I stayed in town on Monday to try and get some skateboarding in and check out a Mets game with Danny Pensyl but I got wrangled into something else all together.
“All Tied Together” that is and I got in a lot more skating (actually pushing) than I bargained for . . . but it was for a good cause.
“Nike and (RED) combine to fight a Global Health Crisis, HIV/AIDS. Starting in NYC today, 24 teams will run consecutively for 120 hours through the streets of New York, London, Milan, Berlin and Paris. The last hour of each leg is open for all to run alongside the teams – giving everyone a chance to show their support, another way, on top of buying Nike’s (RED) laces.
You can follow the race, and all the people at tiedtogether2010.com – keep an eye on all the progress, and more importantly, spread the word. This is a Global Health Crisis that needs all your support, share on Facebook and Twitter, and anyway you can.
To find all the information about how you can take part please go to nikestadiums.com”
I called up Tyler Tufty our Nike SB rep randomly to see if he was still in town to skate after Maloof. He vaguely told he was skating in some benefit relay that would end at the Chelsea Piers Skatepark. I’ve been wanting to check that spot out so I rolled over only to find all the 5Boro homies out front (minus Pensyl) rocking red laces and Nike jersey that said “All Tied Together” on it.
Walked into the space to find more skaters like Brian Tucci from Washington DC and Ishod Wair hanging out in the same gear. Got bombared with questions as I walked in: “What size shirt are you?” “Do you need laces?” “Have you filled out a waiver?” “Did you get your photo taken?”
Got hooked up and sent downstairs where a photo shoot was already in progress but I was a little weirded out about shooting the with Todd Jordan, Eric Koston, Stefan Janoski and Paul Rodriguez. I don’t think they needed me in that shot.
Finally got the plan and we were to skate from Houston to Union Square where a team of bikers were going to meet up with us and pass us a red lace baton and then we were to push across town to Chelsea Piers to skate the the new park and then meet up with a team of runners who would then take the baton to another location. It was all very timed out, documented and organized.
It was a surreal experience cutting thru cabs and people with P-Rod and Koston. Plus, I was hyped the Japanese guy from Fourstar’s “Super Champion Funzone” video was riding along with us too. That dude was super chill.
Including filmers, Nike SB team managers, photographers and skaters we happened to pick up along the way cars couldn’t get by and we ran thru the streets like it was Go Skateboarding Day. We did get the boot after skating this bank spot by some security guards and an undercover cop.
By the time we got to the Chelsea Piers Skatepark my legs were cramping up and felt like jello so I spend most of the time watching those guys shred. Hunter and Andie Henrie, the Nike SB Team Managers kill it and probably skated more than most of the other guys. No, I did not see Paul Rodriguez skate any tranny either.
Eventually got a few runs in and the park definitely flowed really well- maybe too well because you had to dodge so many kids going from obstacle to obstacle. Well worth the trip though- with or without the Nike SB.
Last leg was filming our crew skating towards the joggers who would take the baton to it’s next destination all to benefit the elimination of AIDS in Africa. It was a long day but felt very cool to be a part of something that will hopefully help change the world for the better in some small way.
Check out the site and cop a pair of the (RED) laces at your nearest Nike Sportswear dealer if you have the chance.
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