SAN DIEGO -- Willy Santos blends in with all the other skaters at the Rancho Penasquitos Skate Park except for two things: He's 35 years old - more than twice the age of most of the other riders, and he makes every trick look effortless, landing smoothly and cleanly.
When Santos skates, skaters stop to watch.
“I try to be a good role model out there,” Santos said. “Kids over there, if I'm at the park and they ask me about tricks, I try to assist them.”
Two decades ago, Santos was one of those kids.
Born in the Philippines where his father was stationed in the U.S. Navy, Santos moved to Mira Mesa for good in the fifth grade. As a 15 year-old he turned pro and soon became an original member of Birdhouse, the skateboarding team founded by Tony Hawk.
Santos went on to win several competitions including a world championship in street in 1997 in Munster, Germany.
As he grew older, he knew he wanted to give back to the sport, so he opened up Willy's Workshop in Rancho Penasquitos in 2000. His nephews, Justin and Jordan, work in the shop along with his wife Shalihy. Often times, his two children - two year-old Willy Jr., and six-month-old Phelisha - hang around the store too.
Santos uses Willy’s Workshop to promote skateboarding and he also started his own team, providing t-shirts and other accessories to his riders. He also tries to help his riders get other sponsors.
“For what the shops and my sponsors have done for me when I was young, I hope to do the same for kids and the locals here in San Diego,” Santos said.
Santos has skated professionally for 20 years and even though he doesn't compete anymore, he still shows his skills in videos and at the skate park.
He has also become a fundraiser, forming the Willy Santos foundation and raising money to build a public skate plaza at the Mira Mesa Recreation Center. Santos says the city is on board with the project, he just needs to raise about $300,000 to get it built.
“It will be a place for kids to not get in trouble for skating out in the streets,” Santos said. “What I see important is one day my son will be out there skating one day. It's for the future, you know. Even if I'm not able to skate the park, I'm going to make sure it happens.”
Santos will host a fundraising barbecue for the skate park at the Mira Mesa Epicenter at 8450 Mira Mesa Blvd on June 21st, also declared Go Skateboarding Day.
When Santos skates, skaters stop to watch.
“I try to be a good role model out there,” Santos said. “Kids over there, if I'm at the park and they ask me about tricks, I try to assist them.”
Two decades ago, Santos was one of those kids.
Born in the Philippines where his father was stationed in the U.S. Navy, Santos moved to Mira Mesa for good in the fifth grade. As a 15 year-old he turned pro and soon became an original member of Birdhouse, the skateboarding team founded by Tony Hawk.
Santos went on to win several competitions including a world championship in street in 1997 in Munster, Germany.
As he grew older, he knew he wanted to give back to the sport, so he opened up Willy's Workshop in Rancho Penasquitos in 2000. His nephews, Justin and Jordan, work in the shop along with his wife Shalihy. Often times, his two children - two year-old Willy Jr., and six-month-old Phelisha - hang around the store too.
Santos uses Willy’s Workshop to promote skateboarding and he also started his own team, providing t-shirts and other accessories to his riders. He also tries to help his riders get other sponsors.
“For what the shops and my sponsors have done for me when I was young, I hope to do the same for kids and the locals here in San Diego,” Santos said.
Santos has skated professionally for 20 years and even though he doesn't compete anymore, he still shows his skills in videos and at the skate park.
He has also become a fundraiser, forming the Willy Santos foundation and raising money to build a public skate plaza at the Mira Mesa Recreation Center. Santos says the city is on board with the project, he just needs to raise about $300,000 to get it built.
“It will be a place for kids to not get in trouble for skating out in the streets,” Santos said. “What I see important is one day my son will be out there skating one day. It's for the future, you know. Even if I'm not able to skate the park, I'm going to make sure it happens.”
Santos will host a fundraising barbecue for the skate park at the Mira Mesa Epicenter at 8450 Mira Mesa Blvd on June 21st, also declared Go Skateboarding Day.
