Meet Colin Trombley | Owner of Shredded East and Vocalist for In Shallows

We had the good fortune of connecting with Colin Trombley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Colin, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My work life balance has changed pretty drastically over the years and the grind has never really stopped, which I’m proud to say. I started off as a weekend bag boy/babysitter/full-time student/ops manager at FedEx to where I’m at now… Risk Consultant/Skateboarder/Brand Owner/Band Member. I also like to squeeze in some youth skateboard instructing on the side, traveling to find my new favorite skatepark, and video editing for Shredded East.

The whole work/life balance gets tricky, because I’m passionate about everything I do and sometimes it doesn’t feel so much like work. The job field that I’ve put myself into is rewarding in itself as a Risk Consultant (keeping people safe). I thoroughly enjoy working remotely and was doing so previous to the pandemic, it’s allowed me to focus my time into pretty much everything I’ve dreamed of doing. I’m grateful to be where I’m at with some breathing room in my life to keep pushing forward on personal goals and growth opportunities.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Professionally: I recently switched job fields within the safety field to insurance and I couldn’t be happier. I started working construction when I first moved to Boston, but I was over it pretty soon after I started. Now I’m able to travel a variety of warehouses, labs, manufacturing plants to asses workplace hazards and prevent injuries. I get to see cities that I’d never usually go to and learn about jobs I never knew existed. I’m on my fifth career job and I think that what sets me apart, being able to seize opportunities and take that leap. It’s never easy leaving behind co-workers, but you have to do it for yourself sometimes. I’m excited to see how far I can go in my career.

Shredded East: I started this brand solely and am proud to see how it has evolved over the years. I have an addiction to action sports and this is my outlet . I originally started SE because I thought the sound of setting up a booth and selling stuff I designed was cool, I also wanted to tie my name to something bigger. It’s allows me to start skateboard instructing, which I’ve always wanted to do. I’m excited to see what events and skateparks I can travel to next.

In Shallows: I used to go a bunch of metal shows around New England and would tell myself “I want to do that” every time I left a concert. It was always in the back of my mind to be a vocalist until I actually started recording and making the music. I self-taught myself how to scream back in the day and have refined my technique since. We formed our band at the end of 2018 and most recently released our EP “Beneath The Surface” in October 2021. I never thought I’d be able to say “check out my music on all streaming platforms”, so that’s what I’m stoked on.

Skateboarding: I’ve been skating for 16 years, broken bones, rolled ankles, and have taken countless slams over the years, but the addiction still hasn’t faded. The coolest thing to me about skating is the culture and seeing cities in such a different way than the average person. Skating has opened new doors to me through travel, meeting cool people, and just experiencing life in a different fashion. If its learning new tricks, filming a clip, dealing with injuries, or weaving between the scooters there’s always something I’ll see in skating that I’ll never be able to let go of.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to thank Mom and Dad for always sticking by my side and raising my into the person I am today. All of my siblings, friends, fans, customers and people I’ve met along the way who continuosly support my goals. Shout out all of my former bosses for giving me the mentorship and guidance to be where I am today professionally. I’d also like to thank my band members for keeping me musically motivated and all the skate homies who have been there for the session.

Website: shreddedeast.com; inshallows.com

Instagram: @colin_trombley; @shreddedeast; @in_shallows

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-trombley-ab17b6b1/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-O4CjyEEdbERPCULhRrOQ

Image Credits
Credits: Ian Urquhart, Matthew Cheever, Lee Germoth, Lisa Eggleston, Karlos Jeri-Wahrhaftig