt right and I was stoked like any other kid would’ve been at that time. Looking back, I wish I would’ve been more communicative to Tod Swank and Josh Beagle about the possibility of riding for World. Foundation was awesome to me and I had great times with the team back in 1992.

When is your next full part scheduled to drop? -- Eby Ghafarian, New York, NY.

I don’t have any plans to film a full video part.

What are some good ethical mutual funds to invest in? -- Paul Ellis, Atlanta, GA.

There are a lot of good mutual funds and investment managers out there. However, we can never give prudent investment advice without fully understanding our client’s particular situation and what their financial goals and objectives are.

Back in the World Park days, were there any underground rippers who were just as good as the visible crew, but didn’t get any coverage or maybe didn’t want the coverage? -- Chris Durrand, Santa Clarita, CA.

There would be some guys that would come in there and you would have to ask around who it was. But from my perspective, I think a lot of the guys who I would initially see there who were ripped ended up making careers in skateboarding. For example, I remember seeing guys like Gino, Keenan, and Kenny for the first time there. Those guys ended up ultra influential skateboarders.

What made you leave the Chocolate family to ride for Hosoi Skates? And when are we going to see a Hosoi Skates team video? -- Joseph Astudillo, location unknown.

Towards the end of 2005, I was already working in full time residential real estate for a substantial amount of time. Personally, I am not a fan of milking a skateboard career, especially if I have other career passions elsewhere or come to the reality that I am not skateboarding at a level how I personally think a professional skateboarder should be skating at. I am a fan of skateboarding. The reason I started working while skateboarding was so when skateboarding as a paid profession was over, my voice wouldn’t be on the other side of “Can I take your order?” at the Wendy’s drive thru. I also really wasn’t sure, even though I think it's super cool, if I wanted to work in the skateboarding industry, which I saw and understood it as a natural, automatic default passion for a lot of pros (skateboarders know how to run the skateboard industry best), hence the direction I pursued.

When I stopped having a pro model on Chocolate, in my mind I had no intent of getting sponsored by another board sponsor or even being sponsored after skating 12 years for the best company in skateboarding. Ending up on Hosoi Skates in spring of 2006 was unanticipated for me. Christian Hosoi and I ended up being good friends around 2004 when he got out of prison. One day, he was experimenting with some epoxy decks and I ended up trying one out. Christian was completely aware of where I’m at as far as my direction in life, and asked me if I wanted to be on Hosoi Skates and continue to do what I do. We have no timeframes as far as video, however, Andre Genovesi is about to release all of his footage in the upcoming Hurley video.

Do you ever try and ‘witness’ other skateboarders? It seems to me that skateboarders are a tough crowd to sell Jesus to. Are you like me and keep religion and skating separate? -- Michael Cunningham, location unknown.

There’s a myriad of styles in the way people convey their faith in Jesus Christ. In my personal opinion, living in a culture predominately influenced by Judeo-Christian ideologies, the majority of North Americans have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ several times -- that God wants a relationship with mankind. He sends his son to die to forever dealing with the sin issue, and now men and women are invited to a relationship experience with God (i.e., eternal life), by faith. I have been to India and other places outside of North America where this gospel has never even been presented. The majority of Westerners (including skateboarders) have generally heard this theology numerous times. With all of this said, an effective way for me to propose the precious value of this personal relationship with God to others is in my lifestyle. The word “witness” in context to its use in the book of Acts literally means, “to furnish evidence”. What evidence? The displaying of a genuine love for a non-stoic God in the way I live my daily life and the way I love people in a way that will encourage individuals to pursue that same encounter when they see the evidence of His existence in my heart. Actions speak louder than words. I’m not the type of person to remind people of the dirt or issues in their lives, the pain of those things can speak for themselves. I try to not compartmentalize my life to where my faith functions in a box- I am conscience of His presence in everything I do.

How long have you wanted to be a financial adviser and who got you into it? Also, if you deal with stocks, are you bullish on skateboard industry stocks like VLCM (Volcom Inc.) and Quicksilver? -- Mark Pemble, Caldwell, ID. (Editor’s note: Bullish is a term refers to having a positive outlook on a particular security or an investment.)

The initial idea of working in the financial industry was proposed to me by a good friend of mine and our personal financial advisor at the time. Prior to working in financial services, my wife Sarah and I worked together in residential real estate for a few years, which she is currently working in full-time. At that time, Sarah and I were also taking guardianship of our 15-year-old nephew. When I received the offer to work with the best advisors in the industry, it just seemed right. So when the opportunity presented itself, my wife and I re-evaluated the wisdom of both working in the same sector, and we did not want our nephew to be a “latch key kid” (we would work from 8-10pm on some days).
I believe the skateboarding lifestyle apparel companies in the industry will continue to grow as long as brands remain true to their cause and not compromise in making the goods that make customers coming back.

I noticed recently that you like to wear suits. Does your job require you to wear a suit everyday? Also, besides Men’s Warehouse, where can one find a good deal on a nice quality suit and dress shoes? -- Tim Sullivan, San Antonio, TX.

Due to the nature of my job, a suit is worn daily. There are good deals everywhere: Macy’s, Brooks Brothers and Nordstroms are just a few I can think of off the top of my head. Because I wear suit everyday, I like suits priced right in the $400-$600 price range. If you buy something cheap, even though the average person will not be able to discern, be careful that is doesn’t rip at the most trivial of tasks.

What’s an average weekday like for you? -- Sam Padden, Rockford, IL.

5:30a.m.: “wake up, get out of bed, drive a comb across my head” –The Beatles

6:30a.m.: get in the office: get updated on current events, respond to emails

9:30a.m.-2:30p.m.: meetings, appointments

2:30p.m.-3:00p.m.: home, change clothes

3:30p.m.-4:30p.m.: walk dog, family time

4:30p.m.-6:30p.m.: try to skate, if no additional work related evening appointments

7:30p.m.-9:30p.m.: home or out with friends or wife. Read or watch “Lost.”

9:30p.m.-10:30p.m.: sleep

What are your thoughts on the current state of skateboarding? Did you ever think it would blow up to be as big as it is today? And what do you think of Ryan Sheckler? -- Anonymous.

Skateboarding is amazing. I just attended the Maloof Money Cup and watched these guys kill the course. What do I think of Ryan Sheckler? I think he is an extraordinary skateboarder.

Do you have any other hobbies besides skateboarding? I recently started playing golf on the weekends with my co-workers and can’t seem to get enough. In fact, I’m spending way more time on the green than on my board. -- Thomas, San Jose, CA.

I’m taking up Chess right now, playing with my gray-haired buddies. I just inherited a serious Chess set from my wife’s grandmother. I’ve also been riding my bike a lot. I’m thinking about taking golf lessons. A friend said hitting a golf ball proper and having it land in its intended place was similar to the feeling of [landing] a super clean switch 360 kickflip.

Many polls show that close to 36% of Americans believe 9-11 was an inside job. Have you had a chance to watch any of the documentaries that question the official story of 9-11, such as “Loose Change,” “Terrorstorm: A History of Government Sponsored Terrorism,” or “9-11 Chronicles: Truth Rising?" What’s your take on 9-11? Do you question the official story? -- Wes Mijares, Tustin, CA.

9-11 was horrific. I do not have enough information to speak intelligently about this topic. However, I do believe that all men and women, especially in governing authorities, will give an account to the Creator for the way they ruled over a nation or territory. And because of my faith in this reality, I choose not to exhaust my energy on figuring out the possibility of heart disturbing conspiracies.

I understand your first sponsor was Milk Skateboards. Wasn’t that company owned by Christian Hosoi? Is it a coincidence that you now ride for Hosoi Skates, which is also owned by Hosoi? -- Chad, Seattle, WA.

Yeah, Christian started Milk in 1991 or 1992. I was 14. It was weird how I got sponsored by Milk. I was just skating flatground in the parking lot of a pro contest at the Encinitas YMCA in 1991. Christian just happened to stand and watch, and then asked for my contact information to send me boards. Interesting thing is that I really didn’t see him much though during the brief time I was on Milk, we would always deal with Bob who worked there. It is really cool now to see how the unfolding of events that has reconnected us to where we are today.

I know you’re into some investing. Do you have any tips for a 30-ish couple with a little money stacked on how to legally grow it, low risk? -- Plug One, San Francisco, CA.

Plug One, I can’t answer this question. I apologize. I cannot give specific or even general investment advice through an article like this.

What’s the craziest skate and non-skate thing you’ve witnessed go down at the World Park? -- CJ, San Diego, CA.

The craziest thing I witnessed skating at the World Park is watching Daewon skate. Daewon was and still is, in a league of his own. The craziest thing I’ve witnessed at the World Park when not skating would be the amount of product that came and vanished out the World Park product closet.

How did you first hook up with Chocolate? Did you jump ship from World right away when Rick [Howard] and Mike [Carroll] left, or did you sit tight wait a while? Was it hard telling Rocco you wanted to quit to ride for Chocolate? -- Anonymous.

I was skating Chaffey High School one day when Rick, Mike, and some of the Girl guys were filming for “Goldfish.” They told me they were going to start a branch off of Girl called Chocolate and asked me if I wanted to ride for it. I didn’t tell Rocco when I quit, I told Rodney Mullen. Rodney was the team manager.

What do you think about Lennie Kirk? -- Bible Thumper, San Francisco, CA.

Lennie Kirk is awesome. It’s pretty interesting to see how the stories of Lennie Kirk continue to echo throughout the skateboarding community, regardless of anyone’s two cents about the unfolding of events in his life. Does God cut a story like Samson out of the bible because it doesn’t seem “nice and pretty”? That would be too safe. Interesting is that every time I hear a Lennie story at a dinner table I get super inspired at the rawness of his testimonies. I believe and think nothing but the best for Lennie.

I have three questions: one, where did you get the nickname “The Bat”? Two, what’s up with J.P. Jadeed these days? Three, who in your opinion ripped Chaffey school the hardest? -- Richard Steinberg, San Mateo, CA.

“The Bat”! That’s so good. I don’t know where it originated. I’m thinking maybe an old TWS tour article photo caption or maybe J.P. Jadeed made it up. Not certain. I haven’t seen J.P. Jadeed in a year-and-a-half so I don’t know his current status. I hope he is well. Who ripped Chaffey the hardest? I would say Eric Koston, or back in the day when Ed Templeton (then on New Deal) would do 15 feet nose blunt slides on the ledges going 45 mph.

I've noticed that skateboarding has become very nostalgic as of late. It seems like a lot of people want to hear stories about the early-to-mid '90s. I too am obsessed with that era. In fact, when it comes to skating, I'm still living in the '90s. I think part of the fascination stems from the fact that there just wasn't a whole lot of documentation of that era. Sure, there was 411, which came out somewhat regularily, but it's not nearly like it is today where you can just bust out your iPhone or pocket-sized digital camera and start snapping pics or filming clips when something insane goes down. All we really have from that era are stories from people that were on the forefront. Can you think of any amazing tricks you witnessed go down that weren't documented? - Editor

The first thing that comes to mind is Guy Mariano’s switch 360 kickflip down the El Segundo double set in late 1993. It was one of the most magical things I’ve ever seen on a skateboard even to this day. Socrates was filming, but the camera ran out of battery.

Fast Facts:

1. I am half Dutch-Indonesian and half Filipino.  My father was born was in Utrecht, Holland and mother was born in Manila, Philippines.

2. I had two childhood nicknames growing up, “Bong-Bong” and “Moose”. “Bong-Bong” was a family nickname from the Indonesian side, and “Moose” was from all the skaters in Fontana.

3. I used to draw skateboard pictures in 4th grade and sell them for 25 cents each to students in class. I would save up the money and buy $15.00 dollar Lester Kasai clearance decks at the Pipeline.

4. I am a camel and I need to drink more water, but I always forget to. You too might feel the conviction after reading “The Hidden Messages in Water” by Masaru Emoto.

For more on Mulder, check out his website at http://richardmulder.wordpress.com.

For videos of Mulder click HERE.