P.ROD at Next UP

Filmed/Edited: Eric Iwakura — additional footage, Vinicius Tinoco.
Photos: Luke Lutz

Our top secret guest arrived just in time to slip inside unnoticed before school let out and kids on skateboards began rolling in from all directions.  With the doors shut and locked, the only way to peek inside the Lab was through a side window on the back wall if the bigger kids hoisted little Erick up on their shoulders.  Believe us, they tried.

It’s not every day that a mystery pro skater shows up at your local skate park for a private session.  In the age of YouTube and Instagram, it’s hard to keep such a secret from our team of tech-savvy teens.  In the days leading up to November 15th, lots of wishful guesses were tossed in the air.  Torey Pudwill, Andrew Reynolds, Shane O’Neill…?  No one was certain until the doors swung open at three o’clock sharp and the rush of starry-eyed young skaters flooded in to greet Paul Rodriguez, renowned professional street skateboarder, entrepreneur, and dream-chaser. 

Despite having only recently recovered from the flu, P. Rod demonstrated impressive technical skills as well as outstanding sportsmanship and positivity, encouraging our kids to land their tricks and enthusiastically granting requests for autographs and photographs from the community.  As if it wasn’t the coolest day already, Neal Unger and his famous Sissy pops and Unger flips put the cherry on top of the afternoon skate session.

Getting to meet your favorite pro skater is a huge benefit to participating at Next Up Foundation because it exposes young people to the kinds of qualities that breed success.  It was neat to have someone like Paul come and talk because he represents a distinct and rich era in skateboarding history.  He is an engaging storyteller, full of funny anecdotes from the first time he stepped on a borrowed board at 12 years old (“and landed a switch tre flip! Just kidding!”) to the time he received life advice sitting in an Chevy Impala with Ice Cube.  He had always aspired to becoming an entrepreneur and knew that in building a company he could continue to contribute to the skate community long after his physical abilities diminish.  Students always ask pro guests about their favorite tricks, pro models, and video parts, but each of Paul’s answers reiterated an important life lesson: an intelligent athlete understands that his career has a finite timeline and will prepare for the future.  Resilience, persistence, dedication, and a willingness to be uncomfortable — this is P. Rod’s recipe for success.  “I’ve still got dreams!  I want skateboarding to be the smallest thing I accomplish.”  Thank you for the inspiration and the support, Paul!  We were honored to have you at the Success Lab.

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