Art on display at Red Alert

Art on display at Red Alert

So what’s it like growing up skating in Jersey? Do you feel all the spots are really as bad as everyone says they are?
I mean for the most part I skated a lot of parks when I was younger. But the spots are definitely sick in Jersey. Everything’s haggard but that’s what makes it unique. Not everyone can deal with our spots, but we can deal with anything.

Of all those haggard spots where’s your favorite local spot?
I don’t have really one specific spot, but Trenton has the best spots around here. I live in Millstone, and that’s farmland country. So I have to travel to skate anything good, streetwise.

Millstone is the middle of nowhere man, How did you end up getting involved in skating?
I was around 11 and these two kids I went to middle school with were skating outside the gym one day after school when I had basketball practice. I skipped out for a second and asked one of them if I could ride their board. They let me and I rode it to a curb and tried to ollie off it. I just jumped in the air and the board stayed on the curb. I haven’t been able to put it down since.

That’s the way it should be! What happened to your knee? I heard you’re like back from the dead or something…
I tore my ACL in my right knee twice, recently, it was like one after the other. Once in June of 2008 and again in 2010. I was out for so long after the first tear, lost a bunch of sponsors, and had to start all over again. Right when I was getting back into the swing of things it tore again. The second time my doctor did this blood infusion so it would speed up the healing process and make it stronger. Hopefully it worked this time, so far so good you know?

I hope so man, does that relate to this “Pro Shop” curse I’m always hearing about?
(Laughs) Yeah that’s just a little joke we have going on. The date of my first ACL tear is June 11, 2008. On June 11, 2010 my good buddy Chris tore his ACL. He rides for Pro Shop too, and we just don’t skate on June 11th anymore. No real curse, just weird sh*t man.

Who are your biggest influences? Who gets you the most stoked to go skate?
Oh man, there’s so many good skaters that get me hyped, but I’d rather get hyped off my friends than watching some video part. I love it when everyone I skate with just feeds off each other and pushes each other. That’s the best.

You can always count on the homies to get you stoked. What are you looking forward to in skateboarding?
I’m really looking forward to Skatenugg. It’s my friends company he’s starting up but he’s definitely going about it the right way trying to get all the legal stuff done and do it proper. Unlike most new companies that just make shirts and try to sell them; he’s trying to make everything legit, so I’m hyped on that. Especially since he lives in Jersey. I’m also looking forward to Nick Merlino’s part in the Foundation Video. Nick has been a long time homie and also rides for RPM.

That’s rad, we need more companies that are doing things for real, who’s currently sponsoring you?
Pro Skateboard Shop, RPM, Skatenugg, and DC Shoes (flow).

That’s a sick Thrasher tattoo on your arm, what’s the deal with that?
Ah, Dude no real cool story behind it, I’m just gunna go with Thrasher is sick and it was a dare. (laughs)

Did you put the “666″ in the forehead of the skate-goat?
Yeah. (laughs) It came out sick. But that doesn’t mean I worship the devil or anything. Sometimes people get freaked out and think that when they see the Thrasher tat. But really, come on..Its just a tattoo (laughs)

Everyone takes everything way too seriously. Who’s the most underrated skater you’re stoked on right now?
James Pitonyak out of Hamilton, NJ. For real, he’s so good and gets no credit.

Anyone you would like to thank?
My family, Bob Losito, Bob Taurosa, Kym Nadonely, Ronnie Flash Gordon, everyone that I skate with, Princeton Orthopedic Association, Dan Eskes, Brian Grande and Kevin Gomez, Rob Antonucci, and Slayer.

By: Frankie Lopes

Whether he’s making beats for “Quim-Time” or skating the streets of New York, Quim Cardona is still showing the true blood of the East Coast skate community. Although the days of Eastern Exposure are over, Quim has kept himself involved in skateboarding as much as any other legend has. Smiling on the companies who helped him to the top and keeping a watchful eye on those still on the rise.
Quim grew up skating in an era that almost seems prehistoric to kids today. Quim stated, “If we wanted to film each other we would have to go rent a VHS camera and take turns with it. We were lucky if someone’s older brother would drive us around from spot to spot.”
Quim’s trip to California in 1994 to visit Matt Fields in San Francisco gave him the exposure to Real Skateboards that turned him pro at such a young age.
“We skated with Tommy G and Jim Thebo at Wallenberg and we just busted ya know? They started sending us boards when we got home and by ‘96 in my senior year of high school I turned pro, it all happened so fast.”
“Kids have to learn that skating isn’t about being in one place, it’s about going to different parts of the city. Take your whole crew and hop on a train and find something new to skate.” Quim’s roots lie deep within New York City; the never-ending search for untouched skate spots is his past time. “When people go to skate spots, they go to spots they see other skaters doing tricks on, but us, we’re looking for spots that no one else has ever found. To this day, there are still spots that no one has found, that’s what I’m out looking for.”
Finding spots isn’t the only thing that keeps Quim busy, being the brand manager of his up and coming accessory company “Ministaz” keeps his hands more than full. Producing high quality headphones and making positive tunes to skate to has become Quim’s top priority. “I’m making conscious music, I don’t talk about drugs or anything like that. I understand everyone has their grind but I’m focusing on making the kind of music that will keep people motivated to skate. For the past 10 years I’ve been keeping my music to myself and cultivating it and I’m finally ready to share it”
Check out ministaz.com and show some support for our local legend. Snag a pair of Ministaz headphones and download a few positive tunes to skate to. Take Quims’ advice; “Grab your crew, hop a few trains and find a new place to skate!”
By: Frankie Lopes

Tampa AM 2011: Live Webcast on December 4 at Noon EST from Skatepark of Tampa on Vimeo.