All photos by Julius Kellar.

Fast Times is a new shop brand for a team of guys that have a long history in skateboarding. Founded by Andrew Tebb and Mark Grayson; and with Anthony Mapstone recently joining the ownership team, the chain of three stores in Victoria has only been around for two years but has brought back the good vibes I remember from the early days of PSC… This is no coincidence as Grayson was the founder of the PSC chain and Tebb was a long time buyer for them while Mapstone ran things at Swanston St. for years. Check below the cut for a tonne of photos and some answers from Mapstone.

Mapstone, give us a run down on the history of Fast Times. How’d it come about?
Mark Grayson and Andrew Tebb, started Fast Times early 08. They took over the old PSC site. They had both been in the industry for a long time and were stoked that they could do something on their own. The store has been doing well and when the opportunity came up to move into the CBD, we jumped on it and the rest is history!

Obviously Fast Times is a reference to the film… Who’s the fan, Tebb or Grayson?
While it’s a sick film, it wasn’t the sole reason for the name or branding of the store. We liked the name first and foremost and think the reference to that feeling on a skateboard is essentially what struck a chord with us. Also, a connection with how quick trends move in our industry!! I guess it’s a fun  movie and we are trying to bring that fun into the stores and the products that we do.

What’s your history? How did you come to be involved in PSC and then owner of Fast Times?
I was first a teamrider for PSC back in 1997 then in June 98 Steele Saunders offered me a job at the Frankston station st store. I was syked. Even though I lived 1 hour away from the store it was the best skateshop I had ever seen and wanted to be part of it with the crew that were already involved. From there I started on a part time casual basis for a year and pretty soon Steele, Grayson and Tebby all had bigger things in mind such as opening the Swanston st, Highpoint and Nth Melb stores. A few months later Swanston st was up and running and I have been part of the fixtures there ever since. Once we got the news that PSC wasn’t going to remain; Grayson, Tebb and I contacted each other and discussed the possibility of opeing a Fast Times store in the city. After more and more chats we eneded up getting the Swanston St. site and Highpoint also.

As someone with such a long history in all aspects of skate, if someone was looking to start their own store, what’s the one piece of advice you’d give them?
It is hard to give just one piece of advice. But first and foremost I would say that you need years of skate retail and actual skateboarding experience yourself. If you don’t skate… You don’t relate. Put your heart and soul into it, sacrifice your social life and prepare your family for it. [Laughs]

Moving onto stock – What’s the best selling hardware you have in store at the moment?
Hmmmm, this is a hard one because people tastes change so rapidly. One month it could be Girl decks, then the next it could be Real, then XEN, then Fast Times decks. It almost changes on a weekly basis but lucky for everyone we have it covered with our wide diversity of stock.

What about shoes… What’s selling well at the moment?
Definitely VANS are the trendiest footwear at the moment. We sell a lot of Globe, NIKE, Emerica and Fallen but VANS seems to be the one every arty, red beanie wearing teenager wants.

What’s coming up that you’re really excited about? Any new brands or products that have you hyped?
Probably the Fast Times ‘Year of the Beer’ decks with mad poppy long lasting wood. Great shape and design. Also the Fast Times ‘Wrestling Superstars’ decks just arrived which have a sick graphic that guys like me can relate to. We also have the FLIP DVD dropping late October and later this year will be the Globe Jake Duncombe pro model shoe!!!!!

I’ve noticed more and more online shops popping up selling hardware. Do you think this is going to change how a core store like Fast Times will operate in the future?
This is way to hard for me to predict. As a skater though I encourage people to actually go into a skateshop and try before you buy. Check out the deck in your hands or under your feet. Try those shoes on and feel the difference between some others.

Who’s on the shop team so far? Have you got your eye on anyone new?
At the moment we have Dustin Dollin, Jake Duncombe, Sammy Winter, Luke Croker, Chima Ferguson, Lewis Marnell, Bryce Golder, Callum Paul, Jeremy Correa, Snapper, Geoff Cook, Stevo Dugec, Heath Clarke, Koby Murphy. It is already a pretty extensive team but then again we have three sick shops in different areas.

Any major plans for the future you can tell us about?
Big plans but the only thing I can reveal at the moment is the Fast Times DVD will be dropping sometime next year!!!

Thanks for taking the time to talk Mapstone!