A day with Aloe, time lapsed, doing the Surf Report… and other daily duties.

ALEJANDRO started skateboarding from the mid to late 70’s. His first board was one of those narrow plastic yellow decks with the clear polyurethane wheels. They called it the banana board. Power sliding carports and riding gutters were the thing.

About 6 months into skating, Aloe had his first taste at what it takes to build a deck. Mom ran over the banana board with her station wagon, so he and his dad built one out of a slab of wood they had lying around. They drew their shape and cut away. He can’t remember sanding it or even adding grip, just laid down some house paint and it was golden. This definitely was a time period that sparked Aloe’s interest in skateboarding.

As time went on Aloe’s interest drew toward surfing. First short boards, then longboards and eventually classic boards. But like all surfers, he was pretty bummed when the waves went flat. So his interest in skating returned once again, with a new outlook. Aloe purchased my first longboard skateboard at a skate shop in Chinatown, NYC. It just so happened to have the first torsion truck design. Carving turns truly felt like sidewalk surfing…he was hooked. Eventually, Aloe began down-hilling and learned to feel and understand my ride. This fueled his desire to seek out a premium board. Aloe eventually decided to carve my own. Many years down the road, Aloe relocated my family to Saint Augustine, FL. There, longwoodskateboards was born… and the vision to try to provide a better board. Additionally, Aloe films and edits the Surf Report.

FROM YOUR DESKS: What boards are you surfing with?

ALOE VERA: An old Lightning Bolt Twin Fin, 9′ 1,” Heavy glassed Josh Autrey, 6’7″ Ashton Swallow tail and a couple of others, the list is long.

FYD: When you get back to your desk; how long do you edit?

AV: It depends on the project. For the Surf Report about an hour… maybe.

FYD: Where is the mate from?

AV: Mom.

FYD: Is Maradona going to coach again?

AV: No, he’s on to bigger things like liberating South America from the IMF.

FYD: What are the kids skating with and how old are they; do they skate the same way you did when you were a kid?

AV: Their age varies 3 to 16 in my classes. They skate anything I bring with wheels… they skate their way… just influenced by me … maybe not.

For Aloe’s custom skateboards check Longwoodskateboards. Video and editing via the Surf Station Blog. Vimeos here.