Ray Barbee - A Word Aptly Spoken

 

1. Ray_Barbee_-_A_Word_Aptly_Spoken.mp3

Ray Barbee - A Word Aptly Spoken

Ray Barbee
Date of Birth:
10/05/1971
Skateboarding Since:
1984
Skating for Independent Since:
1989
Past Sponsors:
Alva, Powell, Venture, Vision Shoes
Sponsors:
The Firm, Vans

To witness Ray Barbee’s smooth and buttery front flips or heelflip varials is a true blessing. Ever since his formative years as an amateur on Alva, Ray has possessed a keen sense of flow and style. His skate beginnings stem from some key backyard ramp sessions with his friends in San Jose, California. He didn’t really begin to skate the streets until some time later. But when he decided to move forward in the direction of street skating his collective arsenal of tricks grew at an alarming rate of speed. His flat ground stunts caused onlookers and fellow competitors to stare in awe as he busted them out in rapid succession.

Ray climbed through the amateur ranks for several years before he was picked up by Powell and featured in Ban This. To this day, to watch his creative skate style and flow of tricks in that video still makes you want to go out and skate. Ray then turned pro through his hard work and dedicated efforts. He toured, filmed and competed with the Powell team through 1991.

As Lance Mountain was in the process of staring up his own company, The Firm, Ray left Powell to join him in building a team and moving forward in his own career. But it wasn’t easy for either of them through those years. Skating’s popularity had dropped off considerably and board royalty checks and endorsements could barely pay the rent. Still the carried on and stuck it out together with other riders on the team roster coming and going over the years.

Today, The Firm stands strong and Ray is enjoying himself both on and off the board. Like other skaters, Ray also has another creative outlet – playing guitar, creating and mixing music. He has produced a few songs for an EP titled “Triumphant Procession” and word has it that some of his recent musical work will be included in The Firm’s upcoming video due out in the coming months. Ray’s Christian beliefs and raw, unjaded talent keeps him at peace in a world of discord. Whether he is busy noodling (playing) on his guitars or raising his new son Nolan, Ray is most likely gleaming with his infectious smile.