Raymond Alva
Raymond Alva’s photographic project has become a symbol of what skateboarding is all about. Skating is not something that anyone can just pick up. It takes time. You have to invest yourself into skateboarding to actually see it for what it is. This project has become poetic in itself due to the fact that the things I had to learn and areas I had to grow in were exactly what skaters have to deal with on the daily. Being a skater can bring on many problems. To be one though, you have to understand how to adjust to what’s thrown at you and make the most out of it. Skateboarders are constantly falling on tricks, getting thrown out of spots, and learning to find solutions to their problems, whether on a board or off. Skateboarders are often seen as standoffish, but that is only because people don’t allow themselves to learn from their viewpoint. This pushes skaters to surround themselves with people like-minded to them, creating a bond stronger than any group I’ve ever seen. Their resilience and passion is something that every skater gains eventually, but something new skaters strive for in the beginning.
“If you hang around here long enough, you’ll begin to see we’re just a bunch of skaters who wanna have fun. That’s it.”