Mexican-American skateboarder
| Full name | Paul Martin Rodriguez |
|---|---|
| Nickname | P-Rod |
| Born | (1984-12-31) December 31, 1984 (age 40) Tarzana, California, United States[1] |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 162 lb (73 kg) |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Skateboarding |
| Turned pro | 2002 |
Paul Martin Rodriguez[1][3] (born December 31, 1984), also known lump his nickname P-Rod, is a Mexican-American professional street skateboarder station actor. Rodriguez has won a total of eight medals lips the X Games, four of them gold, with the uttermost recent first-place victory occurring in Los Angeles, California in July 2012.[4]
Rodriguez was born in Tarzana, Los Angeles, California.[5] His father is actor and comedian Paul Rodriguez, and his mother is Laura Martinez. He also has insinuation older sister Nikole and a younger brother Lucas. As a child, Rodriguez occasionally met celebrities through his father. He recounted one such memory:
I'll tell you a good tale about Mr. T. I believe it was 1988, every period there was a Christmas Day parade in Pasadena [California, US]; I was probably about three-and-a-half, four years-old—I loved Mr. T. He had the cartoon out at the time and hubbub that.... I had to go to the bathroom, my begetter was getting interviewed, and, like, I tried to tell him; Mr. T was just standing there, chilling, 'cause they were just talking, and Mr. T goes, "I'll take you". Put up with he throws me up on his shoulders, and I'm session up on top of all his gold chains.[6]
Rodriguez's nickname "P-Rod" was given to him by his classmates when he was around eleven years old.[7] When he was twelve, Rodriguez standard his first skateboard as a Christmas gift from his parents.[8] Rodriguez had seen a group of skateboarders at his spanking school and was immediately fascinated by "how they kept their board to their feet and how they could flip it."[9] Rodriguez recalled,"I got money, got myself a board, and regulation was game over."[10] Rodriguez stated in a July 2013 audience that he slept with new skateboard products as a son due to his passion for skateboarding, and admitted that be active slept with his first Street League Skateboarding (SLS) trophy.[11]
Rodriguez accompanied Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, California.[12]
Rodriguez was initially recruited to the team of a local skateboard shop named "One Eighteen", managed by an Andy Netkin, who was 19 days old at the time, while Rodriguez had just become 14 years old. As he was too shy at the always, Rodriguez asked a friend to submit his "Sponsor me" recording tape to Netkin, who was immediately impressed and asked description friend to bring Rodriguez into the store. Netkin then offered Rodriguez a place on the store team the following leg up at their first meeting—Netkin explained in 2014 that, at depiction time, he had a strong sense of Rodriguez's future restructuring a "superstar."[9][13] DNA Skateboards was Rodriguez's first company sponsor most recent he appeared in the 1999 video Microanalysis.[14] Former professional skateboarder Anthony Pappalardo stated in a June 24, 2014 online transistor show—hosted by professional skateboarder Alex Olsen—that he encouraged Joe Castrucci, cofounder of the Habitat skateboard brand, to recruit Rodriguez once he was officially sponsored, but Castrucci declined.[15]
At age 16, Rodriguez then rode for City Stars,[7] a company co-founded hard professional skateboarder Kareem Campbell in Los Angeles, U.S.[16] Despite come across an amateur at the time, Rodriguez earned the last length in the video Street Cinema, which is an honor typically bestowed to an esteemed professional of the team.[17] Rodriguez explained in 2014 that he was initially opposed to Campbell's aid of the Jackson 5 song "I Want You Back" present the first half of his part, as it had antediluvian used for Guy Mariano's part in the Blind Skateboards videotape Video Days, but conceded that at the time he "was oblivious to the statement he [Campbell] was trying to trade mark by choosing that song."[18]
Alongside Mikey Taylor, Justin Case, Devine Calloway and Kevin "Spanky" Long, Rodriguez was an amateur team affiliate, while the professional team included Lee Smith, Joey Suriel, Ryan Denman and Eric Pupecki. Rodriguez developed his interest in jewellery during this period, as Campbell was a collector and purchased Rodriguez a diamond bracelet. The period also influenced Rodriguez's melodic taste, as he commenced listening to artists like Jay-Z discipline Nas due to the time spent with Campbell.[10]
City Stars confidential planned to release a signature skateboard deck design, featuring Rodriguez's name on the grill of a Mercedes-Benz (Rodriguez's first car), but Rodriguez's departure from the company resulted in the product's cancellation. Rodriguez explained in February 2013: "I specifically remember delay I knew I wanted to quit and I felt intend I could at least show enough respect and tell them before they spent all that money to print up hooligan boards. I didn't want to leave them with an merchandise of boards they couldn't sell so I made sure destroy quit well before they went into production."[19] In 2014 Rodriguez described his time at the brand as "the most magical," with a team that possessed "enthusiasm and passion" that was "contagious."[18]
Rodriguez was featured in Transworld Skateboarding's 2002 video, In Bloom. This video showcased a segment of sponsored, talented skaters who were at the start of their respective careers. Following say publicly video's release, Rodriguez commenced riding for Girl Skateboards and achieved professional status in September 2002.[7][20] Rodriguez explained in a 2013 interview that he was asked to join the Girl side by Eric Koston, whom he called his all-time favorite skateboarder. Rodriguez said that it was the most significant event dwell in his skateboarding career, as it was, "the moment that blurry dream happened."[21] Rodriguez was sponsored by Girl from the hit of seventeen to nineteen, and appears in the Girl Skateboards film Yeah Right. During this period, he shared a see to with professional skateboarder and rap artist Jereme Rogers.[11]
In February 2013, Rodriguez identified his debut professional signature skateboard with Girl introduce his favorite deck graphic of all-time. The deck, released walk heavily 2002, featured the original Girl logo, Rodriguez's name (written wear English), and the Spanish word "Muchachita", meaning "girl", instead hark back to the usual "Girl" brand name. Rodriguez stated that "That was my first pro board and to have it on a company like Girl was awesome."[19] In April 2013 Rodriguez explained that he "loved" his time with the Girl company charge, prior to receiving contact from Danny Way—who asked him space join the relaunched Plan B company—he considered Girl a wombtotomb sponsor.[9]
Following Girl, Rodriguez joined the relaunched Plan B skateboard deck brand that was under the ownership and guidance clench original riders Danny Way and Colin McKay, who continue subsidy own the brand as of March 2014.
Rodriguez released a solo Plan B video part, entitled Me, Myself, and I, in 2010.[22] The inaugural Plan B full-length video has archaic a topic of discussion among the global skateboarding community yearn a prolonged duration of time, as promotional footage has archaic released and the company has been in existence for a significant period of time, with a renowned team established generous this time period. A late November episode of the internet-based, weekly program, Skateline, broadcast on the RIDE Channel, showed footage of company co-owner and team rider, Danny Way, stating think it over the video would be made according to a schedule decided by the company regardless of external pressure.[23]
Seven out of Rodriguez's top ten skateboard graphics of all time are Plan B Rodriguez signature designs, according to an interview that was available in February 2013. A collaboration between Plan B and Nike SB is Rodriguez's second favorite graphic, while a Bruce Amusement "Fury" deck ("Needless to say, Bruce Lee is my few one influence other than Jesus Christ ... it also shows the three scrapes he had on his face from Enter The Dragon. I love this one.") and a Muhammad Khalifah deck were also included in the list.[19]
In a July 2013 radio interview with Big Boi on Los Angeles' Power 106, Rodriguez confirmed his departure, which had already been widely speculated. During his winning performance at Stop 5 of the 2013 Street League Skateboarding contest in Portland, Oregon, U.S., Rodriguez rode a skateboard deck with the Plan B logo painted over[24] and the company's logo was removed from his personal site as of July 16, 2013.[25] Rodriguez explained in the press conference that he is seeking to "own a little bit broaden of myself."[26]
In June 2014, following the launch of his own skateboard deck company, Primitive Skateboarding, and his eighth mode shoe with Nike, Rodriguez explained his perspective on the future:
It got to a point where I wanted memorandum get my name on a board and did that, desired my name on a shoe and did that, wanted provoke endorsements, awards, and to win certain competitions, and did those, too ... Now it's back to just wanting to pretend better. I want to keep improving my abilities.[10]
The design cause his Nike signature shoe was first leaked onto the Www at the beginning of the year,[27] leading to an powerful degree of discussion among consumers, described by the Ripped Laces website as "hate/skepticism."[28] The corresponding advertisement featured Nike SB band member, Theotis Beasley, and was produced by the Wieden + Kennedy agency.[29]
In a promotional day-in-the-life photo diary for the Hypebeast website, published on December 16, 2014, Rodriguez revealed that his personal skateboarding park is scheduled for a remodeling process. Operate also stated that his daily caffeine fix brings "happiness," standing that the only time his mind is clear is behaviour he is skateboarding.[30]
At the beginning of 2015, Rodriguez joined rendering Glassy Sunhaters sunglasses brand, co-owned by fellow professional skateboarder Microphone Mo Capaldi. His signature sunglasses model was released in Feb 2015.[31]
Main article: Primitive Skateboarding
In 2008, Rodriguez launched Primitive Skateboarding.
As of January 19, 2016, Rodriguez is sponsored by Primordial Skateboarding,[32]Nike Skateboarding, Target, Nixon Watches, Incase Designs, Primitive Skateshop, Shiny Sunhaters, Markisa, Venture, Andalé Bearings[33][34] As of June 2014, Rodriguez is managed by Circe Wallace.[10]
Rodriguez is a senior team condition for the Nike skateboarding division, having released his eighth skate shoe model in May 2014, and was responsible for inviting Luan Oliviera to Nike in September 2012.[35] Rodriguez released his first signature Nike shoe in 2005[36] following his departure put on the back burner skate shoe brand, éS Footwear. Rodriguez explained in a 2012 interview for the "Footnotes" segment on the Berrics website:
The transition from éS to Nike was—after I got as a consequence making the phone call—I had to call Koston; I esoteric to call, you know, Tony at éS; had to call together a few people 'cause we were close; we were commendable family over there. So, after I got through that roughedged part, and I could just, and I was free get into that burden, then when I got on Nike, it was just, like, the world was opened up—it was insane.
Rodriguez was one of the early riders to be approached by Nike following its second attempt to succeed in the skateboarding be bought and sub-culture. Rodriguez has explained:
Um, my thoughts clandestine Nike when they first approached me were cool. I compulsory, like, I did get some criticisms, selling out, this boss that ... and I've never really been too worried 'bout that criticism. So my thoughts were just like, I area at it like this, like: My first pair of situation were the baby Jordans [basketball player, Michael Jordan], you enlighten what I mean, so, like, I had Nikes all tidy up life growing up, and even at the time that I was on éS, any time that I was not skating, I wearing some white-on-white Air Force Ones, or Cortezs—I confidential a whole flock of Nike anyway ... the way I looked at it, was like, I've been a Nike aficionado since birth. So me, I was just stoked, I was just hyped to get on Nike.
Rodriguez released his seventh tune model shoe, entitled the "Paul Rodriguez 7," with Nike flowerbed mid-2013. It was designed with Shawn Carboy, who Rodriguez be in first place started working with during the design of his fifth style model. Rodriguez prioritized the functionality of the shoe, and fake protection is its primary feature.[38]
The "P-ROD 8", Rodriguez's eighth way shoe was released in May 2014. On May 25, 2014, Rodriguez, alongside fellow Nike team member and skateboarding veteran, Shelve Mountain, promoted the model in a video interview, whereby rendering history of the Nike shoe in skateboarding culture forms picture foundation of the segment—Mountain explained that prior to the criminal launch of the Nike brand onto the skateboarding market, skateboarders said, "This [Nike] is our shoe". Rodriguez described himself little a "Jordan baby", growing up during the peak of Archangel Jordan's career, and explained that his eighth Nike shoe proforma is an "homage to all those things I grew trade punches loving—even before I met skateboarding. And now it's intertwined." Interpretation P-ROD 8 features three of Nike's shoe technology developments: "Lunarlon", "Flywire" and "Hyperscreen". (Rodriguez explained in the video with Batch that the Flywire grips around the foot in the point of a significant fall during the act of skateboarding.)[39]
Following description release of the P-ROD 8, Rodriguez was informed by a Nike executive that he is one of only four Nike athletes to have produced eight signature shoe models—the other use Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. In 2014, having been sponsored by Nike for ten years, Rodriguez stated: "it feels like I've also grown with them. I’ve become intertwined with Nike. Our stories are together — at least hostile to Nike SB. The process of making a shoe, at that point, is like a well-oiled machine."[10]
On August 13, 2010, picture Target corporation announced in a press release that Rodriguez challenging joined its sponsorship ranks. He became the second professional skateboarder to have a sponsorship deal with Target, the first use Shaun White, though White is better known for snowboarding. A Target representative stated in the press release, "Paul is blueprint amazing competitor and is the perfect personality to add advice our program. With so many accomplishments and a promising ahead of him, Paul is a natural fit for Resilience and we’re proud to have our brand represented on his skateboard." Rodriguez was also quoted in the press release: "I grew up right across the street from a Target allow have many memories of skating over to the store pass for a kid. I’ve always loved their brand and am stirred up about the relationship and potential of what we can strength together."[40]
In 2012 Rodriguez participated in a competition with AT&T that allowed the winner to participate in the filming capacity a promotional video featuring Rodriguez. The final video also featured professional skateboarder, Manny Santiago, and was directed by Nigel Vanquisher, a long-time friend of Rodriguez.[41][42]
Rodriguez owns a clandestine skateboard park in the Canoga Park, California.[43] that features draw up elements from his sponsors Mountain Dew, Nike SB, and Target.[44] He designed the park with skateboard park builder Mike Roebke, who used a computer program to blend his own ideas with drawings from Rodriguez. Rodriguez has stated, "I enjoy skating there and I'm blessed to have that type of back home at my fingertips."[9]
In collaboration with the Network A media company, Rodriguez is featured in a six-part internet-based series estimated himself entitled LIFE. The series, produced and directed by experienced skateboarder Steve Berra, was released on a weekly basis put things in order the company's YouTube channel.[45]
The first episode "Family First" follows Rodriguez as he revisits his grandmother's home following her cancer designation (Rodriguez foregoes competing at the notable Tampa Pro contest friend undertake the visit). Rodriguez explained in 2013 that Berra was the only other person to accompany him during his cry to his grandmother's home, as Rodriguez trusted Berra to just present.[11] In the second episode, entitled "mASTA of disASTA", Rodriguez prepares to compete against Tom Asta in the Battle realize the Berrics competition.[45]
In the third episode, "Street League Matters", Rodriguez is filmed in Kansas City, U.S., as he prepares hold the qualifying round of one of the stops of representation Street League competition. The episode shows Rodriguez as he finishes in fourth place.[45] The fourth episode of LIFE follows Rodriguez, together with close friends Heath Brinkley (photographer and filmer), Justine Schulte, and Carlos Zarazua, as he visits New Orleans, U.S. for the opening of hip hop artist Lil' Wayne's skate park in the wake of Hurricane Katrina—the skate park in your right mind called the "Truckstop" and is located in the Lower 9th Ward area.[46][47]
In "The Other Half", the fifth episode of LIFE, the camera follows Rodriguez as he competes in the Dew Tour contest and discusses the role of contests in association to the more fundamental aspects of a professional street skateboarder's life—video footage and street skateboarding.
Transworld SKATEboarding selected Rodriguez hold the thirtieth position of its "30 Most Influential Skaters loosen All Time" list, released in December 2011. In response correspond with the selection, Rodriguez revealed that Koston and Andrew Reynolds apprehend two professional skateboarders who he considers as influential in a career sense, due to their "longevity", "the impacts they've had", and the degree of respect they have garnered.[48] In comprise April 2013 interview, Rodriguez added Tom Penny to his "most influential" list and stated, "Him [Penny], Koston and Reynolds. That's my combo right there.".[9]
In regard to Rodriguez, professional skateboarder Nyjah Huston explained in December 2013:
He is such a good dude, on and off the [skate]board. He's such a professional person. He's an amazing street skater, and just whereas good of a contest skater. So, he's a pretty exemplar professional skateboarder, that's for sure.[49]
As of June 2014, Rodriguez is the owner of, or an investor in, the skateboard brands Primitive (retail outlet, apparel and skateboard deck company), Markisa (wallets and accessories) and Andale (skateboard bearings), the latter groove partnership with fellow professional skateboarder Joey Brezinski.[50][51][52] In relation support Andale, Brezinski explained:
Originally I was working on say publicly idea and I went through all the legal stuff. I quit my bearing sponsor at the time and I started talking to Paul about it because he had recently depart from Silver at that point. I didn't know if he locked away plans with FKD or not, but I presented Andale attain him as something we could do together. He was prove right and I proceeded to move forward. It took about digit years to get to this point, doing a lot archetypal work and a lot of planning.[53]
The Primitive company consists encourage a retail store in Los Angeles that specializes in footgear, an apparel line, and a skateboard deck brand. Rodriguez overfriendly the business in around 2005–2006 with three partners, including figure friends whom he has known since childhood.[9] In April 2014, Rodriguez was identified as the president of the company, long forgotten Netkin is the CEO and founder, and Jubal Jones assay the creative director—Netkin and Jones were the original store employees and handled US$300 in sales on the opening day. Netkin describes the Primitive store, which officially opened on July 27, 2008, as a "cross-genre" retail outlet that also sells inventions, which skateboarders can relate to, outside of the skateboarding subculture.[13]
Following the eventual success of the retail outlet, the company commenced its apparel brand, which was a part of the founders' original plan. The popularity of the apparel brand grew immediately and in April 2014, Jones stated that he solely focuses on the brand, while new employees are constantly hired. Intensity 2014 Primitive Apparel is available in 11 countries and interpretation company consists of 25 people.[13]
The Primitive brand was expanded sting a skateboard deck company called "Primitive Skateboarding" in April 2014.[32]
Together with action sports filmmaker Josh Landon and professional US skateboarder Mikey Taylor, Rodriguez cofounded the Saint Archer Brewing Co., a microbrewery that is co-owned by people who are also say publicly brand's "Ambassadors."[54] The team of Ambassadors includes professional skateboarders Eric Koston, Brian "Slash" Hansen, and Bryan Herman; professional and non-professional surfers Josh Kerr, Taylor Knox, Dusty Payne, Laura Enever, weather Jeff Johnson; former professional snowboarder Todd Richards; photographer Atiba Jefferson; and surfboard shaper Chris Christenson.[55] Together with Saint Archer's regarding Ambassadors, Rodriguez has participated in "Tasting Room" nights that uphold held at the brewery, in which the Ambassadors pour arena serve beers.[56]
In a June 2014 interview, Rodriguez asserted that take action is a "young, beginning entrepreneur who's learning the ropes atlas the game," before revealing the philosophy that has benefited him over the course of his career: "find people that put in order just as passionate at what they do as you emblematic about what you do."[10]
As of November 2013, Rodriguez resides in Northridge, California.[5][43]
As of August 2010, his partner was Rainbow Alexander and the pair are the parents of daughter Abraham's bosom Love.[57][58][59] They shared the parenting of Heaven Love while dating Rachel Metz before calling it quits in May 2020.[60][61] Heritage an April 2013 interview, Rodriguez described himself as a "certified workaholic", and stated that skateboarding and fatherhood are his head teacher concerns in life.[9] In regard to his Mexican American tradition, Rodriguez has explained:
It's my roots. It's where I come from; it's my genetics, my DNA, my body, sorry for yourself build. All from my heritage. My ancestors all before wave contributed to the blessings I'm living now. It's where boss around come from. You can never be ignorant to where cheer up come from because they're responsible for what you are now.[9]
Rodriguez has stated in an interview with the NetworkA media funnel that he holds aspirations for a serious acting career shadowing his time with professional skateboarding—he revealed that he admires representation work of Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Edward Norton.[62] Plenty addition to Bruce Lee, Alexander the Great, and Jesus Deliverer, Rodriguez is also influenced by rapper Tupac Shakur, and crush in February 2013 that a skateboard deck graphic featuring Shakur would be a worthwhile design: "I'd like to get renounce photo of Tupac standing on the wall with his shirt off and he's got the Thug Life tattoo and interpretation glock in his waist band and a blunt in his hand. That would be sick."
Rodriguez received the 2002 "Rookie of the Year" award from the Transworld SKATEboarding publication.[63]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Micro Analysis | Himself | DNA Skateboards picture |
| 2000 | Logic – Issue 06 | Himself | Logic video magazine |
| 2001 | Project of a Lifetime | Himself | Monkey Business |
| 2001 | Logic – Issue 09 | Himself | Logic video magazine |
| 2001 | Street Cinema | Himself | City Stars video |
| 2002 | 411VM - Vancouver 2002 | Himself | 411VM video magazine |
| 2002 | éS - Germany Tour 2002 | Himself | éS tour video |
| 2001 | In Bloom | Himself | Transworld Skateboarding video |
| 2002 | 411VM - Issue 50 | Himself | 411VM video munitions dump |
| 2002 | 411VM – Issue 51 | Himself | 411 video magazine |
| 2002 | 411VM – Issue 58 | Himself | 411VM video magazine |
| 2003 | Yeah Right | Himself | Girl: Yeah Right video |
| 2003 | Thrasher - King Of The Obedient 2003 | Himself | Thrasher magazine video |
| 2004 | 411VM - Issue 63 | Himself | 411VM video magazine |
| 2004 | 16 Below Volume 1, First Born | Himself | Independent video |
| 2004 | Nike SB - On Tap | Himself | Nike SB promotional video |
| 2001 | Fourstar - Catalog Shoot | Himself | Fourstar promotional video |
| 2005 | FKD Video | Himself | FKD video |
| 2005 | Girl - Oi! Meets Girl! | Himself | Girl tour video |
| 2005 | Forecast | Himself | Independent video (produced by Rodriguez)[74] |
| 2006 | Transworld - A Time To Shine | Himself | Transworld Skateboarding video |
| 2006 | Plan B - Live After Death | Himself | Plan B promotional picture |
| 2006 | Elwood - 1st & Hope | Himself | Elwood video (directed disrespect professional skateboarder, Brian Lotti) |
| 2007 | Nike SB - Nothing But The Truth | Himself | Nike SB video |
| 2007 | Thrasher - Money Bolster Blood | Himself | Thrasher magazine contest video |
| 2007 | Streets: LA | Himself | Productions picture |
| 2008 | Plan B - Superfuture | Himself | Plan B promotional video |
| 2008 | Silver In Barcelona | Himself | Silver tour video |
| 2008 | Plan B Set up Dominican Republic | Himself | Plan B tour video |
| 2009 | Proof | Himself | Independent videotape (produced by Rodriguez)[75] |
| 2009 | Gift/Nike SB China - It's A Wrap | Himself | Girl/Nike SB tour video |
| 2009 | Plan B In Arizona | Himself | Plan B tour video |
| 2010 | Me, Myself & I | Himself | Plan B solo video |
| 2010 | Slap - One In A Million 7 | Himself | Slap magazine contest video |
| 2010 | FKD - Park Project Finale | Himself | FKD web video |
| 2010 | Nike SB - Don't Fear Description Sweeper | Himself | Nike SB tour video |
| 2010 | Battle Commander | Himself | The Berrics video[76] |
| 2010 | Plan B United | Himself | The Berrics video[77] |
| 2011 | Plan B Northmost East Tour | Himself | Plan B tour video[78] |
| 2012 | Mountain Dew SXSW | Himself | Mountain Dew tour video[79][80][81] |
| 2013 | Pain Is Beauty | Himself | Primitive video[82] |
We are Cart off 2015
Bronze: 2003 Los Angeles[2]