Dickies Team at Next Up

Filmed & Edited by Luke Lutz.

Another successful celebration is in the books, as Next Up graciously welcomed the Dickies Skate Team to our Lab in Anaheim this weekend.  On days like Saturday, April 7th, the skatepark transforms into a lively and musical extravaganza, attracting youth and their families from all over the neighborhood who come to experience a skateboarding event unlike any in the community.  As always, our long-time friend and favorite master of ceremonies DJ Chente put us in the groove with his cool collection of eclectic tunes, and Ryan from Grinderz was back on the grill to nourish the crowd with the tastiest burgers in town.

It wouldn’t be a Next Up party without the rippers at the skatepark, and the Dickies riders surely didn’t disappoint. We were stoked to witness hardcore skate demos by Jamie Foy (Skater of the Year), Vincent Alvarez, Franky Villani, Zack Wallin, Jake Hayes, and Allysha Le.  After the session, we wrapped up the party indoors with a team signing and Q&A, giving the Anaheim youth a chance to bump knuckles with some of the coolest skaters in the sport.  We are blessed to afford the opportunity to expose Anaheim youth to skateboarding in such a safe and educational atmosphere, where professional skateboarders are stoked to come and help promote positive and productive lifestyles.

Skateboarding’s influence continues to grow exponentially throughout the globe, and we are thrilled to have a role in connecting youth to education through skateboarding while simultaneously giving back to the city that has supported us since the beginning.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible, including the City of Anaheim, the Dickies Team, DJ Chente, Grinderz, Stacey Portnoy, Luke Lutz, Ivan Vazquez, Greg LaRosa, and everyone involved.  We look forward to seeing the Dickies skaters again soon when they return to award three deserving Next Up students with scholarships to Woodward.  Stay tuned, and have a fantastic week!  Much love.