Interview By William Stolk
From the small-town streets of Whitby, Ontario, to the world’s most iconic skate spots, Thomas James Rogers — better known as TJ — has carved a name for himself with technical precision, raw style, and unrelenting dedication. Growing up amid personal challenges, TJ found freedom on a skateboard, turning a childhood passion into a professional career that spans continents and collaborations with some of skateboarding’s biggest brands. He was in the running for Thrasher Magazine’s 2025 Skater of the Year, TJ reflects on his journey, from his earliest inspirations to the mindset that keeps him pushing forward.
Frank 151: You started skating as a kid in Whitby, Ontario — what was the moment or feeling that made you realize skateboarding was going to be more than “just a hobby”?
TJ: It was the time when I went to a ‘Hawk Clothing’ demo back in 2000. There was Tyler Bledsoe, Marius Syvanen, Kyle Nicholson, Lamar Hemmings, and more — they were all around my age. That’s when I knew this is what I wanted to do!
Frank 151: Growing up with challenges at home, skateboarding offered an escape. How did that early adversity shape your mentality — both as a person and as a skateboarder?
TJ: “I’d like to think the adversity helped shape me to appreciate all the little things in life, and to never give up. Even on and off the skateboard.”
Frank 151: You had to grind hard before social media blew up — skating parks, hustling for gear, paying your own way through early years. What lessons did that DIY phase teach you that still matter now?
TJ: The main lesson it taught me was to never take anything for granted and to not take things personally.
“The first five years of being pro is the most important. You’re making a name for yourself. Do the best you can & keep your head down.” — TJ Rogers
Frank 151: Over the years, you’ve changed sponsors, relocated, and adapted your style. How do you navigate reinvention while staying true to where you came from?
TJ: I honestly just brought it back to when I was a young kid doing what I loved. Early footage shows me in a big Orlando jersey, backwards hat, pants tucked in my socks. When I got sponsored, I couldn’t afford to pay for clothes, so I rocked what they sent.
“Once COVID hit, I started shaving my head, buying blank T’s, wearing baggier clothes — it brought out this youth in me, and I haven’t looked back since.”
Frank 151: In 2022 you faced a serious personal battle, yet managed to bounce back and drop a full video part in 2023. What kept you motivated during that period, and did it change how you see skateboarding or life?
TJ: What kept me motivated was setting small goals on and off the board. Going through that changed my perspective, but I always remember — there’s no wrong or right way to live. Do what makes you happy and gives you confidence to keep going.
Frank 151: Your skating style is known for being technical, clean, and powerful. How do you approach crafting a trick — instinct or planning?
TJ: Depends on the trick or spot. Sometimes I break it down, sometimes I get inspired by a homie. For tech tricks, I warm up with the basics first; for gaps, 5–10 minutes of flat skating, maybe an Ollie or early grab, then I go for it.
Frank 151: For many young skaters, the dream is to ‘make it pro.’ When you turned pro, did it feel like you ‘made it,’ or just another step in the grind?
TJ: Turning pro in 2014 and moving to California felt like I made it. But remembering what one of my teammates told me — that first five years are everything — gave me motivation to do more.
Frank 151: You’ve worked with multiple big-name sponsors and even have your own pro-model shoe. How involved were you in shaping that product — and what does it mean to have your name on it?
TJ: I’ve been involved since the start, November 2023. I combined inspirations from other éS shoes over the years. It’s their 30-year anniversary and the first pro shoe in almost 15 years. Having my name on it? Dream come true. Feedback’s been insane.
“Traveling to different cities and countries helps you gain so much XP — experience. It makes you appreciate what you have and inspires new ways of living.” — TJ
Frank 151: How does traveling affect your mindset and creativity on the board?
TJ: “It makes you really appreciate what you have and how you could apply some of their rituals or lifestyle into your own.”
Frank151: The skate scene has changed a lot — social media, video parts, bigger tours. How do you stay grounded?
TJ: I try not to dwell on things I can’t control. Staying consistent with myself and the brands I work with — that’s what matters.
Frank 151: If you could talk to your 12-year-old self, what advice would you give him?
TJ: Buckle up, surround yourself with good people who want to see you win, and do what makes you happy!
Frank 151: Looking ahead: you’re in the running for Thrasher Magazine’s Skater of the Year 2025. Is that a big deal to you, and what’s next beyond that?
TJ: Thrasher’s Skater of the Year is the ultimate crown. Winning would be the icing on an all-time year. I have a few projects lined up with sponsors, campaigns that mean something, and might bring back my annual event in Canada.