Skating scene

If you want to talk shop about the most skilled skaters in town, you won’t get far without these names coming up in the conversation. Check these quick hits on who gets the props.

Nich Kunz, 20

Theme song: “Working In A Coal Mine,” Lee Dorsey

Favorite breakfast cereal: “Fruity Pebbles”

First skate: “Just seeing kids around my neighborhood skateboarding looked fun, and it was. I was 12 or 13.”

Sponsor status: “Sponsored by Spirit Skate Shop, Ezekiel Clothing, Bones Wheels, Vox Footwear and Force Trucks.”

Battleground: “Anywhere with good friends. Probably the parks in Montana, all the Dreamland creations.”

The local skate scene: “Diminishing. Always goes in cycles, but due to the city allowing our skate park to be a lawless area, a lot less kids are able to skate down there. The people that do skate are rippin’, though.”

Worst injury?: “Torn meniscus. Bleh.”

“When I’m not skateboarding I’m probably…”: “Not very stoked.”

Favorite finishing move: “Magnum.”

Charles Wray, 21

Theme song: “Do You Know the Muffin Man”

Favorite breakfast cereal: “Cinnamon Toast Crunch”

First skate: “I started seriously skating in eighth grade. It has been ruling my mind and destroying my knees ever since.”

Sponsor status: “Independent. I film skateboarding and edit videos, so I don’t have the stress of sponsorship. I get to roll around joyfully pushing the red button and recording those who actually possess the talent, and then later organize and consolidate the recordings into a coherent account.”

Favorite place to skate: “The ‘S’ ledges in Tacoma will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Local skate scene: “I enjoy it, but like any place it gets stale if you skate the same spots all the time. The meet-up point for everyone is always downtown at Spirit Skate Shop or at the skate park, which are only a block apart. Everyone’s always down there and there’s always someone you know around. Sadly the skate park also draws a lot of less savory characters who aren’t there to skateboard. Other than that, though, the scene is awesome and most people know each other somewhat, so it makes for a nice family atmosphere.”

Worst injury: “Anytime I take on Bobby at an eating contest. He’s ayo for mayo.”

“When I’m not skateboarding I’m probably…”: “Either thinking about it, editing footage of it or creating art.”

Favorite finishing move: “Leaving steady-shot on.”

Ruben Villarreal, 27

Theme song: “The Next Level,” by Tha Alkaholiks

Favorite breakfast cereal: “Pabst”

First skate: “Me and my friend saw some guy skateboarding, and we ended up putting our money together and buying a board from him for $11. It was supposed to be both of ours, but I kept it.”

Battleground: “The world. … Anywhere as long as there is cement, and I can push on it.”

Sponsor status: “Independent, but Spirit helps me out.”

The local skate scene : “A wash out. A select few take it seriously as a means of staying sane, then you have these kids that are into it because they see it on TV. Also, I wish people here were more positive. They might see some kid in beat up clothes and a crusty board and write him off. It’s not just about having a board under your feet anymore.”

Worst injury: “Bombing a hill, I broke my wrist and scabbed up the whole side of my face.”

“When I’m not skateboarding I’m probably…”: “Working shows for Platform Booking. Go to shows!”

Favorite finishing move: “Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, a, b, a, b, select, start.”

Brent Royce, 31

Theme song: “Girls In My Closet,” The Holyshitrs

Favorite breakfast cereal: “I don’t eat cereal.”

First skate: “The movie ‘Back to the Future.’ “

Sponsor status: “Dwindle Dist. Volcom, L77 Board Shop, Gromshop.com.”

Battleground: “D.O.S. in Portland – when it’s raining.”

The local skate scene: “There needs to be more of a scene out here for how much there is to skate in this town. We all need to get together and make it happen. I love to skate, and I don’t care how you skate, or what you like to skate, let’s just go have some fun.”

Worst injury: “Split knee cap, ribs, wrists, whatever – it’s all bad.”

When I’m not skating I’m probably…”: “Working at Zumiez.”

Favorite finishing move: “The swirl with a slight hair pull.”