Profile’s Team Legacy – Anthony Napolitan

To kick off Profile’s 55th anniversary (1968 – 2023), we wanted to begin the celebration by highlighting those riders who’ve been with our brand for over 15 years.

Over the course of January, we’ll feature each of those 11 riders in a comprehensive retrospective – looking back, ruminating on today, and looking forward.

This is our family.

Thanks to each of these riders for years of support.

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First up, Anthony Napolitan.

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Matt Coplon (TM): What year did you start riding for Profile?

Anthony Napolitan: I believe I started riding for profile in 2003 or 2004. Ty Styvasant used to come to my local skatepark a lot and he introduced me to you (Matt Coplon). I remember the exact moment when I had my first phone call with Matt. I was beyond stoked!

M: That must have been after that La Revolution contest at East Coast Terminal? I remember seeing footage of you riding Section 8 in Hubbard, OH. prior. Was kind of blown away.

You grew up close to Section 8, right? The size of the ramps at that park, I’m assuming, had a huge influence on your style of riding?

A: yeah, it was probably around that contest era. Section 8 was definitely one of the gnarly skate parks and way ahead of its time. I’m very lucky to have grown up riding there. I always compare growing up riding section 8 skatepark to surfing waves. It was like surfing a double overhead wave on the north shore for your first time. 

M: Over the years, What’s been your favorite Profile Component?

A: When I was a kid I saved every penny that I could to get a pair of what is now old school OG profile racing hubs. Still to this day I’m the biggest fan of the hubs. I’m currently loving the profile elite hubs. The sound is music to my ears.

M: We’re talking the High Flange, original Profile Hubs with the scallops? What drew you to those?

A: Oh yeah! Honestly I loved the look and the sounds. The sound of a rear profile hub is still my biggest draw. 

M: You’ve gotten so much more delicate over the years, so I’m curious what single Profile component you’ve ridden the longest?

A: This is a tough one! I feel like it was a set of profile mini’s from the early 2000 era. I was afraid to ask you (Matt) for new parts so I would run the hubs until the finish was corroding off of them.

M: Although I feel bad you saying that, I like your style. Ha! I tend to ride our parts into the ground as well.

With Profile related roadtrips, what’s been your favorite?

A: TBH I haven’t been on many team trips. You (Matt) and I had an awesome week road tripping around FL before the second ever SwampFest. It was super productive and I was able to do this pocket corner table at SPOT and the photo ended up being a new banner. I hope to help organize some kind of trails trip with the profile dudes in the future!

M: And with that in mind, which Profile Team rider who you enjoyed travelling with the most?

A: I love traveling with Mykel Larrin. He and I have been all over the world together. We’ve had some crazy times on Bikes over Baghdad in the Middle East (that goes for TA and Degroot as well) and we’ve always kind of lived in close proximity to one another. We just get along so well and we understand each other. 

M: I can’t even imagine being on “The road” under those circumstances. Of all those experiences on the BOB trip, what was the most memorable?

A: I need to make note that being overseas in those circumstances, sometimes the most memorable isn’t the best memory. On the lighter side of that…… being able to perform in front of all those people who dedicate their lives so that we can live the way we do here in America is by far the best memory. If our troops forgot that there were in the Middle East for 2 hours of hanging with us and watching the show, then we succeeded at what we went there to do. 

M: We appreciate you, Anthony! To many more years! Thanks for all of your support.

Check Anthony’s latest interview here on the Unclicked Podcast.