160: Cairo Foster/Homecoming

Cairo Foster, July 2021. Photo: Tozer

Street skating legend Cairo Foster is well over two decades into a singular and iconic career. Think ‘two episodes of The Nine Club’ iconic. So when he got in touch to see if I’d be up for having a chat to commemorate the release of his new Actions REALized board, a collaboration between Real Skateboards in memory of Ben Raemers, with all proceeds going to The Ben Raemers Foundation, I was of course up for it.

Especially because this episode has been a long time coming. Myself and Cairo have mutual friends in common, and have been loosely trying to get this off the ground for a couple of years now. I had a feeling we’d be able to have a good conversation, and am happy to be proven correct in this hunch.

Photo: Tozer

This is an extremely moving and multi-layered conversation that covers the biggest themes of all. Like how travel truly does broaden the mind and provides the key to an inquisitive and empathetic life. How certain unique individuals can have an immeasurable impact on you. And how loss, always the most sensitive of topics, has the power to take us unawares, and continually remind us of what is truly important.

As a heads-up, we do discuss issues of mental health and suicide in this episode, and I’ve listed a couple of resources at the end of the episode.

Watch the full exchange below: