Xiao Tianyu
Girl/ Aka G-fly
Skater/ Fashion Fever/ Shop Owner/ New Designer
Age 22
Little fears and Big ambitions


What’s your story?
I was born in ‘88, now is my last year in FuDan University, I major in Advertising. I started to skateboard in 2004. In 2006, I built my own fashion brand HALF, I am the manager and designer.

What is your everyday routine? What’s your lifestyle?
When I need to go to class, I’m just like any other student. When I don’t have class, I just sleep until noon, then go outside to skateboard. When I come back I deal with my online store. At night, I hang out with friends or do my design at home.

When did you first become interested in skating? Was it hard? What’s your hobby besides skating?
I first got interested in skateboarding in 2001, there have been countless troubles. The time it takes to learn a new maneuver, the mental suffering when facing barriers, being misunderstood by people around me, and even being arrested by the guards at the Skate Park.
Besides skating, I also like making styles. I am interested in high fashion and street fashion, design, music, indie movies and weird entertainment news, etc.



What’s different about being a female skateboarder? What suggestion would you give to girls who are interested in skateboarding?
Of course there are differences, first is the physiological factor, girls usually have less power than boys for the maneuvers. I suggest that girls who are interested in skating should really think it through, make sure you really love it. You have to pay for it, for example, you can’t have beautiful legs because skating makes one leg thinner than the other. Once you make your decision, don’t be impatient, do everything in its proper time and you will protect yourself from injury.

Who’s your favorite skateboarder?
And the Kenny Anderson in Converse Skate Team is quite famous, I also feel that it could be interesting that Converse could support some skaters who also are musicians.

You also have an online store and your own brand, you sell vintage styles and sportswear. Does this come from skateboarding or are you just interested in fashion and vintage sportswear?
I’ve liked digging in and learning more about street culture ever since I started skateboarding. I love different styles, vintage is what I spend the most time on and I want to share it with other people.

You are still at university and at the same time doing many different things, is it hard? Or are you enjoying in it?
Well, it’s hard but in a happy way. Actually, being a university student doesn’t cause obstacles to what you want to do. Many people think that being a student is a conflict to being a skateboarder, that’s one-sided. University has a casual atmosphere, you should see clearly what you want and just make it come true.

Tell us about the city you live in, and the kids here? Is there anything you like or dislike?
The night-life is colorful here and the kids are polarized, some are extremely funny, some are extremely boring. I like some clubs and malls here but I hate all of the road-work.

What does creativity mean to you?
Do what you like and be the best at it.

What does youth mean to you?
Possibilities, the power of action and hope.

You lead a pretty different life from most people of your generation, how is that for you?
I just think differently from other people. Most people in this society act the same, they act ordinary, so I enjoy this kind of abnormal life.

So how do you live this way?
You must have the power to act, don’t let yourself regret anything when you get old. How you deal with it when other people don’t understand your life?
I just do what I like in my own way. I don’t care what other people think about it.

5 things you want to do when you’re bored.
Skateboard, read magazines, design, take a nap, watch a movie

5 words to describe what skateboarding brings to you?
Freedom, creativity, power, rebellion, independence