STEEZ MAGAZINE® – Snow, Skate, Culture

This is coming up super quick! Make a donation and help support the building of an awesome new skatepark in Rochester, NY. Click through to get to the official Roc City website and make a donation or show up on Saturday June 4th to show some love.

Granite Mayhem was last night at the new 24,000sq.ft indoor skatepark in Nashua, NH and it was awesome. The event was hosted by Renegade Skateboards and was a chill time for skaters to check out the new park and win some swag from the vendors on hand. Props to everyone who showed up. We look forward to seeing more from Granite Skate as it evolves throughout the summer.

Leave A Message Trailer from Nike 6.0 on Vimeo.

What Exactly is it that you do?
I work for Holiday Valley Resort as Terrain Park Manger and Youth Marketing Manager as well as a slew of independent projects.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Getting to shred nearly everyday, designing parks, s’updating and tweeting.

If you could go or ride anywhere in the world where would it be?
Probably Mammoth. That place just kills it on so many level. I’d love to take a heli trip someday in BC or Alaska though.
On a lighter note, whats one thing you can’t live without?
My blackberry… yep, I said it, I’m addicted.

Who’s your favorite super hero? If you could have any power in the world what would it be?
Hmm… The new Batman seems kinda cool, he parties, hangs out with hot chicks, and has a slew of gadgets. It’s a toss up between xray vision and flying, heck I’d take both.

And last but not least, whats the last thing you ate today? Was it good?
I had a breakfast plate here at work glistening with grease, washed down by a sugar free Red Bull. After all coffee is bad for you.

Internviewed by: Ben Meadows

Tell us about *AMMO* Skateboards. How did it all get started and who/when?
Thanks for asking, about 7 years ago I came up with the idea and it’s just growing in my head until I decided to share it with everyone on Jan. 1st, 2011 with the launch of the website www.AMMOUSA.com.



Where is *AMMO* based out of?
Currently home base is actually my loft in DTLA, it’s our creative space, offices, wharehouse and home. If your brand is not your home is it really worth grinding for!?!



Who’s currently on the team or “Troop” and are there any plans for expansion?
The expansion has taken place over the last 2 months, Javier Nunez and Manny Santiago have joined me as the first members of the *TROOP*.

3 generations of versatile, diverse skateboarders coming together to make something happen with their gift, their passion.

I feel a team wouldn’t properly encompass what *AMMO* stands for, so I felt the need to call it a *TROOP*. Although a bit of a military term the concept is with photographers, painters, filmers, etc. Being a part of the ARMY we are more like a *TROOP* than a team.



How was the Troop assembled? You guys are all East Coast transplants, right?
Correct, we are originally from the East Coast, I have only worked with my friends my whole life for better or worse. Manny and Javier are 2 of them that have been able to see a lot of the inner workings and what takes place at brands I am associated with and they had an appreciation for my work. So both ask me to be a part of *AMMO*, individually, at different times.

I was extremely flattered and a bit pressured by having to be responsible somewhat for their boards and growth as pro skateboarders. But if we grind side by side then you know I am gonna make stuff happen by all means necessary.



Were you guys at Tampa Pro? How was it?
Yes we were there, I felt there was no place better to announce Javier and Manny joining the *TROOP* than Tampa Pro. That is the realest event in the history of skateboarding, do your homework and you’ll see. So it only felt right to carve a little notch in history while skating at the contest.



What type of products will *AMMO* be offering down the road? Just decks and softgoods or hardware as well?
*AMMO* is a high concept surplus company. Obviously, as a skateboarder, basic skateboarding goods will be offered because you can’t reinvent the wheel you can only rebrand and market it. But you “CAN” introduce new products or twist existing ones that work better.

*AMMO* will also provide non-tangible items such as blog posts, and imagery that will stimulate others to create a better place for us to co-exist.

There will also be non-skateboard related items that just help you in life, you need certain *AMMO* for different tasks in life and I feel good design needs not to be categorized rather utilized.

You see, skateboarders are the most creative people on Earth, and if you do whats done, you’re really just a “taker”. We are gonna give back in every sense of the word.



You have a strong background in art and fashion, how much of that will we see in the *AMMO* lineup?
Thanks for acknowledging that. As the line matures it will remain relevant to our roots but grow far beyond the average skateboarding goods currently offered. There will be technically advanced and specifically designed items with features on apparel to improve function. Bringing the relevance of the brands name to the forefront *AMMO* SURPLUS COMPANY.



What are some of the other plans for *AMMO* in the future? Any videos?
We currently have a series of webisodes coming out introducing the team, there will be a second run of those for this summer and finally a one song promo for the holidays.

In between these video drops there will be other visual stimulus showing the different aspects of the brand and beginning to share some of what differentiates *AMMO* from just a skateboarding brand with a team.

We are a young modern brand and fully understand the need to share content in todays day and age, luckily we have the crew to back it up.



Any last words?
People and things can only stop you temporarily, you are the only thing that can do it permanently, endure and conquer.” Thank you…

Burlington Skatepark Redesign Committee has entered Pepsi’s Refresh Project and they need your help! The above pic is part of an amazing new plan to build the largest outdoor skatepark in New England where the current run-down skate park already is. To help vote text 106281 to 73774… or online at Pepsi Refresh. Help make the dream become a reality.

June 17th is the night you don’t wanna miss! Flyrock Records and Steez Magazine team up to host a banger concert at the Dover Brickhouse, Dover NH. $8 gets you through the door starting at 8pm with live music from DJ Myth, Eyenine, The If In Life, A Minor Revolution, PT Burnem and of course, Spose! We’ll have plenty of swag to give away too. Don’t miss this one!

Maloof is coming back to Flushing meadows in Queens June 4th and 5th and tickets are long gone. You can still win them though at one of the dozens of ticket giveaways both online and at core shops and retailers throughout the area. It;s the biggest skate comp on the east coast and you don’t wanna miss it.

Summer goods are here and our web store is the fullest it’s ever been. We’ve got a huge assortment of tee’s, hoods, wayfarers, headwear and more from both Steez and Oneoheight apparel. We’ve brought some women’s and bags back into the line too. Look for tanks and more hardgoods to drop later this month. Get ready for summer!

Sass Global Travel launched it’s new and greatly anticipated Facebook page this week. It’s a pretty sick page too and will guarantee to have all the latest and greatest SGT happenings on it. Become a fan now and they’ll take you to Argentina for some summer riding for free, via the web anyway.