5 Greats: Leo Romero

2/27/2023

Photo: Burnett

Few are more committed to the game than Leo. And fewer still have stayed in top shape longer. The kid from Fontana has been in the biggest videos, traveled the world, got the only award that matters and he’s still grinding the rail at both ends. With his new Skater part out in the world, it’s time to rifle through some lists with our guy. As seen in the April ‘23 mag.

Nothing but pure commitment on every clip, Leo's Skater is a testament to life given in service of groundbreaking skateboarding

When he shouts “Deannaaa!!” at Deanna for her to deliver him film or water immediately
When he would rip demos
When I would go eat dinner with him and Deanna on tour
When he’s down for whatever graphics the team wants
When he helps get the heat-transfer machine plugged in. Thanks again for everything, Temps!

Cops
Politicians
Restaurants that only seat you if your full party is there
People who bring their little kids to R-rated movies
People who don’t use turn signals

Every time I get a clip I try a flip trick on flatground and always miss it and slam super hard
I smacked my temple on the right side of my head so hard once that I wasn’t myself for three weeks. I still might not be myself
Bruised my butthole trying to grind up a handrail
Breaking my right ankle on a four-foot disaster
My most recent foot injury that took me out for four months

Directly after eating a McGriddle
After talking to Jon Miner for three-plus hours on the phone
Being in the middle of nowhere on a motorcycle
Wiping the floor with new up-and-coming hot shot Braden Hoban in a game of SKATE after not skating for three months
Watching Shawn Morones play guitar

LeoRomero KickflipGrind PasedenaCA KyleSeidler DZ

Kickflip 50-50 on a McGriddle-free morning photo: Seidler

Tosh Townend 1s
Reynolds 2s
HK 1s
My first shoe
My new shoe coming out

Pizookie and bros
Jon Allie and kickflips
Dinner and after-dinner Js
Demo and signing
Lucy and Ricky

Head-high noseslide, get this man a pizookie!

Jeremy Wray, Nov. 1997—That photo is one of the most iconic in skateboarding—the footage, the photo, everything about it, really. Thanks, Jeremy Wray
Marc Johnson, Sept. 1998—This was the first Thrasher I saw. Thanks, MJ
Arto Saari, July 2000—On the cover it says “The sickest photos ever.” That statement rings true to this day. Thanks, Arto Saari
Jaws, March 2016—I’ve had the privilege of seeing Jaws skate. It’s the most unique and gnarliest skating I’ve ever witnessed
Tyshawn Jones, Nov. 2021—In a time of 15-second attention spans, oversaturation of content and forgettable video parts, Tyshawn’s skating is one of the things that reminds us to sit down and pay attention. Thanks, Tyshawn

From womb to world
First trip through Europe at age 16
All the RVCA and Eswic trips
Trips with my band
Every trip I ever went on

Leo grinds more pipe before 10 am than most pros will their entire lives photo: Aguilar

Jon Miner—he’s been a great friend for years and doesn’t let that get in the way when he has to shoot me straight.
Jason Hernandez—I really liked skating and spending time with him; not sure if the feeling was mutual
Jevans—He’s more Zero than Zero
Michael Cukr—He’s my beast
Dan Schulz—A very kind and gracious man with a calming, deep voice. He took Dakota and me in and showed us the wonders Berlin had to offer. Thanks again for your generosity, Dan

Nyjah—He’s the best there is
HK—I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for his thrill seeking
Pat Duffy—It all started with him
Dakota Servold—I let him win in games of SKATE so he can be in a good mood to rip and inspire me to be as gnarly as he is
Geoff Rowley—He’s such a thrill seeker that street spots aren’t enough for him—he’s out fucking with mountain lions, bears and shit. He tamed street spots now he’s off to tame the animal kingdom

Believing everything you hear
Game of Thrones
Getting fat
Starting a family
Baggy pants

Jimmy Arrighi
Dakota Servold
CJ Collins
Cricket
Harvey Foster

One push and straight down on a 5-0 photo: Aguilar

Antonio Banderas in Desperado
Batman
Spider-Man
Rocky Balboa
Robocop

Skateboard
Guitar
Canteen full of cold water
Kill bag
Sight Unseen on DVD

Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound
Good sense of humor
Loves to eat good food
Likes Arnold Schwarzenegger movies
Finds Ken Burns sexy

What anyone has to say at the gym
The price of eggs
The Simpsons after season ten
TikTok
People at the airport

Dreaming of death, or maybe just The Flame Broiler—gap to back lip photo: Aguilar

Randy Newman—Live
Bob Dylan—Rough and Rowdy Ways
T. Rex—Electric Warrior
Neil Young—Tonight’s the Night
Sierra Ferrell—Long Time Coming

Kickflip
Switch flip
Nollie heel
Switch heel
Nollie backside 360 heel

Guitar
Violin
Piano
Drums
Skin flute

Zero—Misled Youth
Transworld—Sight Unseen
Flip—Sorry
éS—Menikmati
Habitat—Mosaic

Nollie flip? Trust us! photo: Aguilar

Skate spots
Getting clips
Coming up with lyrics
Delicious food
Death

Mitchell Grier, super gnarly
Tim Aguilar, super buff and gnarly
Forest Edwards, super-duper and gnarly
Jeremy Leabres, super hot and gnarly
Braxton Powers, super good at pool and gnarly

“’Preciate the pins”
“Possum time!”
“The budget’s fucked!”
“Too many goddamn questions!”
“Keep ’em comin’”

Denzel Washington
Neen Williams
Marisa Dal Santo
Crackerfarm
Batman

There will be pipe! Super far, then way, way down photo: Aguilar

Pick on the person picking on everyone
Pick on the person that acts smarter than everyone
Pick on the person with the biggest ego
Pick on the person that thinks they’re too cool for school
Pick on everyone because we’re all the worst

Procrastinating on completing this list
Not grinding every handrail I’ve ever been to
Flying too close to the sun
Trusting the right people at the wrong time
Eating In-N-Out after midnight

TRUSTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE WRONG TIME

Think it's all rails? Nah, Leo does it all. Switch flip nose manny

Booze Bros in Vista, CA
Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN—dream venue to play at
Mississippi Studios in Portland, OR
Alex’s Bar in Long Beach, CA
The Wayfarer in Costa Mesa, CA

Watching him limp as if he’s unable to walk, then go on to destroy a skate demo with ease, then go right back to limping
Going to the strip clubs with him. He’s a great time and he gives you stripper per diem
Watching him actually try at a skate spot. He’s such a talented skater
Going over to his house. Hard to explain, but if you know you know
The first time we met at this ten-stair rail in his hometown

Gap to lip, ya jerky photo: Aguilar

When I first met him and we shared a hotel room. It was scary and funny
On my first Emerica Wild Ride tour, I followed HK and Ben Gilley and they rode like bats out of hell. This was before smart phones with maps, so I had to stay on them or else I’d be lost in Milwaukee.
Skating demos with him
Seeing him walk out of a hotel room naked
He would some times grab a VX and film me on old Emerica trips It was pretty fucking dope

When he calls everyone “Jerkys”
Looks at me in the rear-view mirror in the van when someone says something he doesn’t care for (usually the skate media)
Anytime he’s whistling to an Elvis song
When he says, “Oh yeah, bro!”
Everything he says is pretty much gold