June 2016
iSkatemag welcomes all editorial submissions. All letters, art, drawings and photographic material will be treated as unconditionally assigned publication and copyright purposes and subject to iSkatemag’s right to edit and comment editorially. All rights reserved on entire content: nothing may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in articles are those of the author. Any similarities between persons or places mentioned or alluded to in the fiction and real places or persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
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Editor In Chief Louie Alfaro Editor at Large Pricilla Duran Contributing Photographer Ruben Palomares Contributing Photographer Lori George
Sergio
I
Editorial
have been inspired to write an article about the Pakitu Skatepark. However, I’ve decided that I will put it in our next issue. In the meantime, I’ll be hitting up the local parks and looking for something interesting. And of course, it’ll be about my obsession, skateboarding. enough. Skate On!
Jacob Pryor
Jacob
Featured 8 S2S Skate Comp 30 Skateboarding Safety 40 Broadway Bomb, NY 60 Edwardo Carrillo 72 Pakitu Pow Wow SK8 Comp
Jacob Pryor Photo by Louie Alfaro
Snake 2 Skate Comp For years Snake 2 Skate (S2S) has promoted skateboarding in the El Paso, Tx area . They host 2 to 3 skateboarding events per year. And when they put comps together, the best of the best always show up. Why? It’s simple. The local skaters support these guys. That’s right! So, If you are in the area, go out and represent! The quality of skaters that attend these events is just amazing!
Skate On!
This picture was taken at the 2014 SKATE Championship. We should have bought one of these decks. They were only $25.00! Cool Artwork!
Nose Grab
Josh
The Blowmind Image
King Obe and Jacob Pryor
Skateboarding Safety! What? There's something undeniably cool about skateboarding, from its rebellious attitude to its larger-than-life stars like Jamie Thomas, Rob Drydek, Rodney Mullen, Ryan Sheckler, Jay Adams, Mike Vallely and Tony Hawk. It's fun, it's hip, it's a way of life. There's a good reason why skate boarding’s popularity has soared in the last few decades, and why longboarding is becoming more common. But skateboarding also can be an easy way to get hurt, particularly if you are new to skating and skate in the wrong place. Scrapes and bruises are almost a fact of skateboarding life, but broken bones and sprains are also common. I know that it’s hard to be safe on a skateboard but if you are a beginner, stick to the rules and follow these tips.
Why Is Safety Important?
It's easy to lose your balance when riding a skateboard. With every fall, there's a chance you'll be hurt and end up in an emergency room. Some of those injuries can be severe, and skateboarders have been killed by head injuries and collisions with cars. As a beginner, you are likely to get hurt. Also, since skateboarding has no age limit, it is expected that injuries will happen. In addition, experienced skaters can also get hurt. As the difficulty of tricks increases, so does the risk of injury. It does not help that rocks and poor riding surfaces are always a threat.
Gear Guidelines
It may seem like all you need to start skateboarding is a board and an attitude — until your first wipeout. Asphalt, concrete, wood, and other common riding surfaces have one thing in common: none of them is soft. Helmets are a must for all skateboarders, and so are wrist guards, pads, and proper shoes. Here are some of the things you'll need to get started: Skateboard. Make sur e you have the r ight boar d for your activity and that all of its parts are in working order. Check your board for cracks, sharp edges, damaged wheels, and loose parts before you skate. Helmet. Even though it may not look cool, get a helmet! And specifically one that is meant for skateboarding, not some other activity. Hell, Mike Vallely wears one! Look for a sticker inside the helmet saying it meets the ASTM F1492 skateboard helmet standard. All helmets should have a strong strap and buckle, and the strap should be securely fastened and snug any time you ride. Shoes. Skateboar ding is tough on shoes, feet, and ankles. Spend a little extra money and get a good pair of shoes made with leather or suede. Be sure the soles are made of grippy gum rubber, not regular shoe rubber, and that the shoes fit properly. Pads and wrist guards. Knee and elbow pads and wr ist guar ds are recommended for riders of all levels. These should have a hard plastic shield and should not hinder your movements. Make sure any pads you wear are snug without constricting your circulation. Other Gear. Hip pads (Danny Way), skateboar d gloves (Longboarders), and padded jackets and shorts are all available and offer added protection. Mouth guards are good protection against broken teeth and other mouth injuries.
Skateboarding Safety Continued! Where to Ride This may be the single most important decision you make, as far as your safety is concerned. Rough riding surfaces are responsible for more than half of skateboarding injuries. You'll probably do most of your initial skating in your own driveway, a friend's driveway, or a skate park. Wherever you ride, make sure the area is free of rocks, sticks, and other objects. Look out for potentially dangerous cracks in the surface before you ride, and make sure there is no chance of an encounter with a car. Skate parks. Obey all the r ules gover ning use of the par k, and learn proper park etiquette befor e you decide to ventur e into the park's more advanced features. Many skate parks have areas set aside for beginners. Stick to this area or somewhere similarly easy when you get started. Empty pools. If you'r e lucky enough to have per mission to use an empty pool, familiarize yourself with the pool's surface before you ride. If the pool has fallen into disrepair, it might be more hazard than fun. Streets. If you skate the str eets, inspect the ar ea befor e you r ide it. A surprise encounter with a car or a disgruntled person could end badly for you. The greatest threat to your health while skateboarding is cars. Falls hurt,
Before You Start It goes without saying that the better shape you're in, the better you'll be at all athletic activities, not just skateboarding. Eat right and exercise regularly. Warm up and stretch before you skate, especially your back, legs, and ankles. Make sure the place you plan to skate is dry. Clear the area of anything that might interfere with your wheels. Before you shove off and start skating, be sure it's your turn and that no one is in the way. Collisions can happen if skaters don't communicate.
While Riding You will fall while skateboarding. That much is a given. So: Learning how to fall properly can help reduce your chances of injury. If you start to lose your balance, crouch down so you will not have as far to fall. Try to land on the fleshy parts of your body and roll rather than breaking a fall with your arms and hands. Bigger tricks and bigger features equal bigger injuries. Once you've learned a couple of tricks, practice them a lot before you move on to more complicated maneuvers. Leave the gnarly stuff to the experts until you're experienced enough to pull it off safely. Know and practice skateboarder etiquette. If you'r e at a cr owded skate park, wait your turn instead of jumping blindly into the bowl.
A Few Other Reminders Never hitch a ride from a bicycle, car, truck, bus, or other vehicle. Don't take chances. That rail you want to slide might look cool, but is it worth breaking an ankle? Have a bailout plan and be aware of all the consequences that could happen if things go wrong. Be honest about your abilities. Don't attempt tricks that are too advanced for you. This may well save you some embarrassment as well as an injury or two. Practice what you know until you can do it in your sleep, and then move on to something new. Talk to the people at the local skateboard shop when you buy your gear. Not only can they tell you how to get the most out of your gear, they usually also know good, safe places to ride. Skateboarding is great way to have fun and feel a sense of accomplishment. There's nothing like mastering a new trick to feel a surge of selfconfidence and pride. Practice, practice, practice, and before long you'll be the one doing the kick-flips and grinds and owning the skate park!
Angel
Daniel Ortiz
Leslie
King OBE
Libi Fraire
Broadway Bomb New York Photos by Lori George
Gabriel Vasquez Birthday: March 8, 1996 Birthplace: El Paso, Texas Skate Stance: Goofy Skate Type: Vert 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.
Trey Flip
Jacob Whitt
Trinity
Jacob
Edwardo (Lalo) Carillo
Interview
What made you want to skate?
Are you on a team?
I needed to skate in order to give my bother (Leo) some competition! [Laughs]
No, I skate just for fun. How long have you been skating? I’ve skated for about 7 years. I started street skating when I was in middle school. However, in High School, I had to stop. I was busy doing other sports. When I graduated from High School, I started skating again.
I’ve seen a lot of guys get hurt doing these type of tricks.
I like doing transitions and airs.
Yes, it does happen but that is part of the game. If you get hurt, just focus on recovering and you’ll be skating in no time.
I’ve seen your aerials and they are crazy!
What size board do you use?
It’s a lot of fun.
I’ll use an 8.5 or bigger. Right now, I’m using an 8.25. I’m currently working on some flip tricks.
What type of skating do you like?
Do you use blanks or pro boards?
Are you going to school?
I like blank boards. They are cheap, have good pop and work very well. The pro boards are good but expensive.
Yes, I’m going to the UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso).
Do you like the streets or the parks? I used to skate the streets but now, I like the parks. Do you ever skate downtown El Paso?
What’s your major? I’m majoring in kinesiology and minoring in biology. What advice d you give beginners?
I’ll like skating the parking garages but I rarely go downtown.
Work on your basics and practice your Ollies. Ollie’s are the building blocks of skateboarding.
Do you skate regular or goofy?
Where can you be seen?
I skate regular.
Since I bought a car, I can be seen everywhere. [Laughs]
What kind of tricks do you like?
What should we do to improve the skate scene in El Paso?
I like Ollies. They are simple but you can go big.
We need pros, demos and more skate comps. That’s how you develop skateboarding.
What is the craziest thing that you have ever done? I did a fourteen stair at the Lake Havasu Skate Park in Arizona. It’s a bad ass park! When you started, who encouraged you to skate?
It was my older brothers. I saw them skate and I thought it was such a coolest thing. It looked like a lot of fun! Has skating kept you busy? Yes, it has given me something to do. Also, it has helped me stay out of trouble. It’s a great way to meet and hang out with friends. Who’s your favorite pro? That would be Aaron (Jaws) Homoki. Go big or go home! What do you want to do with skate boarding? I just want to continue skating and improving. It’s a lot better than playing an XBOX all day. Yes, people stay inside all day and do nothing.
Daniel Fraire Ollie
http://elephantbrandskateboards.com Elephant Skateboards, 1751 Placenta Ave., Costa Mesa, Ca 92627, Ph: 949-515-6209, Fx: 949-515-6290
J A C O B
Photo by T. Naser Dylan
Ismael
Pakitu Pow Wow Skateboarding Comp
First Place Winner El Chapo!
Photo by Louie Alfaro
Daniel Ortiz
Town of Anthony
2012 Skate Comp
Andrew Longboarder, El Paso, Tx
Leslie Boneless
Eli Madrid
Gabriel Vasquez
Daniel Ortiz
Time to Skate!
Eli Alfaro