Lenny Rivas was hard to get to. He was always doing something. Many times I lost his all black, leather lined hat in the crowd. I had to wait until he was done signing the skateboards and posters of all the fans to speak to him.
EC-Where are you from?
LR-San Diego, California.
EC-Do you still live there?
LR-I do.
EC-What’s it like growing up there? It’s a big skate scene right?
LR-Yeah, it’s a big skate scene. I grew up in the ghetto. That’s called National City. I grew up skating those streets. I still love it. It’s my hometown.
EC-Do you still live in National City?
LR-No, I had to move out. You know, I got some money so, yeah I gotta move out the hood but I’m always there. Every day. My mom lives there, family, friends. Everything. I’m always back.
EC-When did you start skating?
LR-I was like ten years old.
EC-How’d you get into it?
LR- My aunt bought me a cheap Walmart skateboard for Christmas. After that I learned a couple of tricks and started figuring out that I had cheap board so I stepped it up to a real good board. I started getting better at it by time.
EC-So your aunt got you into it randomly, and look where you are now. Does she remember that she got you the board?
LR-Oh she knows that. She’s always asking me for gear and all types of stuff. I have to pay her back.
EC-Yep, you owe her. What’s your favorite skateboarding video of all time?
LR- I will go with Fulfill the Dream, it’s a Shorty’s video. I like Brandon Turner, I grew up watching him skate. He is in jail right now. Free Brandon Turner.
EC-What are your other passions?
LR-I love music and graffiti. I love doing art. I love tagging everywhere.
EC-What are your plans when you get back?
LR-First thing I do is chill with my little man. My kid.
EC-Right, you just had a baby. How old is he now?
