1.16.2012

chrome ball incident #740: the committed











"Mario Rubacabalabala..."

Early nollie innovator and Hensley cohort turned highly-respected timekeeper for several of your favorite bands, Mario Rubalcaba.

Had the pleasure of seeing Ruby Mars rip in-person a few times back in the days. Nollie blunts had us stoked!

That Tunnel of Love spot still stokes me out 20 years later.

...and speaking of mispronouncing last names, Mark Suciu is ridiculous.

Big up to long-time friend of chrome ball, ODG and the quality work he's doing on his site. Keep it going, man.

27 comments:

i wish i said...

just had a ripping curb session with mario last week. He is still ruling it!

Anonymous said...

He came and skated our local park in Burlington back when he skated for Alva. So amazing. Influenced a ton of people I grew up with.

Leiv said...

I remember seeing him rip this bowl in Chicago (indoors, some art museum on the South side) back in 99 or 2000. Ridic. He killed it.

Anonymous said...

That TWS with love tunnel cover is first skate magazine that I ever saw.
Aaah, memories :).

Chip Van Ham said...

WARIO!! Love this dude. Fuckin awesome post, Chops.

justin said...

I've always been a fan.

I saw the Black Heart Procession a long time ago now when he had done some drumming for them, but wasn't touring with the band at that point. It was a good show, but I was bummed he wasn't there.

Anonymous said...

Nicky Guerrero Pro spotlight!

Royce said...

Awesome!

Keith said...

When I was shop sponsored back in the day, probably around 95, the shop had several locations so there was this big demo we did in Montreal and they flew in a few New School guys. Mario was one of them. Honestly, nothing crazy from him. Wasn't impressed. Maybe it was an off day... who knows.

dellpatricks said...

thanks for taking requests! haha

AP said...

Wish his Physics part was online somewhere. My first "real" hardcore band got to open for 411, we were hoping to see him skating around Boston somewhere. We were driving past MIT on our way to the venue and saw some dreadlocks floating off the rough steps of the college. Sure enough it was MR ripping

Anonymous said...

hey Keith, nobody cares about your shop sponsorship. stop cool guying pro skaters.

stephen said...

That no comply wallride/tailscraper thing is rad. Cool photo for sure.

Anonymous said...

Keith, if you were shop-sponsored in '95, you're about 20 years of personal growth overdue on learning how to be not such a fucking kook.

Even if you wanted to share your "story", the little self-aggrandizing footnote of your sponsorship glory days was completely irrelevant to the tale.

Anonymous said...

Mark Suciu is amazing.

~Barney

Anonymous said...

Keith... You might as well say "you can throw a football over that mountain". Mario is sick!

Anonymous said...

O I forgot to ask, where da footy at?

Keith said...

wow.. anonymous gang up. Thanks for reading my posts and being critical lol

I was just trying to put my story in context. Sorry if some of you are bummed about the way I phrased it.

I'm not trying to Uncle Rico my life and I'm not chasing any skateboard dream. And I'm not cool guying any pros.

Anonymous said...

Mark Suciu - He's no Dylan.

Henry said...

Personally, I didn't think what Keith said was that bad. I don't care for message board shit talking. But I like hearing honest opinions, personal recollections, etc. No skateboarder is awesome every single day of their life. People are talking about Mario R.'s skateboarding 20 years later- that in itself says a lot.

stephen said...

^^^word

Unknown said...

Saw Mario play with Earthless in MPLS a year or so ago. Killed it. Talked to him at the merchandise table, cool guy.

Unknown said...

Saw Mario play with Earthless in MPLS a year or so ago. Killed it. Talked to him at the merchandise table, cool guy.

isidro said...

hey,anybody out there,please,videos Mario is on? ...from any year.
only footage ive seen from him is the "not h-street video" back in 1990.
since then and 411,ive always been a fan both of his drumming and skateboarding.at both the man rules L.A.M.F.!

STILLBIRTH said...

Grew up with Mario in Vista. We went to same school. Used to see him at old Blood Lake shows and he lived next door to the guitarist of one of my bands growing up so when we would practice he would actually come over and play some. (We were both drummers) and you can ask the man himself, i was the guy that introduced him to The Stooges.

STILLBIRTH said...

I also wanted to add that even way back when in his teens Mario was the coolest dude in the room and was always humble, genuine and real and an extraordinary drummer. He, to this day, is still one of the best all around truest people i've ever met in my life. He can do no wrong in my book. I miss the the good ol' daze in simpler times when So Cal still felt like home and there were soon to be pro skaters/surfers/musicians on every block. No joke. That whole area was thriving with beautiful talented individuals.

STILLBIRTH said...

Obviously only one "The" in there, not 2. Shit glitched and since i didn't use my google account i can't edit it.