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13/06/18

Through New York City on the Twister skates

When living in a metropolis like New York City, getting from point A to point B can be quite a time consuming and stressful challenge. However, skating continues to be a great solution for this commuting problem. New York City has five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. We had a chat with Rollerblade® ambassador, Ariel Surun, who hails from the Bronx and now lives in Brooklyn. Ariel lives his life on skates in NYC and knows his way around on the new Twister skates.


Q. Ariel why and how did you start skating back in the day?
A: I started roller skating at this famous skate rink in the Bronx called Skate Key when I was 10. I saw a commercial for Rollerblades and then I got a pair of inline skates. I would skate around the neighborhood and some of my friends got skates so we started to play roller hockey. I eventually found Mullaly’s Skate Park and the rest is history.

Q: Since the early days of skating, in late 80’s, the scene in NYC has been alive and kicking. Could you explain this vibe for us?
A: The NYC skate scene has always been exciting. The ability to skate a variety of different parks and street spots and skitching on cars makes any day skating in NYC an adventure. We have always had a good community of skaters which really makes it what it is.

 



Q: In the video we see you cruise through town. How are the roads for skaters? Compared to Europe where they have bike lanes.  Do you have bike lanes?
A: It’s super fun skating around NYC. The roads are 50/50 depending on what avenue or street you are skating on. We have bike lanes, but they are not that good to skate on because there are always people walking in them. There are always cars parked in them. There is definitely a potential of getting doored.

Q: The subway line of NYC never sleeps. The MTA Arts & Design the use of public transportation is encouraged with visual & performing arts. Why is it still not as appealing to use this transit?
A: The subway can sometimes be unreliable, so it can be faster to travel on skates. In the summer it can also get a bit warm and smelly on the trains.

Q: If you commute on skates, which has its advantages, do you take the same and fastest route, or try to expand your horizon and try and find new spots and areas?
A: It depends, if I’m going to work or have to be at a meeting I will skate on the fastest route, but if I’m heading back home from work or meeting up with a friend after, I will take a longer route to find new skate spots. That’s how you can find the hidden gems of skate spots.

Q: Commuting has a clear purpose: going from a to b. How often do you strap on your Twister Edge skates and just go out for ride with friends? Do you plan in advance or go with the flow?
A: In training for the skate marathon in Brooklyn, I have been meeting up with my homie to do some laps around the park. Sometimes I’ll meet up with some other friends to do some urban riding, jumping stairs or doing some wall riding.

Q: Any must knows or tips for skaters that are about to go and hit the streets of NYC?
A: Watch out for the cars. They will hit you.


Thank you Ariel for your time and the ride through NYC with your homies Eddy Chung and Augusto Castillo. We hope to continue see you, as the next generation of NYC skaters, pop up more often on our screen.