Matt Soltys | GUELPH
9 min | Pocket Series: Shorts
In Matt Soltys’ 25th year of skateboarding, he set out to make a fun, thoughtful video that celebrates one rad dad’s love for skateboarding amid the myriad responsibilities of life. Matt fell in love with skate culture as a teen, and still loves it now that he’s 40, has a family, runs his own business, and is active in his community. Whether you skate or not, this video is meant to inspire you to keep pushing your mind and body, have fun, and live out of the box.
A Rad Dad’s Ode to Skateboarding sees Matt begin a regular day at home, tending to his family’s chickens and fruit trees, and serving breakfast to his wife and kids before seeing them out the door to school and work. Matt then cruises to Guelph’s Silvercreek skatepark, paying homage to some of his favourite places in Guelph along the way. True to the anarchic spirit of skateboarding, Matt then makes creative use of our urban environment, skating a dam, drainage ditch, splash pad, parking garage, schoolyards, and more. Matt loved putting thought into each spot choice and camera angle, and editing the action to match several songs close to his heart.
DIRECTOR BIO
Matt Soltys
Matt Soltys is a fifth-generation Guelphite who lives in The Ward with his partner and two children, and has been skateboarding for 25 years. He is passionate about the natural world, and works as an orchardist at Ignatius Farm and runs his own business, The Urban Orchardist. When he isn’t hanging with his family, skateboarding, or propagating unique fruit trees, he is also a long-time rabble rouser who has been active in movements for environmental justice and Indigenous solidarity for decades.