Art of Rolling Magazine issue 2

Issue Two April 2009

This Issue:John StephensEvan GrimballRuben PerezJames PerezJon Ortiz

A Glimpse into NYC’s

New York is famous for being busy and most New Yorkers eat on the run. What do you think is the food spot that you would go to after a tir-ing session?

The food I would go eat after a dope session is probably a nice cooked meal back at home. Unfor-tunately, I don’t have that so ill say the dollar spot pizza near perfect ledges!

Where are some of the best spots to hang out and skate?The best spot for me to chill and skate with a cou-ple of heads is downtown. We got marble ledges, battery park, the Brooklyn banks. and a couple of little spots on the way. They’re mad ill too by the way man.

What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t skating?If I wasn’t skating man, I think I’ll be out being a mad bum bruh. But I’m in church most of my time. If I’m not in church, I’m in school so ill probably be doing that. But I thank God man because by his mercy he gave me a nice gift, so if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be skating.

In a few sentences, what does it mean to be a NYC skater? To me being a NYC skater is be-ing a humble dude with nice steez, nice tricks, being cool with every-one and not hate at all. If your from NYC you gotta’ have beat up skates man! Haha, I know I do!! You gotta’ let skating do the talking not your skates man.Don’t hate man show love, support each other, give props and I’ll give big ups to every NYC skater out there. Keep doing yah thing bros and skate for the love of it!

James PerezThis month’s Art of Rolling’s

up-and-coming

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savannah

Savannah on a chilly night

BS Savannah

Table of ContentsFeatured Interviews:John Stephens p. 7Evan Grimball p. 11Ruben Perez p. 15

April’s Up and Coming:James Perez p. 2

April’s Featured ‘Legend’:Jon Ortiz p. 21

Montage p. 5 & 19

Article:Tri-State Skate Shop Grand Opening p. 3:

Cover Art:Frank D’Angelo

Photography:Angelo Ferrer

Produced and Edited by: Layla Quinones and Angelo FerrerArt Of Rolling 1

Tri-State Skate Shop

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Gregory Kieffer

For more information about this skate shop, visit

http://www.tristateskate.blogspot.com

Saturday March 14 was the grand opening of the Tri-state Skate Shop, a brand new rollerblading skate shop on top of Drop-In Skate Park. This shop is owned by a skater and run by skaters; there is nothing better than to buy new skate parts and test them out at the skate park underneath. Although Drop-In Skate Park is predominantly a skateboard park, it is always appreciated to see signs of rollerblading now being available. Owned by Gregory Kieffer, the Tri-state Skate shop has a variety of frames, skates, wheels, clothing, magazines, and videos available for skaters.

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Trent- 540

Angelo Ferrer- stall Grab 180 flat

Ramelle Knight- T

TS Acid

Alex Nunez B

ackslinde

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or Johnson- FS torque

Greg Sturin

o- Topside n

egative mistr

ial

Will Hoover-

180 over fence Jose H

enriquez-

Mute

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Unknown - fishbrain

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Makio Wall ride

John StephensWithin the last few years, John Stephens has exploded onto the New York City skate scene and has become an icon for the new generation of skaters to come. John has a extreme dedication for rollerblading and is shredding the streets of New York with immeasurable talent. With this, John Stephens has emerged from the Bronx, NY as one of the finest rollerbladers New York has to offer.

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Interview with

Makio

Where are your favorite skate spots in New York?The Pitt & School Rail are the only spots that I can think of right now. I’m pretty sure there’s a few more.

Finally, what is your favorite trick? Fishbrains, because I do them on anything but I like them all; except for alley-oop mizous!Zero spin mizous’ are cool in my book though.

How long have you been skating?I’ve been skating ever since I had the Fisher Price Quads.You do the research (lol).

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Have you ever broken any bones?None that I know of, but I’ve had a few pretty good falls. I can remember a few sprains here and there but nothing major. I sprained my ankle about three times and my wrist about 5 times. I hurt the ligaments in my elbow when I started skating serious back in 2001.

If you were to tell someone about your skat-ing, how could you best sum it up?That’s a good question, umm...in that case you should answer this one for me (lol). One thing I do have to say is that it’s FAST.

Where do you see yourself skate wise in the next 5 years or so?Wherever God allows me to go with this.

Torque Cross Grab

Who are some of your sponsors? B Unique & Co.DipSkateFlatline SkateshopSkeptic MediaEvotekShout out to all the NY Based Companies such as IRollNY just to name one.

What does it mean to you to be a New York skater?Well to me, we are the trend setters in the game. Almost every style you can think of came from us “City Boys.” I mean, we’re all very innovative in our own way, whether it’s the personality, skating, clothing, or videos and edits.

What tricks make you feel above the rest?There’s no specific trick that I can do that makes me feel above anyone. It’s the spot that I do the trick on and how well I do that makes me re-member that I’m just that nice.

How do you get yourself pumped to do a hammer?Honestly, I just tell myself to man up and get focused because I know I got this. That’s what I would tell the kids. If I’m thinking to myself, I’m saying: “Where ya balls at John, man the fu** up and do this. It’s LIGHT and I’m the one using this spot so this spot ain’t gon’ use me!”Excuse the profanity (lol) but its the truth.

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Recreational skates- AO makio

Nineteen-year-old Evan Grimball surly is a diamond in the rough. His dedication and passion for skating is seen through the energy exhibited in what he skates and how he skates. Soon to explode in the future in terms of NYC rollerblading, Evan is definitely one to keep your eyes on.How did you start skating?Well, I was a skateboarder and I washitting this ledge. My best friend Devan came with rollerblades and started grinding it mad smooth. I was like “Yo that’s ill, I’ve never seen anything like that!” So I asked him if I could try on his blades, I did my first grind and got hooked.

Who are some of your sponsors?Skeptic MediaLoyal DynastyAdiktedTri-state Skate Shop

What does it mean to you to be a NYC skater?Exclusive

180 lui-kang

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Interview with

540

Trevor Johnson- Top soul

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?Either a cop or corrections officer in the state of California. Hopefully my clothing line blows up and I wont have to do anything.

What boro do you represent in NYC?I rep. both Manhattan and the Bronx.

What is your favorite trick?Sweat stance.

How do you get yourself pumped to do a hammer?I have a play list in my I-Pod that’s titled “F*** it” and every song in there are songs that hype me up to lace hammers.

In a few words, what kind of skater are you? I think I’m a hard, smooth and solid skater.

What is your favorite spot in NYC?85th rails in Queens.

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540

How did you start skating?I skated in my country, I love skating no matter what. Then when I came here and saw kids skating, doing the s*it aggressive, I fell in love with it. I just saw it and fell in love with it.

How long have you been skating?I’ve been skating for about 17 years. I’ve been skating New York City for like 15 years.

What is your favorite thing about skating?Everything, its all freedom. You can do whatever you want. I love the rush the adrenaline, the danger, everything about it.

How do you get yourself hyped to skate?I just put my skates on, “lets do it” its skating man, it’s natural.

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Ruben Perez“That’s what I am, I consider myself a skater. It’s everything to me, I live off of skating. Everything

in my life has to do with skating.”

Ruben Perez is the type of skater who is heavily involved with influencing the youth. He is currently employed as a rollerblading instructor for elementary school children in the New York area. He is dedicated to the kids and realizes the importance of reach-ing out to the next generation in order to keep the spirit of rollerblading alive. While wearing his skates, he represents rollerblading in its true nature while using skates to skate anything and everything. He is truly the epitome of an old-school skater.

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Interview with

Pole Bonk stale grab

Savannah

In a few sentences, what does it mean to be a NYC skater?Everything really because that’s what I am, I consider myself a skater. My life is nuts, its crazy, skating is a part of my life. I live off it you know? What I’m saying is that I’ve met mad people skating, everything in my life has to do with skating in one way or another.

To me it’s just the rush of doing it, that sh** behind your head telling you you’regoing to get hurt. When you tell yourself “No I’m not, I’m going to put my skates on and do that sh**!” To live in that moment, I love it, that’s what skating is about.

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Shifty Air

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Franco Camayo- 180 wallride grab

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Kevin Cintron- Over soul

Alex Nunez- Top Soul

Ralphy Herrera- Rocket Grab

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Trevor Johnson- Fish

Adonis Taylor- Top Acid

Jaoquin Fletcher- Fast slideAngelo Ferrer- Bank stale 180

Franco Camayo- 180 wall ride grab

Jon Ortiz

LegendTHE TRUE NYC

A day with

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Bank to ao soyale

BS royale

Saftey grab transfer540 Medspin

Thank YouTo all the skaters who contributed to this zine. We will forever appreciate your skating!!!

For more photography by Angelo Ferrer go to:www.angeloferrer.com.

If you would like to be featured or contribute your work in future issues of this zine, please contact Angelo Ferrer at [email protected] are greatly appreciated.

If you would like to place an ad in future issues contact Layla Quinones at [email protected].

This is a not for profit zine created by NYC rollerbladers. Any donations or contributions are greatly appreciated and encouraged so that NYC skaters get represented to the fullest extent.

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