Name: Tony Alva
Home: Santa Monica, CA
Sponsors: Alva, Vans, Indy, Hurley (wetsuits)
What shoes do you skate:
Suede, canvas, vulcanized, gum rubber sole, classic Vans, either mid or hi
What’s your set up:
Handmade custom Alva (34” X 10”) double kick with a diamond tail, 169 Indys with 16” wheel base, 61mm wheels
What’s been the best trip you’ve ever been on?
In the last couple of years, it was a trip to Santiago, Chile. The country is still so untapped when it comes to skating, surfing and music and the people there are so hungry for it, so the kids are just amped when you’re there. The people are super friendly and the countryside is amazing. It’s just a really rad place.
What is the best story you’ve ever heard or been told?
Too many…
Favorite Vans rider?
AVE, he’s so versatile and for how young he is, he’s really mature. He has a unique style and he’s a really good person overall.
What trick can’t you do that you wish you could?
No handed 360 arial but will be landing it soon.
What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?
Watch one of my friends die right in front of me and couldn’t do anything about it.
Worst trend in skateboarding right now?
Wearing your sister’s pants.
What are some interests/hobbies outside of skating?
Surfing, Music, Art and Fashion.
Last good book you read?
John Lennon biography by Philip Norman. It’s 800 pages and it’s good
5 songs that have to be on a mix tape:
Book of Rules – Heptones
In The Street – Ben Sherman
Beast of Burden – Rolling Stones
My War – Black Flag
Iagainsti – Bad Brains
Tony, what’s the classic story of you geetting busted for a joint in NYC?
Well, I was hanging with (Steve) Olson outside at a Flogging Molly show having a joint and next thing you know, these undercover vice cops busted us, put us in plastic handcuff (zipties) and threw us in the paddy wagon and drove around all night picking up vagrants and other criminals and then dropped us off at the Thumbs, which was the worst jail in NYC, then the next day the judge told us not to do it again and we went across the street to a Knicks game. Pretty bad experience for a small joint.
Got any good Playboy Mansion Stories?
No but we threw our own ragers when I lived in Malibu. We’d have these parties and invite punk bands to come and play and the cops would show up pretty quickly to shut it down, then I moved into the guest house at Dick Wolfe’s place and did it all over again. So we kind had our own thing going.
What’s the most surreal moment from your life?
Waking every morning, sober.
Ever, you know, Farrah Fawcett back in the day?
Yeah, she even came by the shop once.
Is it hard to maintain dreads as you get older?
Yeah, they get thinner and a little more raggedy but life goes.
How do you think Alfaro did portraying you in the Dogtown movie?
He did all my skating scenes and kicked ass.
You got a skate shop. Tell us about that.
The shop started in Oceanside in the 90’s and it also had an art gallery and we did all our distributing from there as well (which paid most of the bills) and then 3 years ago we moved to Los Angeles, on Fairfax in Little Ethiopia. We also have a gallery, called Exhibit A and they both been doing pretty good.
Any dudes from back in the day you thought were kooks and they’re still lurking around and still think they’re kooks?
I don’t have any resentment towards anybody but there are a few parasites in the industry, they know who they are.
What’s the secret to longevity in skateboarding?
Good health and a good attitude.
I tip my hat to you, amigo. Not a question. Just saying.
Home: Santa Monica, CA
Sponsors: Alva, Vans, Indy, Hurley (wetsuits)
What shoes do you skate:
Suede, canvas, vulcanized, gum rubber sole, classic Vans, either mid or hi
What’s your set up:
Handmade custom Alva (34” X 10”) double kick with a diamond tail, 169 Indys with 16” wheel base, 61mm wheels
What’s been the best trip you’ve ever been on?
In the last couple of years, it was a trip to Santiago, Chile. The country is still so untapped when it comes to skating, surfing and music and the people there are so hungry for it, so the kids are just amped when you’re there. The people are super friendly and the countryside is amazing. It’s just a really rad place.
What is the best story you’ve ever heard or been told?
Too many…
Favorite Vans rider?
AVE, he’s so versatile and for how young he is, he’s really mature. He has a unique style and he’s a really good person overall.
What trick can’t you do that you wish you could?
No handed 360 arial but will be landing it soon.
What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?
Watch one of my friends die right in front of me and couldn’t do anything about it.
Worst trend in skateboarding right now?
Wearing your sister’s pants.
What are some interests/hobbies outside of skating?
Surfing, Music, Art and Fashion.
Last good book you read?
John Lennon biography by Philip Norman. It’s 800 pages and it’s good
5 songs that have to be on a mix tape:
Book of Rules – Heptones
In The Street – Ben Sherman
Beast of Burden – Rolling Stones
My War – Black Flag
Iagainsti – Bad Brains
Tony, what’s the classic story of you geetting busted for a joint in NYC?
Well, I was hanging with (Steve) Olson outside at a Flogging Molly show having a joint and next thing you know, these undercover vice cops busted us, put us in plastic handcuff (zipties) and threw us in the paddy wagon and drove around all night picking up vagrants and other criminals and then dropped us off at the Thumbs, which was the worst jail in NYC, then the next day the judge told us not to do it again and we went across the street to a Knicks game. Pretty bad experience for a small joint.
Got any good Playboy Mansion Stories?
No but we threw our own ragers when I lived in Malibu. We’d have these parties and invite punk bands to come and play and the cops would show up pretty quickly to shut it down, then I moved into the guest house at Dick Wolfe’s place and did it all over again. So we kind had our own thing going.
What’s the most surreal moment from your life?
Waking every morning, sober.
Ever, you know, Farrah Fawcett back in the day?
Yeah, she even came by the shop once.
Is it hard to maintain dreads as you get older?
Yeah, they get thinner and a little more raggedy but life goes.
How do you think Alfaro did portraying you in the Dogtown movie?
He did all my skating scenes and kicked ass.
You got a skate shop. Tell us about that.
The shop started in Oceanside in the 90’s and it also had an art gallery and we did all our distributing from there as well (which paid most of the bills) and then 3 years ago we moved to Los Angeles, on Fairfax in Little Ethiopia. We also have a gallery, called Exhibit A and they both been doing pretty good.
Any dudes from back in the day you thought were kooks and they’re still lurking around and still think they’re kooks?
I don’t have any resentment towards anybody but there are a few parasites in the industry, they know who they are.
What’s the secret to longevity in skateboarding?
Good health and a good attitude.
I tip my hat to you, amigo. Not a question. Just saying.
