Sponsors, Video parts and Living in Cali with Ray Maldonado

In an era where skateboarders are regarded as athletes, it's no surprise to hear about all the sponsor swaps that are currently taking place. Therefore, it was refreshing to speak to Ray Maldonado as it was clear his love for skating clearly surpasses the need to be at the top of the skating community.

  The First time I heard the name Ray Maldonado was when you won the Girl Open House back in 2008, since winning that competition have you progressed in the skating world as much you would have liked?
Oh Man, 2008 seems so long ago! I think as far as my ability on a skateboard I did progress a little. I never really took my skating seriously as in I need to learn this trick or that trick. I kind of would just skate and let the progression come naturally but yeah I wish at times my skating had been up there with what people are doing nowadays.

You've filmed numerous video parts both at The Berrics and in the streets, do you enjoy filming or is it a demanding process?

Filming is fun at times and every skater that has filmed either for a big project or just a homie video knows it can be a bittersweet process. Filming for The Berrics recruit was stressful since at that time either you loved or hated the Berrics everyone would go on the site and watch their videos. So knowing it would get a lot of views I was afraid of putting out a shitty part. I think a lot of people do demand a lot from pros and ams or any average joe part you see out, but you just got to do whats fun for you and if your hyped on what you film that’s all that matters really. 

You've been repping NikeSb for while now, is this through a friend or distributor or is it a more official hook up?

Well in the beginning it started as rep flow then TM flow and I still go through the Team manager. I've been with those dudes for a long time now and even though its really not because of my skating anymore that they hook me up I think they just help a brotha out with some kicks to keep me skating. Thanks SCUBA, RICHINS, ANDY, Travis and all them Nike folks I've met.  

Do you have any other sponsorships?

As I said before I get hooked up not as a sponsorship more of a homie hook up. Just to keep me skating. Shout out to Autobahn, Nike, and Royal. Also thank you to Vern for that time sending me Bones Bearings and James Craig with boards from Dwindle. Oh and Gabe from Matix for the care packages.  

Do you think there’s a line to be drawn with sponsorships i.e. Energy Drinks, or is it all good if they’re flying you around the world for free?

Obviously skateboarding is a business and these huge corporations are trying to cash in on the market but I guess its how you market it. You see some skaters with huge logos of energy drinks or whatever crazy sponsor that has nothing to do with skating trying to brand their skaters. Other skaters have small logos stitched on the most seen places you’d probably wouldn't think which isn't an eyesore. Shit if these guys are able to make a career and retire from this when its all said and done why the hell not have an energy drink sponsor or huge corporate company that wants to throw money at you. Do what ever makes you happy.

With the backing of some sponsors, are you able to skate near enough everyday or do you have a ‘real job’ on the side?

Well its safe to say I don’t have the backing as in “Hey were going on a trip and want you to come!”  It’s just a homie hook up to keep some nice looking shoes and good boards under my feet which is more than enough for me because I never thought skating would lead up to anything that has happened to me. As of right now I don’t skate everyday as much as I would like to since now that I'm getting older and work a full time warehouse job. The mind is willing but the body is exhausted. I do make an effort to go out at least on the weekends and shred with the bros. Shout out to Tony Lopez for being trying to make me film again. 

Being a skateboarder living in California would you say you’re living the dream?

Haha. Well I’m fortunate to live in California, but living the dream I guess you can, not as a skater kid in the middle of nowhere who wishes they can skate in California and pursue skating as a career kinda of dream.  I’m content how things have turned out and now need to make a different dream living in California a reality. 

Thanks Ray any last words?

Thanks for taking the time to reach out to me! Just keep skating and stay positive. A huge thank you to everyone I've met through skating.  Really blessed and grateful for the opportunities I've had through skating.  

Catching up with Laurie Horton

Laurie Horton is perhaps an over grown baby which would explain why he constantly projects positivity and all round good vibes. You can tell he truly loves skating as his drive and willingness comes from a natural desire to better his skating rather than wanting to attract a much needed shoe sponsor. You also never quite know what you're going to get from Laurie as he sometimes drifts in and out of sessions but for this interview he definitely delivered (more than he did at Macba). Enjoy !

Hey Laurie you’re from Tattenham Corner, there’s literally nothing there, is that why you started skating?

The first time I started skating came after me and Ollie were playing Tony Hawks Proving Ground on Nintendo Wii and I was like I actually want to try this and we did, it turned out to be really cool. No one else in Tadworth and Tattenham Corner skates as it’s in the middle of nowhere.

You’re not into the whole park skating, what’s so attractive about skating through the streets of London?

It’s because its perfect, when you’re in a park everything is in certain places and it’s too neat. If you get a trick on say a crusty ledge in the streets it’s much more satisfying, plus I just love cruising down the streets, it’s liberating.

When we first started skating together you used to get so angry over tricks, you've recently mellowed out, what's triggered this change?

I’m not sure when I changed, I sound like I used to have anger issues (laughs). I use to get really frustrated when I couldn't land stuff, I’d chuck my board everywhere and then I just became a little less competitive with it. I started enjoying skating more and also when I would throw my board it would chip (laughs) and then I would have to replace it. It’s just nicer when it’s chilled.

We recently went on trip to Barcelona and became quite familiar with the scene how would you say it differs from the London scene?

It differs a lot. In London everyone sort of knows each other but just on a ‘hey how’s it going’ basis whereas in Barcelona you don’t know them but it’s like your good friends with them. Everything is way more chilled out in Barcelona. I think we got kicked out once on the trip and that was after a three hour session, everything is just more relaxed. I think it’s because the general public understands skating so you don’t get the hassle of the British public.

Everyone knows Barcelona is a skater’s paradise but what made it amazing for you?

The amount of spots that you didn't skate because there was no need because there was always a much better spot round the corner. In England you see a spot it’s not going to be perfect but you see it and think oh that’s skateable let’s have a session. It’s just so much better in Barcelona, I love it, the whole atmosphere is really sick.

Any plans to go back to Barcelona or are there other trips you’d like to go on?

I’d love to go back to Barcelona for a longer period of time. The week was the sickest week but if you went for longer you could get into the scene better you’d also progress a lot. But as far as other trips, I want to go to Paris. I’d quite like to go to Leicester just to skate with the homies (laughs). I’m really hyped on skate trips at the moment.

You study Chemistry at Cardiff University, is it true the subject hours are crazy?

Yeah, it’s still better than being in school (laughs). Some of my flatmates have like 6 hours a week whereas I have around 21 hours some weeks, it’s just really tiring. I probably missed quite a lot of my lectures last term (laughs), but I passed my first year so it’s fine.

Do you have any idea of life after University? You once said to me you didn't want to ‘leave education.....as it would involve getting a job,’ would you consider doing a Masters or PhD?

When I went to Uni I really wanted to do a Masters then a PhD but I look at it now and I don’t think it would be right for me. The reason why I think I want to stay in education is because I don’t like the idea of being stuck in a job, I’m just comfortable in education (laughs). I don’t have any idea of what I want to do after Uni.

How comes you’ve lost interest in doing a Master or PhD?

It’s hard (laughs). It’s difficult, you have to do a lot of work on your own and I never thought about that aspect of it. I was talking with my mum the other day about how if I was left to do my own project and research something I wouldn't know where to start. God knows how I’m going to do my dissertation (laughs). But I'll Cross that bridge when it comes (laughs).

In the time that I've known you, I don’t think you've been in a long term relationship. Are you saving yourself for ‘the one’ (laughs) or you've just become accustomed to the bachelor lifestyle?

(Laughs) Interesting question, yeah I guess I've not been in many relationships to be honest. There’s times when I wish I was. Recently lot’s of my friends have been getting into relationships and it’s nice to see and I’m like ah it would be quite cool if I was in a relationship but at the same time I’m like meh...

If it happens it happens...

Yeah Exactly, Exactly that!

Every time you've come round you play my piano (badly), do you play any other instruments?

Yeah I've played the guitar since I was in Year 8 so that’s about 6 or 7 years. When I started I was like this is a lot of effort but then I just really enjoyed it and now I just love playing guitar.

Have you been in any bands or are you in one at the moment?

I've played with people quite a bit but I've only ever been in one proper band. It was called Breakout but now they’re called St Douglas but I had to leave that band to go to Uni which I was really gutted about. There doing quite well at the moment, I think they are recording an album now.

Can you tell us about the origin of your nickname ‘Pig’?

Who can (laughs), I don’t even remember what skate session it originally came up in. I guess it stems from the days when we’d go skateboarding and  we’d go into the shops and everyone would buy like a drink or something and I’d come out with; two drinks, 3 bars of chocolates, some muffins and ice cream. I've bought full on Chocolate Sundaes in the middle of a session before, it’s not necessary at all (laughs). But I guess that is where the nickname ‘Pig’ comes from. I quite like it I’m glad its stuck.

I've also witnessed you being called ‘Laurol’ and ‘Grom’ is there a story behind these names?

(Laughs). Let’s not even go there (laughs). So recently we went to Brighton to see our mate Ollie whose got a house there whilst he’s at Uni and we went down and skated during the day and then went our during the evening. We were walking back with this group of girls and one of them wasn't sure I guess what my name was (laughs) and turned round and went ‘Hey Laurol’ (laughs) at which point I was like nooo that’s going to stick and unfortunately it has (laughs).

What about ‘Grom?’

(Laughs). So we were at Southbank and there was a wooden manny pad on the floor and I hit the manny pad in a line after hitting the ledge. I thought there was plenty of gap behind me so I thought yeah I’d go for the manny. But the guy behind me seemed pretty upset that I was in front of him and he was already in some temper because he couldn't land his trick. He just shouted 'Grom' at me and skated the length of Southbank a couple of times still shouting ‘Grom, Grom, Grom!’ (laughs) I wasn't really sure what to do about it so I just kept skating (laughs). Just to clear it up I’m not a 'grom' (laughs)....

....Yeah I can vouch for that. Okay let’s finish with a quickfire top 3.

Top 3 Barcelona quotes?

“I feel like a seal” – Tim

“The Barcelona bear comes out the television” – Laurie/Tim

“You’re all about the hype”- Random drunk girl

Top 3 European skaters

Madars Apse

Nassim Guammaz

Benny Fairfax

Top 3 Spots

St Pauls (London)

Paral-Lel (Barcelona)

Forum (Barcelona)

Top 3 Musicians

Metallica

Slash

Stereophonics

Top 3 skate tricks witnessed

Pop shuv nose manny nollie bigspin out at Paral-Lel

Fakie Bigflip manny at Paral-Lel

Milton Martinez seshing Macba 3 block

Top 3 things to look forward too?

Future skate trips

InterRailing round Europe

Finishing the Barcelona Edit

Any last word?

Thank you very much (laughs).