Mike Schneider Q and A - Ask a Professional Fingerboarder! *Secrets Revealed*

[@mikeschneider]

00:00 Intro 1:03 What’s your favorite SpongeBob episode? 1:20 Best innovation in fingerboarding? 1:51 Who was your favorite fingerboarder growing up? 2:09 Why do you ride 32mm trucks on a 34mm board? 2:41 If you could bring back an OG brand, which one would it be? 3:52 Do you still feel interested in fingerboarding after 20 years? 5:25 How much do you make a year from fingerboarding? 5:53 Favorite music? 6:52 Favorite bands? 7:21 How do you determine which size deck you want to use? 8:01 What’s your favorite food? 8:26 What is something you miss from fingerboarding that has changed from the past? 10:10 Are you based/redpilled? 11:30 What’s your dream setup? 12:04 How do you see the future of fingerboarding? How did the scene changed and where will it go to? 13:51 What is the meaning of life? 14:48 What’s your favorite Black Moth Super Rainbow song? 15:15 What’s your favorite skate brand? 15:47 Do your parents run your business for you? 17:43 What wheels? 18:15 What’s your favorite thing about having store sesh for us to come and have fun for free? 18:46 What fingerboard pet peeve do you hate? 19:25 How did you manage to keep your company alive after over a decade in the business? (19 Yr!) 20:45 Do you have personal fingerboard skatepark? 20:50 Who or what inspired you to start fingerboarding? 21:18 What is your favorite and most hated fingerboard trick? 22:05 Does being a pro fingerboarder makes a big deal? 22:15 Is mayonnaise an instrument? 22:19 What do I need to do to design a drawing for a pro model deck for you? 22:33 When are we able to send in sponsor tapes or try out for FlatFace? Also any USA competitions this year? 23:40 What made you choose the name FlatFace? 24:48 BMX or scooter? 25:43 What decks besides your own brand are you riding in private? 26:19 What would you say was the peak year of fingerboarding? 27:37 What you say? I’ve been watching your KZbin since I was 10 years old, and my question to you is, how do you stay motivated all this time? 29:45 Worst or craziest customer experience? 31:14 Do you feel as though the community on instagram has changed? If so, how? 31:39 Favorite spot you have made 32:02 What do you value the most when starting a company? 32:22 High kicks or low kicks? 32:41 What advice do you have for someone who wants to grow up to be a business owner? 33:15 What’s the feeling of finding a gifted fingerboard spot? 34:04 Will you make any throwback wheels? 34:28 What happened to MKS? 34:43 Do you ever get hand or finger fatigue? 35:10 Nollie Help/Lesson 35:58 Do you think the fingerboard hate has gotten better over the years? 37:06 What’s the most unique project you’ve worked on? 37:30 What is your favorite part of making decks? 38:12 Dream Collab 38:19 What inspires you to fingerboard? 38:45 What was your answer to “what do you want to do when you grow up?” As a child? 40:09 Does it needs nollie and switch stance to become a pro? 40:47 If you lost the ability to fingerboard, what would you supplement all that time with? 41:18 How often do you get a new setup? 42:32 Are FlatFace Bike Racks ever making a comeback? 43:02 Is there any trick you can’t do or never did before? 43:11 Would you ever skate with shoes on your fingers? 43:18 Have you ever snapped your fingerboard on a trick? 43:23 Favorite TechDeck that you had growing up? 43:30 Will the T material ever come back? Maybe as a special edition? 43:45 What is the most important thing at fingerboarding? 43:55 Fave fingerboarding video 45:03 What motivates you to keep doing FlatFace, have you ever thought about creating a different entity for different fingerboard products? 45:52 A long question 48:06 How many parks do you have? 48:11 How long does it take you to make a board? 48:32 Have you ever been ctiticized or made fun of for fingerboarding? 49:00 I always see you with a fresh G15 all nature plies, two tone 49:13 What was your hardest battle, how meny hours did it take? 50:10 Will you fingerboard forever? 50:28 When’s the next store sesh? 50:35 What do you think about the bigger boards trends? Will 26mm ever make a comeback? 51:27 How much time do you fingerboard each day? 51:57 Where is fingerboarding? When is fingerboarding? 52:02 Has fingerboarding peaked as a hobby or do you think we’re still in the early days? 52:22 How do you hone your fb skillz? 52:54 What’s it like when Blackriver wants to send you a custom park? What goes into that? 53:35 How do you feel about the fingerboard community in 2022? 53:54 Favorite and least favorite thing about the current fingerboard scene? 54:52 How long do you try new stuff on your board before you decide if it fits your style or not? 56:05 What tips do you have for getting the best fingerboard footage? Things to do and avoid? 57:22 How do you respond to people thinking fingerboarding isn’t that serious? 58:01 What motivates you the most besides your business to keep fingerboarding after such a long time? 58:51 Help me with nollie heels 58:55 What can you recommend to help do flip tricks into grinds? 59:29 Do you think fingerboarding and skateboarding are connected or are they completely different? 59:42 Favorite fingerboard related trip? 1:00:00 If you could go back in time, is there anything you’d do differently? 1:00:41 Will you sign me? 1:00:42 Has fingerboarding so much caused any type of injury? 1:00:46 What’s the worst type of wood you can use for a fingerboard? 1:01:01 What are some of your favorite things you’ve seen change for the better? 1:01:31 Do you have stronger fingers than the average person? If so, has this helped you with other things in life? 1:01:58 What is the most significant and memorable board to you? 1:02:26 How do you feel about people coring their Flatface Dual Durometer wheels? 1:03:27 How would an average Joe make money off of fingerboarding? 1:04:06 What would you be doing right now if you didn’t start FlatFace and do you think you’d be just as successful doing that? 1:04:34 What are ways to stay motivated and be consistent on making content? 1:05:46 How does one organize a meetup or event to shred with people? 1:07:07 What was it like working with Bones on the Collab? 1:07:46 When making a video, what do you do first, get the music or the clips? 1:08:17 Favorite snack? 1:08:57 Have you ever ridden your fingerboard over the curves of a naked supermodel? Don’t you think it’s time? 1:09:18 Do you still have your original bondo molds? When was the last time you pressed a board in them? 1:09:44 Can you give a little insight on finger angles and popping techniques? 1:10:32 Do you miss your generation? 1:11:34 Favorite food to eat while fingerboarding? 1:12:21 How many woobs do you own? 1:12:34 Favorite sauce on eggs? 1:12:44 Best and worst interaction with someone in the community? 1:13:33 Do you own a vx1000? 1:13:50 How did you become successful in selling fingerboards? 1:14:03 Setup recommendation for an already experienced fingerboard? 1:14:14 How do you get inspiration for your fingerboard parks? 1:15:07 Will FlatFace ever make old school shapes? 1:15:17 Will you ever make it possible to choose your color for your deck? 1:15:30 What would you do if TechDeck never existed? How much of an impact does fingerboarding have on you and the world? 1:16:19 Have you ever experiences burnout in fingerboarding? Have you ever taken a long break? 1:17:01 If you could tell yourself when you started fingerboarding, what would it be?

[@felafingerboards3818]

Thanks this is awsome

[@hereandthere4751]

Mike you're a Legend! Watching you since like elementary days

[@cruz1075]

what wheels do u use?

[@truthteller9713]

You need some sun shine bro

[@malthekaczorholm2735]

​@@cruz1075bro💀

[@dannynhl9441]

I'm in my 40's (You can all laugh) and I just got into this. I using a cheap tech deck but I ordered one of your sets last week to put together. I admit I'm struggling to do the simplest of tricks but I'm trying every night. After a long work day at my age it's a nice relaxing thing to do over watching tv. I won't order or try to construct anything until I can get the basics down.

[@charliealphatango947]

I’m 50 and just started. I skated in the 80s and 90s. Quit skateboarding at 24 due to work but didn’t really want to. Always missed it but now I have a neurological illness and would never be able to skate. I received a fingerboard as a gift and didn’t even open it for a few days. Once I did, I couldn’t put it down. I’m supposed to keep my hands moving and can’t think of a better option.

[@dannynhl9441]

@@charliealphatango947 That's great man. Sucks about your condition but we all aging. I can't see my bald 40 something year old trying to re-learn how to skate so this helps. I noticed I really cut down on playing videogames or caring about tv at night. Been fingerboarding to do same thing. Keep myself busy and it's fun. I got a concrete piece for a barrier now but I'd like to make some stuff this year. I ended up getting a Flatface G 15 package. I didn't really like the trucks or wheels so I got upgrades and now I can't out it down. Getting better at cutting the grip tape too. My knuckles and fingers in general lock up more and more each day so I'm hoping this helps

[@fb_joog]

All three of you men are inspiring 🙏🏼 I wish y’all the best

[@NudaMan]

@@fb_joogseriously! 🙏🏾 just getting back into fingerboarding at 26 and it’s crazy how far the community has grown over the years, can’t wait to try my new board and rail later this week 🤩

[@fb_joog]

@@NudaMan same ! I’m 23 and my kid grabbed a tech deck from target and now I’m back down the rabbit hole from when I was a kid. All I was able to afford were tech decks and I got a p rep for Christmas when I was like 14 but now that I make my own money I just bought like 3 new completes and a bunch of obstacles lol. I don’t watch tv or scroll on my phone anymore at night I just practice tricks and it’s so much fun I love it. I skate and bmx but recently in the past years me and my girl moved to the sticks (the country lol) so I have no where to do anything this is a great hobby and I’m glad I’m not the only adult that feels the same way 😂

[@execolle1337]

This guy is legendary. I have been watching since i was 10 years old of not younger. Mike is the Tony Hawk of fingerboarding, incredible what he’s done for the scene. Even more incredible and inspiring that he’s done what he loves since a kid and as a job since becoming adult, and still loving it. You deserve our respect man, very inspiring. I hope i can live like you in that sense some day.

[@bandmansteve4912]

Same here dude I’m 26 now I remember always wanting a nice wood fingerboard before I kinda outgrew the hobby lol

[@tepro1612]

@@bandmansteve4912can’t outgrow a hobby, that’s what makes it a hobby

[@cdplaya]

Yo Mike, this was so epic! Thank you for including me in the Q&A, much love and will see you soon!

[@fallen92396]

Hey man, you sent me a G12 complete about 10 years ago because my parents didn't see the worth in fingerboarding. I still use the deck and wheels to this day, and have been looking to upgrade the trucks and maybe wheels, and I'll definitely be purchasing through you. Thanks for your generosity so many years ago!

[@fb_joog]

This is awesome 💯

[@officialreligion8475]

Bro same kinda I got mikes berlinwood signature deck and finally retired it even tho it still has life

[@vicious274]

The part where you say if we keep going wider we'll eventually be using circles had me howling! LOL!

[@dopemanricky7196]

That answer for "are you still interested in fingerboarding" is spot on. "You might not be as into it for a certain amount of time" I'm always taking breaks from fingerboarding. I'm actually waiting for a whole new setup after not fingerboarding for a few months. Also 100% agree keept fingerboarding on KZbin. Instagram isnt bad for clips and stuff but youtube is fingerboardings home.

[@Nikpredmi]

You are the man Mike! So crazy you are still here 15+ years later

[@LaceChaser]

NEVER COMMENTED UNTIL NOW! Black Moth and Tycho being even in your top 10 blew my mind dude!!! I’ve got signed records from both of the groups. Tycho was a really chill guy. Tobacco is a weirdo for sure and was super sick when he performed. Literally sick, had a bad cold. I’ve followed you for like a decade and this is literally my first comment. I’m a musician, so that hit hard man. Wow, newfound respect for you bro. Great taste in music!

[@sopretty43vr]

one day i’ll find my way back. don’t have any of my fb stuff anymore after moving out of parents house and life but i recently picked up some of the newer tech deck performance boards and mess w them here and there. once i get a table setup again maybe i’ll start filming again. really want to start making boards again too, crazy how i spoke to you years ago and almost had my decks on your sight. you’re a huge inspiration bro

[@longdamon173]

Great to hear your getting back into it. I’m jumping back in after a 12 year hiatus

[@Jose_Enriquez_Guitar]

Because of one of your KZbin videos I started fingerboarding and start listening to Black Moth super rainbow 🎉🎉🎉. Now, after ten years I own a small fingerboard company in my country. Thanks a lot for your videos and your boards!. I have to try your wheels! 😊

[@sittingduck422]

That was such a good Q&A! Really interesting and informative. ♥️

[@allgoodfb]

The first video I ever seen of fingerboard was a mike sesh in the driveway of his crib, since he inspired me to get me a pro fingerboard, that was 14yrs ago.

[@daniilpavlovich]

You are a Legend. Thank you for all you do for community and keep it up! I’m glad fingerboarding is doing great still, thank you Mike. I guess I’ll get a board when the war ends. Like 14 years ago. Crazy

[@timothyrivera5414]

yoo mike, it's been a journey of fingerboard for me. You inspired to fingerboard, i started when i was 2nd grade! now im a 7th grader. I watch and love ur vids! thank you for inspiring me, keep it up! i hope you see this :p

[@malthekaczorholm2735]

😊

[@ProdByClockwerk]

Holy shit 2:09 was my question and I’ve been wondering this for years. Thank you Mike for answering it!

[@johnnyhopkins7297]

I remember as a kid thinking about how awesome it was that mikes parents were so supportive of his ideas at such a young age

[@itachi_han]

22:07 Thankyou for answering my question😍

[@mobymobymobymoby]

You are so right about the forums and YT for archiving videos and info. My 2 random FB channels from when I was a kid STILL exist and are easily searchable. Unlike insta where you have to scroll down for 10 minutes to get older stuff

[@TVillani22]

37:44 is where I’m at right now as I’m making a deck watching this🤣🙌🏻

[@adam_putnam]

It’s rad that you took time to reach out to your fans and customers.

[@Nicecats101]

Love the intro tre flips

[@Digitaljoyride]

Dude.. thanks for the honesty and vulnerability in your answers. I agree with your sentiments regarding fingerboarding on Instagram and am going to put in an effort into stacking some good clips and putting out full edits on KZbin rather than 15 clips on reels and shorts. I guess my hopes were to gain followers on the social platforms as quick as possible, but with no real goal in mind as to what I would with all those said followers. I make my own boards and obstacles (like many fingerboarders do) so I don’t need sponsorships or free stuff. Building a great, long lasting community is a lot more important to me. Thanks for the guidance and looking forward to watching you continue to kill it on all of your edits. Thanks for all the work you put in, it’s appreciated.

[@realjacksun]

this was an epic q and a session! keep up the excellent work Mike.

[@km92410]

Coolest fingerboarder hands down

[@oglordflames]

My boys started fingerboarding Now im stuck on this amd happy amd enyoing it

[@gcroller93]

I think foam tape is the most important change imo

[@fingerboardpt]

man, remember when 27mm was like wide and 28mm like ultra wide? xD oh and, "what wheels?" or "what deck?", these do transport me back in time

[@stickyartfb]

Awesome Q and A! I have been fingerboarding since late 90s and just got back into it this last year.

[@siggibrause9791]

The way you talk about listening to music sounds very familiar to me😍❤

[@chambena_]

Waited for this vid!

[@medicalfortnitecard]

gosh, how i miss the og youtube fingerboarding days. everything was so fresh and obscure!

[@montana2806]

Hey you said you use flatface bushings but there are 2 types Teflon and Rhom which one are the ones you like to use?

[@Anxietyoffline]

👌👌👌 & I agree about the 32mm BRTs, they preform way better

[@steadyfingerhand4052]

I love your videos I’ve been inspired by you bro fingerboard got me through a lot of stressful times in life it’ll never die

[@ltilesfbs113]

You wassup mike I would just like to say I love your vids so much I subed!!!

[@enochlightburst333]

So happy it's finally uploaded ,☺️🙏🖖❤️

[@severinharrison1629]

This has some really good information

[@Groda1337]

now thats a classic fingerboard graphic!

[@maaalkov]

Sad that KZbin is dead for most of people:( in 2013 I used to get 4k views and not it’s barely 100

[@funderg8213]

I've been waiting for this video Thanks sir fan from Philippines 🇵🇭🇵🇭💟💟💟💟💟

[@__vlow]

cant wait to watch this after work!

[@ibentley92]

Mike is the goat

[@liltwiggy49]

Love it! Love ur videos Mike you are my biggest inspiration

[@lavagh5993]

I love listening to this while doing stuff please do some more work talk videos 🙏 I like your perspective 👁️

[@longlegcraig]

The dubsrep Xmas beats are hilarious

[@TheMastehTricky]

Yes, how did we get here? Dope vid mike, cheers

[@JohndeeZ_]

Hi mike its me again i watch you since i started doing fingerboarding likeeee 2014-2016 ish i hope i get a like!! Thankyou!

[@MidwestSteeze]

“…Danny Rodriguez, …”. Oh my, there’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. Dude was one of the kings on the original Tech Deck forums. He inspired me greatly as well.

[@newjerugraff7783]

Love this guy💯‼️

[@badass98kx250]

I'm fingerboarding after a long time not. feels amazing again. getting to stiff to skateboard anymore ( I skatedboarded for 20 years) now I love the g15 the best and the wide berlinwoods. your a kegend bro I had a board signed by you and accidentally skated it and messed it up:(

[@Lola_caxap]

Yo Mike please bring vista ledges

[@WhiteMountainWizard]

Thank you for this.

[@s-online307]

Extra Question: Will there ever be a flatface G16?

[@GamerJAG-rj1xh]

Yo u all haven't updated the wedsite. Where can I buy a fingerboard at

[@jannickmerz2748]

Really good video, hopefully I meet you one day 🙏✌️

[@zWarps]

this was great!

[@lukegyory1496]

AMAZING AND SICK!

[@shirokumaotaku]

It's great that you used to listen to Pink Floyd a lot as they're one of My Favourite Bands of all time but I have noticed a lot of the time that the music you use in your videos is never credited or mentioned in the description I still really want to know what the song was for Jay Linehan's Flee Part but I can't find it anywhere so it makes me wonder if it was made locally 🤔 I tried Google Voice Search but even that couldn't pair it up with any existing song...

[@miggychan]

Have you tried using soundhound or shazam? Best of luck, btw!

[@shirokumaotaku]

@@miggychan Tried Shazam for it once but no luck...😔 If I've got no luck finding it could have just been a song made by a friend of his perhaps 🤷‍♂️

[@TimoNineSix]

thank you I appreciate it

[@ratchet_ricky3232]

i hope you do another one man! such a great video.

[@Patidedo]

Long live finger youtube channels

[@Wuqz]

"I don't know how to use Instagram... Post more on KZbin." Wow, thanks for making me feel old. 😭

[@jamesquickjr2023]

BANGER!

[@__vlow]

mike the goat

[@robinlundenius7822]

Legend. 💪

[@MrAvengersTV1]

Is their any injury risk ?

[@urbankjrrrdam4825]

I like your cat

[@mikefbeeer]

What wheels

[@mongomyers9928]

Awesome 👍

[@joelstatosky1817]

Mike I would actually spend $80 to get that OG bike rack, hell I'd spend $80 for a lot of the OG obstacles. Don't undersell yourself, people like us are fine paying $150+ for our completes, so why shouldn't we spend a similar amount on obstacles?

[@wyattarledge490]

What happened to winkler wheels

[@hereandthere4751]

been out of fingerboarding for years now. What happened closed business?

[@willyv42]

1:01:39 nice Mike ;)

[@JuanOnJuan20]

Are you looking for a padawan? I would love to be trained by you.

[@Janred05]

I love thiss

[@skaboy.338]

Awesome

[@dustinwheelies3004]

bro mike always looks stoned af lol

[@misterchoc123]

The shirt too hahaha. Super genuine guy tho

[@stiggievandell]

Speaking of speakers... I used a pair of exciters to turn a wood table into a speaker. Exciters are awesome you just put them up against something and it turns it into a speaker. Anyways so I can literally feel the music resonate through my fingerboard. Give it a try, you just need a couple exciters and a cheap $10 amplifier with audio in to run them. They don't have the best bass, but you can run a woofer separatey.

[@jakejones3407]

What are your thoughts on medical and recreational Marijuana use, I personally have family members with a long history of PTSD and Anxiety disorders that have benefited from it and am curious what your thoughts are!! Thank you!!!

[@adamattiach318]

sick

[@ry_stock]

The Uburger spot! Haha

[@rodrigobrigante6286]

goat

[@iMac10]

Do you have a person fb skatepark? “I do I have like 30”

[@goop1512]

Whos MKS?

[@mingotrd]

🔥🔥🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️‼️

[@amb16610]

Pwn0rted

[@CharlesTlandschulz]

mike is not a fan of instagram.

[@RoRo-om6th]

go watch Chombus best video ever

[@majinwookie]

Mike do you get sunlight my man you super pale haha

[@mikeschneider]

Every day!

[@majinwookie]

@@mikeschneider legend haha

[@Crazy.Beautiful]

This dude really doesn't like Instagram lol.. wonder what his thoughts are on Tiktok then lol.

[@scootandstuff9622]

I have nobody else to fingerboard with so I kind of lost passion for fingerboarding

[@junokab6227]

こんばんは(´◡`๑)

[@Andrew_Rebimbas]

22:35/ nah the fb sponsor never found me. Maybe cause I don’t use yt or cause I don’t post much on ig but damn I got 130k on tik tok just having fun and posting what I like to do, and yet I’ve only had like two comments from companies asking if I’d like to partner with them and then they ghost me. Shit wack.(I’m not complaining btw, I’ve never been out to get a sponsor or anything and maybe I’m just not good enough and my ego to big) thank you for listening to my big old rant that I am now realizing is a rant

[@Chaotic-m7u]

Are you baked?

[@ken_fb3678]

early

[@evil_7]

does mike smoke weed?

[@blueskyskunk]

This guy is a cannabis seed breeder. Or tries.

[@ripjoeyjordison7869]

Why does this dude look like he’s gonna cry even when he’s happy 😂

[@dawsonbojanic]

what wheels