Ishtar Backlund Daddies Board Shop Team Rider

I was born in Malmö 1991, this is the city in Sweden that connects Scandinavia to the rest of Europe. When I turned 16 my mum decided to move to Stockholm so I had to tag along.. Which turned out great cause thats where I got in contact with Kahalani later on. And where I consider the happy times of my life started. After graduating high school Id saved up some money working at a cafe and decided to Head over to the states. this was the summer of 2010. And after an Epic summer cruising all over California and NYC, Charing great experiences with fellows from the big and loving skate family, getting to know so many wonderful people I had finally found my place it felt like, and I just wanted more! So When I came back to Sweden it only took me three days to repack and head over to Norway where I knew I could make some money that could help feed my need for future travels! 7 jobs (mental institutions, night clubs,nursing homes..) and 8 moths in the darkness later, I finally had enough to leave the torture lifestyle of an workaholic for the sweet life on the road! I have now been on the road for a year, traveling all over and seen, felt and gotten to be a part of the growing longboard family that exists in this world, and I love it SO much! I am so happy to have meet the people that I have, and been able to make the relationships that creates the cense of harmony and love! Sometimes its easy to feel lost in this world, but when so many with the same passion gets together, I cant help but feel safe and happy. I feel blessed to be a part of this community and so stoked to be able to develop my skills as an skater with the greatest feedback from my family!

How did you get into wood-pushing?

Lords of dogtown was the eye opening glimps into the skating world in my case, the family and joy those boys shared..
I felt the good vibes of the community from miles away when I moved to stockholm, and lurked in to the kahalani skate shop with tons of good excuse to stay! The boys at the Kahalani shop in stockholm got me into skating downhill, and once I finally quit school and could leave the unpredictable and skate blocking weathers of Sweden I finally could start fully and completely to develop!

Where is your favorite place to skate?

I really love Bofax up in North Cal, Im always so satisfied and Super happy after skating that run. It's pretty magical! There has been many epic roads thats I've gotten to skate through all over the world, and Im really thankful for that! But I also think that the people that Im skating with is a big part of the experience! When we all are stoking together that is my favorite place!! And then I have to say, with all the greatest respect that I have for this road, Newtons Nations is freaking epic!! I just want to go back and skate it again, after every run I could feel more connection to that road, and I dared to push it a bit more. Cant wait to next year!

Who are your favorite skaters?

Ethan Lau, It's like watching pure energy in motion!
Katie Neislon, truly my biggest inspiration when it comest to downhill! It feels so good to have someone like her to look up to, anything is possible!

Between a bear, dragon, and a shark, which one would you fight and why?

A dragon, cause I could hide in places he would not be able to catch me at.. and once I tame him, Ill be able to fly as high as I'd like to!

What is your current board setup?

Im riding the baby killswitch with kahalani trucks dipped in venom's and abec11 classic free ride center sets.

What is your favorite food?

My mama's food! She usually cooks oriental and middle eastern food, and I love to froff in that!

Who are your current sponsors?

Daddies Board Shop and Kahalani, thank you so much!

What is your favorite trick?

Just getting in to freeriding, and even though I haven't nailed it yet, I think I will like the switch 180 more then the current 180 I know how to do.

Why do you like to ride for Daddies Board Shop?

I love the support from Daddies! I feel really lucky to be on the team, and the vibes are amazing. It's not a big team and I really like the family feel that it has created! I feel the love!

What are your thoughts on zombies?

They seem slow and useless. Im not scared of them!

If any of you aren't aware, Ishtar is one AWESOME artist as well. She has some of the most intricate and interesting pieces out there! Give it a look!

Check out more and everything else she is up to on www.ishti.tumblr.com