LA Manny Mania took place this past Saturday in Long Beach, California and it was a great low budget, drama-free event right in the heart of downtown Long Beach.
Steve Webb (3rd Place) Bryant Chapo (1st Place) Spencer Brown (2nd Place)
Damian Loud stole the show with a course long manny. He won best trick.
This is a sign at the West LA Courthouse.
People in construction or maintenance are always coming up with ways to make a skate spot unskate-able. Here are two well-known Los Angeles skate spots that have now become hangouts, mostly.
The USC Blocks or ledges as they’ve been called, are a South LA artifact as far as skate spots go. In the 90’s this was home to many many budding stars, but now they’ve put a man-made sand gap around each ledge so it’s more difficult, but not impossible.
Malcolm Watson skates the blocks throughout this video.
WEST LA Courthouse
So many skate videos feature this location. The last one that sticks in my mind is “It’s Official” by the Kayo Corp. In Stevie Williams’ part he does two tricks on that high-ass stage. Click to 1:37 and 2:37 in the video for each trick.
Kareem Campbell’s City Stars– the brand that brought us Paul Rodriguez and Kevin Long, is back in business. Shoutout to Push Distribution.
There are too many “average Americans” nowadays. We need people in this world to do something important to better the world or just make you think about your life, and inspire you to do something to improve your life. Preston Pollard is a positive role model who can influence young people to make the right decisions in life. He has a positive outlook on life, with a little help from the good man upstairs, and enjoys spreading the positivity everywhere he goes.
My name is Preston Pollard. I was born on 6-19-88 in Anchorage, Alaska. Yeah, I said Alaska. I have been skating since I was 7. I starting taking it to the next level at the age of 14. I am now 20 years old and I reside in Los Angeles, California. This is where I feel that my dreams of being a professional skateboarder can now become a reality!
What is life like living in Alaska?
I grew up in the largest city in Alaska. It”s called Anchorage. I still have a heart for Anchorage, Alaska. When I was a kid growing up I wanted to be a professional skateboarder. However! Because of my height, people would also tell me that I should play basketball. First they got on me because they were like “You’re black! Don’t you know skateboarding is a white person’s sport?” Now, when they see me, they give me props for sticking to my passion!
In Anchorage I started to snowboard since our winters were mostly dark starting at 3.pm Then when Summer time rolled around I got into skateboarding and that was when I would skate till 1 am and it would still be sunny outside. Sounds crazy huh? But that’s Alaska for you.
What is your clothing style?
I rep “Hurley’s Clothing Company.” I like their clothing because they are relaxed clothing. They are not too tight and not too baggy!
What do you enjoy doing?
I enjoy Praising Jesus Christ. Without Him, I am nothing. I wouldn’t even be where I am today without Him!
I also in enjoy hanging out with my family in Anchorage, I love em’ so much! I enjoy going bowling, playing miniature golf, swimming at the beach, watching “Madagascar”, and going sledding. Oh! I also love to laugh a lot too.
What kind of music do you listen to?
I listen to Rap, R&B and Jazz. Right now I”m listening to Canton Jones! I also like Trip Lee, 116 Clique, Lacrae, and Kirk Franklin.
When did you start skating and what attracted you to the sport?
I started skateboarding in 1995, after walking home from my elementary school Chester Valley. I saw some skaters down my street and ever since then I’ve been skating.
What do you talk about when you do your speeches?
When I go to visit schools, I give them a testimony about my life, I tell them the bad choices and the good choices that I have made and hopefully kids can pull out the good from the bad. I want the kids to understand that they don’t have to follow certain trends to be cool. They can be themselves. I tell them, “Whatever passion you have, it can be done with working hard and networking.” People sometimes forget that the kids are the future. It’s our responsibility to be there for them and give them as much information as we can. This will help them as they continue to grow up.
What do you want people to get out of your speeches?
I am still growing up myself, but I have learned so much from many other successful people. I just don’t want to keep all this positive information to myself, so I go schools and speak to the youth.
What made you decide to move to California? And why have you chosen to live alcohol and drug free? (Props haha)
The opportunity for Skateboarding and Acting. Anchorage, Alaska is home but I had to step out in faith. Moving to California didn’t just happen overnight, It’s taken me years. I was living from here to there with people from Santee, Palmdale, the Valley, and Venice beach. I’ve be kicked out of places for reasons for “not working hard enough”. But “through it all,” I kept on praying. Now, I’m blessed to be able to live in LA. Therefore, I tell people: Don’t give up on your dreams and don’t lose faith. Just keep focus. One day, your dream will materialize.
I have chosen to live sober because I know what drinking and drugs can do to you. I knew a person who passed away partying and using cocaine. I also was raised In the church so I knew right from wrong, I decided to go my own direction but I saw that the road for me was going in to destruction. Then I decided to turn around. Since I’ve turned to Christ, things couldn’t go any better!
I went on tour with “Boarders For Christ” almost 2 years ago. We drove across the U.S. 7 times and I’ve almost been to every state. It was a blessing! We would skate and then preach the Gospel to Kids all over the U.S.
Plans for the future?
All I know is my best days are ahead! I want to skate as long as I can and reach out to as many kids as I can. If God is willing, I would like to get into acting and also write my own book.
Be on the Look out for my Jones Soda Signature bottle coming out next year! God Bless. Thanks: Maria F Baby haha. Mom Dad-AK family. Justin Pierce-My brotha Keep things pushin! Everyone that has been praying and supporting me thank you so much! Hurley Clothing, Grindking, Jones Soda, Kontrol Wheels, Neff Headwear. www.PrestonPollard.com
Preston Pollard from Samuel.h256 on Vimeo.
