@ hazzecrow 
Muck Mouth x New Deal Interview: Hazze Lindgren
Where are you living today, and what is your current job?
I live in Stockholm and I work with a skateboard distributor as brand manager and sales rep.
When was your favorite era in skateboarding?
The '80s, so many things happened in that decade. I went to California for the first time in 1980, It was meant to be a 3 week trip, but me and my friend Per Welinder ended up staying there (Hermosa Beach) for half a year.
Per moved to the US (Connecticut) for school and I kept coming back to California year after year, and in 1986 I got on Schmitt Stix and Speed Wheels and stayed for another 4 years.
Who was your first sponsor, and how did you get hooked up?
I had flow sponsors pretty early from skate shops and distributors in Sweden. and when Per got on Powell Peralta I also got decks and wheels from Stacy (Peralta). My first real sponsor was Tracker (Thank You! Peggy, Larry, Ridge and Sarge).
Who is your favorite skater of all time?
Chris Miller
How much, if at all, are you still skating?
Well, I mostly use the board for transportation, not too many tricks.
Do you still follow skateboarding - even if it is just browsing YouTube/Instagram?
Yes, I follow skateboarding all the time, we sponsor a lot of skaters so I have to know what’s going on. I also Judge a few bigger contests in Sweden like Vert Attack and the Swedish qualifiers for the Olympics.
SPECIFICALLY REGARDING YOUR TIME ON NEW DEAL...
How did you get on New Deal? How long were you on, and were you pro or amateur?
I was already on Schmitt Stix and I was moving back to Europe to start my own skateboard distribution in Denmark. I had a pro model for a couple of years. New Deal quickly became our biggest brand and I also took care of all the European New Deal team riders from my office in Copenhagen.
Which of the videos you were in?
Just the New Deal promo video.
What was your favorite video part of yours, and what was your favorite part of someone else?
I only had one New Deal part, it was short but pretty good. Anything with Ed is good.
Best thing about riding for New Deal?
To be part of building a new brand from scratch, that was amazing!
Worst thing about riding for New Deal?
Gorm getting me arrested in Huntington Beach for vandalism... because HE put a sticker on a sign.
Who was your favorite skater on the team and why?
I think Ed, I’ve known him since '86, he skated freestyle with me and Don Brown in the beginning and he is always fun to hang out with. But I get along with most of the guys. I remember when John Montesi, Armando and Danny Sargent stayed at my place in Copenhagen, that was a good time.
Tell us something about New Deal that most people do not know?
Well, we had Tom Penny on the team…
What do you think about New Deal coming back?
It’s great, the response we got from shops in Sweden is incredible!
How much longer did you stay on a freestyle sized board after Rodney focussed his in Rubbish Heap? And what was the transition to a street board like?
I stopped riding freestyle boards in '92 when there was no more freestyle contests and I started to ride a popsicle shape street board 7.5” – 7.625” that I used for curb skating and freestyle, no problem.
Riders 1990-1992
All Riders
