PERSON OF INTEREST

ABOVE BOARD

San Clemente skateboarding pro Ryan Sheckler discusses his new skate brand and passing the torch to the next generation. by Daniel Pearson

Tell us about your new skateboard brand, Sandlot Times. We decided that we were going to make the best board possible for the youth coming up. The fun part has been being able to let people know that this is not another collaboration. This is my brand. It’s online right now, but it’s based in San Clemente. If you come by my skate park, to enter it you have to come through the front office, which has our store.

What is your role with Camp Woodward in Pennsylvania and Woodward West in California? I’m the camp’s skateboard program designer. I want to interact with the kids. I’m not just going there to do a demo and then leave. When I was a kid, I was fortunate enough to meet all the pro skateboarders I looked up to. There were a couple who wouldn’t give me the time of day, and then there were dudes like Rodney Mullen, Mike Vallely, Chad Muska, and Tony Hawk. These guys took the time to acknowledge me. I said, “If I turn pro at skateboarding, I’m going to give my time and my attention to kids that come up to me, too”—to say, “I have time for you.”

FIND OUT MORE

sandlo imes.com

Congratulations on announcing that you’ll soon be a first-time dad! Any other exciting plans? I just released my eighth Etnies shoe. And I’m going to be competing again. I’m just super thankful. I’m thankful to Orange County for constantly supporting me, for having my back for the last— shoot, how long have I been skating now? I’ll be 33 this month, and I started skating when I was 2!

GOOD GOOD TIMES TIMES M FOR EVERYBODY