Hi, this is Noah here. Thank you for visiting our online catalogue once again, and welcome back to another episode of Collector’s Appreciation. For today’s episode of Collector’s Appreciation, we invited another fingerboard enthusiast, more importantly a good friend of mine from Switzerland. His name is Lionel Serquet, who you may also know him as @this_is_lionel on Instagram. Lionel is an explorer who has a passion for photography, League of Legends, and electro music.

Here is the story behind Lionel’s appreciation for fingerboarding.

(NY) Please introduce yourself to our readers!

(LS) Hello, my name is Lionel, I’m from Switzerland, I’m 27 years old and I’m currently working in a surface treatment company.

(NY) When and how did you get into fingerboarding?

(LS) I think like almost everyone else, I started fingerboarding at school with a TechDeck instead of listening to the teacher. I’ve watched a lot of videos on YouTube as well, which helped a lot to learn tricks and make handmade ramps to start fingerboarding.

(NY) What was your first set-up?

(LS) My first setup was obviously a TechDeck, then I wanted to try a Close-up because my close friend had one of them. I really didn’t like it. The shape was way too deep. I almost preferred the TechDeck I had before. I was impressed by the joy this tiny object gave me. Then for Christmas my grandmother offered me my first Berlinwood with 29mm Black River trucks and Winkler wheels. It was the orange PornStorm graphic, which is still one of my favorite graphics ever made. That changed my life and the perception I had for fingerboarding. Every trick was simpler on that setup.

(NY) Can you share the story of how you started collecting fingerboards?

(LS) It was in 2015 when I started following Frostie on Instagram. (This guy had and still have the best collection ever in my opinion). I’ve started my apprenticeship and earned some money for the collection I currently have.

(NY) How many fingerboards to you have in your collection?

(LS) I currently have approximately 200 decks in the collection but only 20 pairs of trucks and 45 pairs of wheels that I change every time when I take the pictures of the boards. It’s not worth wasting $65 for 200 trucks when you don’t even use them. I also painted some of my trucks to match the decks and wheels together (Spray painting for metallic things, to those who ask).

(NY) Why do you collect fingerboards?

(LS) I collect fingerboards because I’ve started it and still don’t have an end of this beautiful story. It’s also a big part of my life. Every single deck has its own story. And I love talking to everyone about the brands, the experience and everything that touch the fingerboard world.

(NY) What do you look for in a product or a brand (e.g. quality, history, etc.) when adding it to your collection?

(LS) I look for the rarity, craftsmanship, and of course the hard work behind every single board. Every company has their own unique method and different type of work. And of course the more it’s hard to get, the more it’s interesting for the collection.

(NY) In your collection, which product(s) has the most meaning to you?

(LS) The red Prete my grandmother bought me when I visited The Black River Shop in Berlin for the first time back in 2014.

(NY) Do you have any advise for people who are starting to build their own collection?

(LS) I would say just take care of your money, it’s not worth wasting all your money for that I think. It’s also cool to give a chance to smaller brands. Lastly, don’t buy what you don’t like even if it’s a really cool piece for a collection.

(NY) Lastly, apart from fingerboarding, who are you as a person?

(LS) I am a calm person who pays a lot of attention to my friends, family and colleagues. When I start something I do it until the end and the best I can. My mother and sister have taught me everything I need to have the best possible education and the best possible life. I wouldn't change a thing in my current life. In my spare time I love going out, discovering new places to explore, I love taking photos, playing league of legends and taking time for my little cat that I love so much.
The thing I love most is music, especially anything to do with electro.

• Lionel Serquet

  Instagram: @this_is_lionel