For the first story of ‘Collector’s Appreciation’, we invited a friend from Colorado, United States. His Name is Jeramy Hastings, who you may also know him as @midnight_arcade on Instagram. He is a fingerboard collector, an enthusiast, and a father.

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

(NY) Please introduce yourself to our readers!

(JH) Hi! My name is Jeramy Hastings. I’m from southeastern Colorado. I ride for Woob & Bonk Benches.

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

(JH) I started getting tech decks in 2004. I’ve always been interested in miniature items, so the idea of a mini skateboard was right up my alley. I started skating in 2006, and that’s when I was exposed to something other than tech decks. In 2008ish, a friend of mine that I used to skate with brought a homemade wooden board to the park one day, and he had Nollie Heavy Metal wheels on the setup. That was my first time ever seeing bearing wheels for a fingerboard. After that session, I went home and looked up “pro tech decking”, or something of the such on YouTube. It was from that moment on that I was hooked. I was watching everything fingerboard related. I was so stoked on it all.

(NY) What was your first setup?

(JH) My first setup that felt great was a tech deck competition series that I had burnt the kicks on so they were slightly higher. After that I saved up and bought my first Berlinwood. It had tech deck long board trucks on it, and some random bearing wheels from eBay. Fortunately I still have that Berlinwood!

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

(JH) I started collecting, because when I was a kid I didn’t have a lot of money for all the fingerboard stuff that I wanted. So the only time I was able to get anything fingerboard related was Christmas time and maybe my birthday. When I came back to the scene in 2016, I was overwhelmed with all the new companies, and quality products that were available. It wasn’t just Blackriver, Berlinwood, FlatFace, and Yellowood now. I had a job, and started picking up all the stuff I wanted as a kid, and some.

(NY) Why do you collect fingerboards?

(JH) I collect fingerboards, because everyone does it differently. There are so many techniques to making a fingerboard, and I love seeing the different ways people express themselves artistically. So many graphic styles, and the different ways that people have applied their graphics has always interested me. I also tend to collect boards from companies that I love most.

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

(JH) I have roughly 222 boards in my collection at this moment.

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

(JH) What I look for first is if the graphic/bottom ply connects with me. Usually if it’s a company that I already like, then the quality aspect of it is plays a part later on. If it’s a company that I’m not familiar with, and they are making banger graphics then I’ll buy one. If it doesn’t pass the quality check then I’m good on just having one. But if the quality is great, then I’ll continue to support, and collect.

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

(JH) Shit. I’ll say any of the boards that have been gifted to me from friends, and boards that were specifically made for me. That goes with any of the fb gear that I have accumulated over the years. If it’s been gifted to me, or made specifically for me; I still have it, and cherish it.

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

(JH) Yes. Don’t start collecting in the mind set of later on flipping your item for a high price. Collect for the love and passion of fingerboarding. If there is a specific company that you love, and want to support; buy their products when you’re able to, and keep going from there. Support the companies that bring the scene quality items, and show originality. Most importantly support what makes you happy. No one else.

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

(JH) Apart from fingerboarding, most importantly I’m a father. My little man is my entire world. We do everything together! Luckily, he’s developed an interest in fingerboarding over the years, and I’m stoked that I get to share something so important in my life with the most important person in my life. I also love horror movies and heavy metal. I’ve made a lot of friends within fingerboarding simply based off of those interests. It’s always rad getting to talk to those who like the same shit as me.

• Jeramy Hastings

  Instagram: @midnight_arcade