iskatemag December 2014

No Bad Vibe Here!

Go Skate Day NYC S2S Indoor Skate Event DECEMBER 2014

Lori George / Chris Malagon / Tristan Marrufo

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louiealfaro@iskatemag.com

Editor In Chief Louie Alfaro Editor at Large Pricilla Duran Contributing Photographer Ruben Palomares Contributing Photographer Lori George

Editorial Another year is almost gone and we are looking forward to the future. I read that they having finally invented a real hover board. However, the skateboard cost about $10,000 and you need some special copper ramps in order to make it work. I hoping that someday they will make a practical hover board . Until then, we will continue using our old decks.

Skate On! Check it out! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/142464853/ hendo-hoverboards-worlds-first-real-hoverboard

www.iskatemag.com

Cover Photo By Lori George 2

Ma rco sR eza

FS Boadslide 3

Lori George

2011 Arenalina Skateboard Contest Lori George winning 1st place at the 2 mile/1 lap around Governor’s Island for the women’s age group 34-50 comp.

Lori George Stats From: The Bronx , New York.

Talent: Photographer/retired Deputy Sheriff and a U.S. Army Veteran.

Skills: Photographing skateboarders since 2011 and was a Skate boarder from 1974-1978.

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Featured 4 Lori George 12 Chris Malagon 22 Tristen Marufo 28 Snake 2 Skate Indoor Skate 34 Go Skateboarding Day NYC 40 No Bad Vibe Here!

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Anthony Sgro 6

Photo by Louie Alfaro 7

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Joe Vasquez

Frontside Indy Grab

Man, this guy was killing it at the Carolina Skate Park (El Paso, Tx)! His skating can be described as effortless!

Photo

by Jezreel Lasala 9

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Jay Adams 1961-2014 Rest In Peace

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n a i t as b e S t” r i h s t a e “Sw guez ri d o R What advice would you give to beginners?

Just do it and practice, practice, practice.

Are you on a team? Yes, I’m with Snake 2 Skate.

How old are you? I’m 14 years old.

Where were you born? I was born in El Paso, Texas.

How old were you when you started skating?

I was 12 years old.

Who got you interested in skating? Omar Lopez.

What was your first board?

My mom bought me a skateboard in downtown El Paso.

Yea, I know those boards. The wheels don’t turn. [Laugh] Do you skate regular or goofy? I skate regular.

Do you like skating street or vert? I like both.

What was your first trick? It was a kickflip.

What was the craziest thing you have ever done? I tried to ollie the North Broadmore Gap. Did you land it? No. What’s your favorite trick? Varial Heel What’s the dumbest thing you have ever done? I would say bombing parking lots at night with no lights! [Laughs] What’s your favorite deck setup?

That would be an 8.5 Zero with 149 Indys (Hollow Points), Spitfire Wheels (54mm), Shake Junk bearings, and Shake Junk Grip.

Who encourages you to skate? All of my friends encourage me. In regards to pros, it would be Jamie Thomas and Reynolds.

What are going to do after high school? I want to get into photography and own a restaurant.

Nose Slide

Do you want to go to college? Yes What advice do you give beginners?

Keep skating, don’t quit and try your best.

What do you think about the El Paso skate scene?

I love it. It’s like a small town. Everyone knows each other.

You are right. That’s what I like about it.

What do you think we need at this park (Don Haskins Skate Park)?

We need lights, some places to eat and some WIFI! If you were on a pro team, which one would it be?

I would like to join Zero.

Which places would you like to visit?

I like Chicago, Philadelphia and Barcelona.

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FS Shuvit

CHRIS MALAGON

What do you do when you wake up in the morning?

On weekends, I wake up, shower, eat breakfast, and watch some videos (Baker 3).

Do you like to skate the streets or the skate parks?

If I’m with my friends, I like to skate the streets. However, on a normal day, I’m at the skatepark.

Who is the best skater in El Paso?

Kyle Odom, Diego Alvarado, and the GBHF team (Luis, Humberto, Marcos).

On a level of 1 to 10, beginner level being 1 and advanced being 10, what level do you consider yourself? I’m a 4.

Wow, I have seen a lot of skaters and you are pretty good bro.

However, if you compare yourself to a pro, then, yes.

Who’s your favorite band?

The Wu Tang Clan!

Do you like to skate the streets or the skate parks?

If I’m with my friends, I like to skate the streets. However, on a normal day, I’m at the skatepark.

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Leo Carrillo hanging out at the Town of Anthony Skate Park.

Trey Flip

Photo by FS Jezreel BluntLasala Slide 14

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Rico Medina

Boardslide 16

REUP Clothing Co. Keep Ya Game Up! Photo

by Louie Alfaro Photo

by Crooks Skate Shop 17

Downtown El Paso, Texas

El Paso’s Best Eats: Want a good place to eat in downtown El Paso? Try La Malinche. Order your favorite Mexican plate or your favorite burrito. Eating there is described as authentic Mexican home cooking.

Location: La Malinche 301 Texas Ave. El Paso, Tx 79901

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Eli

Photo by Jezreel Lasala

ALf aro

Nose Grab 19

The good old days!

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http://elephantbrandskateboards.com Elephant Skateboards, 1751 Placenta Ave., Costa Mesa, Ca 92627, Ph: 949-515-6209, Fx: 949-515-6290 21

TRISTAN MARRUFO Do you skate street or vert? Both What was your first trick?

It was an Ollie Fakie Shuvit.

Where can you be found skating?

I usually hang around the Las Cruces, Sunland Park Plaza, and the Town of Anthony skateparks.

Are you on a Team? Yes, I’m on the Cronic Boyz skate team.

Where were you Born? I was born in El Paso, Tx How long have you been skating?

I’ve been skating about 6 Years.

How old are you? I’m 17 years old.

Do you skate regular or goofy? I skate regular

In regards to the El Paso skate scene, what do you think we need?

If you had an opportunity to join a pro skate team, which one would it be?

Well, we need better parks, more deDeathWish, Skate Junk, and/or Baker mos, more skate shops and a communi- What do you want to do after High School? ty based organization that can help us I want to go to college and become a professor. promote skateboarding.

That’s brilliant Bro!

We need pros to visit El Paso.

Speaking of Pros?

Circa is coming to the Crooks Skate shop in November.

I used to skate Circa shoes when I started but, now, I use NIKE Janoski.

Why do you like them?

They are bad ass! That’s all I have to say!

Who is your favorite pro?

I like Jim Greco, Chris Haslam, Orlando Rivera, and Billy Martin.

Who is the best skater in El Paso?

Diego Alvarado In Las Cruces, it’s Tim Navarette.

There are some other great skaters that need to be recognized. They are Chris Ponse, Daniel Ortiz, Sam Almanza, Josh Spencer, Josh Daughty and Kevin Lozano.

I heard that Diego was on his way to California.

I think he is doing a demo for ZFlex. Did you know he is sponsored by ZFLEX? Really? Cool!

How long do your decks and shoes usually last?

They are good for about a month.

However, I put “Shoe Goo” on the inside and outside of the shoe. This makes them last a longer.

What are your skating goals?

I want to go pro, own my own skate shop and build a skate park in the Upper Valley. Oh, I also want to setup my own back yard skate park.

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What are you currently working on?

I’ve been working on a 360 Indy off the ramp.

What do you think about the El Paso skate scene?

It’s bad ass and getting better.

Have you gone to any skate parks outside of Texas?

I’ve been to several parks in Missouri, San Diego and Arizona.

How do they compare to the ones in our area?

They are better. I like the Pine Valley Skate Park in Missouri. It has a bad ass bowl.

This past summer, I saw a skate demo at the park. It was amazing!

Any Ad

vice to b eginner Just kee s? p skatin g an d d on’t giv e up!

Boneless 23

Fakie FS 180

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Ben Cru z

Ben retired from skateboarding about 6 years ago. We decided to lend him one of our decks and he skated like a pro.

Once a skater, always a skater!

Heel Flip 25

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This skate park is located on the Westside of El Paso, Texas. It had just rained when we arrived.

It’s not a bad park. The half pipe is awesome!

Issac Flores

Gallegos Skate Park Location: 7361 Bosque Rd. Canutillo, TX 79834

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S2S Indoor Skateboarding Concert Session Following a highly successful Youth Daze Video release at the Sandbox last year, Snake 2 Skate hosted another indoor session this year. The indoor skating/ concerts have proven to be a big hit during the summer.

Rails, grind boxes, and a mini ramp were just a few obstacles that were part of the event.

The entry fee was a mere $5 bucks.

The skaters showed the best they had and enjoyed their passion for skateboarding.

I’ve been catching these events and let me tell you, if you think you’ve got the skills to dazzle on your wheels ,then, this is your calling.

We can’t wait for the next event!

Skate On!

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Gabriel Vasquez Birthday: March 8, 1996

ia v i d Val

Birthplace: El Paso, Texas

ul a R Skate Type: Vert Skate Stance: Goofy

Can be Seen at: Carolina Favorite Pros Past & Present: John Cardiel & Omar Hassan Bio: When Gabriel was 12, his brother skated frequently. He took up the sport and loved it. Even after his brother quit. His first board was a Speed Demon from Zumiez. The first trick he accomplished was the kick flip. The craziest thing he ever tried was a Miller Flip frontside 360 handflip. Amazingly, he landed it, but at the last second, lost the board. Once, he broke his collar bone by trying to ollie up the box. He didn't know how to get off, froze up and fell flat.

Gabriel is friendly to all and is encouraged and supported by everyone that meets him. He is a great skater with a great attitude.

Photo by Louie Alfaro 30

The Boys and Girls Skate Park. It is located at 811 S. Florence Street, El Paso, Tx ( The Segundo Barrio).

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Kickflip Boardslide 32

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Kick Flip 8 Stair 33

G

o Skateboarding Day is an annual celebration to promote skateboarding by the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC). It originated from the “No Skateboarding” signs, hence “Go Skateboarding” by local skaters. 5 Boro Skateboards founder/owner Steve Rodriguez started the “Go Skateboarding Day” in NYC, it was originally named The All City Skate Jam.

LES Coleman Skatepark Chinatown, Lower East Side Manhattan

By Lori George

Photo by T. Naser 34

Photo by Jessie (Crooks) 35

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5-0 Tailslide 37

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Eli A lfaro

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Skateboarding was born around the 1950’s when surfers wanted to ride something when the waves were flat and calm. Since then, skateboarding has become a phenomenon. From clothing lines to designer boards and shoes and even its own section in the X games, skateboarding has really come to be a popular and serious sports.

With its rise in popularity, a demand for skate parks has also risen in communities all over the states. Skateboarders in El Paso had call for celebration in June as the largest skate park in the region was opened on the northeast side of town. 25,000 square feet is now available to skaters from all over El Paso. This is not simply a luxury or a tool for skaters to get better at their craft, skate parks do so much more than that.

Often times skate parks have been stereotyped as dangerous places that are filled with a certain crowd that people should steer clear from. Nothing could be further from the truth. One might meet the occasional bully or introvert but each skater is there for a purpose. They are there to hone their skills, to practice more dangerous tricks to take them to the next level, and of course to show off what skills they have.

This brings me to the point I am trying to make. Skate parks are a place to help build community and self confidence in each and every individual that uses them. In a 2004 report by the Local Government of Queensland stated that: Skate facilities are not just recreational facilities in the same way that tennis courts are. Well designed and managed skate facilities will become a hub for community life ...A skate facility can be a catalyst for healthy community life in which young and old socialize, have fun, develop new skills, make new friends, hang out and much more (Local Government Association of Queensland).

Skate parks are often times a home away from home for skaters. This is the place they come to, to relive stress, to socialize with their friends, to form bonds with other skaters, to network, etc. Some might argue that there is no adult supervision at a skate park and so those who are there are free to do what they want, say what they want and act as unruly as they want. However, this unsupervised palace of freedom may be helping teens to develop their social skills as well as giving them some autonomy. There may be a lack of adult supervision however, -ask any skater, there are unwritten rules and laws that you follow. What does this do for an adolescent who is still trying to figure out who he/she is? It shows them self-regulation; it shows them how to cooperate, and how to negotiate with their peers.

Instead of stereotyping skate parks and giving them a bad reputation, it is time that we look at the positive aspects. The city of El Paso has a total of ten skate parks and seven in its surrounding counties that are being used on the regular basis by El Paso’s skaters. The next time you pass by a skate park do no shudder at the thought of who might be there, be thankful that there is a place where El Paso teens and young adults get together and form a single community with goals: to practice, to get better at skating, and to boost their as well as other’s self confidence. Viva the skate park!

By Pricilla Duran 41

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Ollie 44

Photos by Louie Alfaro 45

in s k s Ha n er t o n D Ce n The o ati e r ec) c e R R e (Th

Photos by Louie Alfaro 46

Ma ceo Ca lde ron

Laidback Boardslide 47

la e r a V l e u Mig

Frontside Indy Grab

Bridger Ackley 48

Next Issue Circa Skate Team

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Noseslide 51

Leo Carillo

Ollie Over Barrel!

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Photos by Louie Alfaro 53

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0 Lights

It ‘s dark and we are at the Town of Anthony skate park. The local skaters point out that the park needs lights.

What do we do?

Well, iSkate Mag decided to take some action. We contacted Mr. Ben Romero (Town Councilman) and we talked to him about the problem. We said “What the hell” we got nothing to lose. Lets go talk to Ben.

As it turned out, Mr. Ben Romero took up the challenge and started working with several local companies in regards to the lights. Within a few months, the new lights and the light polls were being installed at the local park! Wow! Big THANK YOU to Mr. Ben Romero, Tri State Electric, El Paso Electric and The Town of Anthony for helping us with this project.

Photos by Louie Alfaro 55

Tris ten

The 2014 SKATE competition held in Anthony, Texas.

Who won?

Tristen!

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Ton y

Promoting Skateboarding In our ongoing quest to promote skateboarding, We donated this deck to Mr. Tony. He is a dedicated skateboarder and an awesome dude!

Skate On! 57

Ollie over Rail!

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Photo by Louie Alfaro 59

Emily Hardtke at Barrio Skate Shop 60