ESPN.com: What is Ride Channel?

Fritsch: A new skateboarding channel from 900 Films on YouTube, featuring new and exclusive content every day … like TV on the Internet for skateboarders.

Hawk: Yeah, what he said.

ESPN.com: How did the partnership with YouTube come about?

Fritsch: YouTube approached Tony's production company, 900 Films to talk about their new original content initiative. We then flew up to YouTube in San Bruno, Calif., and shared some of our show ideas. They were into it, and we started production right away.

Hawk: I had heard through a couple of industry people in the entertainment business that YouTube wanted to create "channels" featuring different sports, celebrities and musicians. I made an initial meeting with the dude in charge of organizing the channels, and then he set up a "pitch" meeting for us at their offices. Afterwards, he said we were the most organized and capable to do a channel centered on skating. We immediately started working on content, even though the channel was months away from being confirmed or announced.

ESPN.com: How much Shred or Die influence will be seen at the Ride Channel?

Fritsch: Shred or Die was only partially original content, mixed with a community and user-gen content. While we had so many show ideas over there, it just wasn't the right platform at the time for so many original shows, especially those that reach outside of just the skateboarding community. With Ride Channel and YouTube, we have access the biggest online video community in the world, so now we can solely focus on making content rather than manage a whole site. That being said, we will bring over a few of our favorite shows from Shredordie.com like "Free Lunch" and "Tony Hawk's Dissent," but all in all this is a totally new thing, with lots of new shows involving tons of different skaters, producers and characters from within the skateboarding community.

Hawk: Ride Channel is everything we wanted Shred or Die to be, but we didn't have the operating budget. I feel like this is the culmination of 900 Film's existence.

ESPN.com: How many shows are on the Ride Channel?

Fritsch: We are rolling out with 12 shows and there will be more to come shortly.

ESPN.com: Is everything on the channel original content?

Fritsch: Yes. Users may have seen some of the footage we use, but it will be in a different context like telling a story, or a documentary type piece. Or Shredit-Cards which is user submitted footage that you may have seen on YouTube, then turned into an 80s videogame in which you users get credit per trick at skateparkoftampa.com online store.

ESPN.com: Is it possible for someone to pitch you guys a show for the channel, if so how could they do a submission?

Fritsch: We have been approached by a lot of people with show ideas, wanting to get involved, and some of those ideas you will see later this year on Ride. It's really been amazing how many people want to be a part of this channel so early on! At this time there is no official way to pitch an idea, but you can e-mail us at contact@theridechannel.com.

ESPN.com: How many shows are on each day?

Fritsch: It varies, but around three to four shows a day.

ESPN.com: Where can you find out what time each show airs? Is there a weekly schedule available?

Fritsch: On the side bar of youtube.com/ridechannel there is a list of shows and days they are posted.

ESPN.com: What shows are you most excited about?

Fritsch: I honestly like all of our shows, but I'd have to say I'm most excited about "Hand In Hand" and "Gnar Zone." "Hand In Hand" because I grew up playing music, skateboarding and making art, so all of the stories on that show hit close to home for me. As for "Gnar Zone," I can't even explain why it's so amazing. As long as I can remember, any mainstream show with skateboarding always has the worst host that makes any real skateboarder cringe. You know the guy with tattoos, piercings, and that says "gnarly" every other word. It's like Hollywood thinks that's what all skaters talk, look, and act like. We decided to just film guys like that auditioning for what they think is a real show called "Gnar Zone" in which our friend Lance Krall plays the casting director. The people we got were amazing. Little did they know, they all got the job.

Hawk: I love having a trick tip go up every day. It's a challenge, but it shows how diverse skating is and that there is always something to learn. "Rise Above" will inspire anyone, even if they don't skate. "Hand In Hand" shows how much influence skating has on other art forms. And "Free Lunch" is always entertaining.

ESPN.com: Where are the Ride Channel studios located?

Fritsch: In Vista, Calif. We are part of Tony Hawk Inc.

ESPN.com: Do you think the Ride Channel could become a larger platform for skate brands to launch their full length videos?

Fritsch: We have talked about this a lot, and it's definitely something we would like to do in the future. Having skaters from all over the world watching the same video at one time would be huge, and I think fun for skateboarding as a whole to do something like that together.

Hawk: Yes, I hope so.

ESPN.com: Do you guys think the YouTube partnership will help bring more eyes to skateboarding?

Fritsch: For sure! Core skate sites are typically just viewed just by those that are really into skateboarding, whereas a lot of kids just getting into skateboarding now don't even know where to start looking for good skateboarding videos. YouTube is viewed by everyone in the world, making our shows easy to find or stumble upon for those really into skateboarding, those that just started skateboarding, or even those that don't skate at all but just like watching it.

Hawk: Definitely. It will show them there is more to skating than competition highlights and nasty falls.

ESPN.com: Will there be a skatepark built or is there already a Ride Channel park built to create future original content?

Fritsch: We have a show teaching people how to build things like ramps, rails, ledges, etc. … called "Manual Labor" with Jona Owings from Hazard County Skatepark in Atlanta. We took that opportunity to build a small park in the Ride office which we share with the rest of Tony Hawk Inc. which includes Birdhouse Skateboards. It's not huge, but it's really fun, and I'm sure you will see footage from there on our channel.

ESPN.com: What can we expect to see from the Ride Channel this year?

Fritsch: Skateboarding is a tough thing in that it's not like most sports where you have one league or series that everyone loves, and as long as you cover that you are all good. Skateboarding has a million different skaters that like a million different things. We really worked hard to get as many different people involved in Ride Channel, all who have their own ideas and approach to skateboarding, so that there is something for every kind of skater out there.

ESPN.com: What's the response been like for you guys so far?

Fritsch:So far so good. We've only been live a few days and people really seem to like the shows. Skateboarding is always skeptical about big companies trying to get involved and I'm sure this time around is no different. I think once people see all the shows, and learn who is involved they will see that good content speaks for itself no matter who is backing it. Also, I have to say that YouTube has been amazing in letting us handle all of the creative [angles] and stay true to skateboarding on all of our shows.

Hawk: I have never had so many industry people contacting me about being involved with a project of mine since the release of THPS ["Tony Hawk's Pro Skater" video game].

ESPN.com: What's a must see on the Ride Channel if someone is going there for the first time after reading this?

Fritsch: I really can't pick just one. Like I said before, I love "Gnar Zone," and "Hand in Hand," but there are so many more. Watch "Shredit-Cards" or "Let The Good Times Roll," [Mike] Manzoori's show "In Focus" is great too. Who knows? Just go to the home page a surf around for a bit.

Hawk: "Rise Above," "Gnar Zone" and "Shredit Cards."