Mike Maldonado
Mike Maldonado
Mike Maldonado Photography Mazur
Words by Mazur
So what do you do when it is this cold outside? (It was ten degrees outside.)
Sit in the house! Sit in the house and take care of the dogs.
Whats up with your dogs?
Well my girlfriend and I breed mad dogs. We also rescue a lot of dogs. We are actually going to rescue a dog today.
What are you rescuing the dog from?
Well someone we had given a puppy to a few years back just cant take care of it anymore. Its, like, a problem dog or something. They were going to take it to the SPCA and we didnt want to see that happen. So we got a hold of the dude and told him wed take the dog back and find it a new home. We try our best to find good homes for all the dogs and if we cant, well just keep it here with us. We have so many dogs, so one more is no big deal.
So what do you do when it is this cold outside? (It was ten degrees outside.)
Sit in the house! Sit in the house and take care of the dogs.
Whats up with your dogs?
Well my girlfriend and I breed mad dogs. We also rescue a lot of dogs. We are actually going to rescue a dog today.
What are you rescuing the dog from?
Well someone we had given a puppy to a few years back just cant take care of it anymore. Its, like, a problem dog or something. They were going to take it to the SPCA and we didnt want to see that happen. So we got a hold of the dude and told him wed take the dog back and find it a new home. We try our best to find good homes for all the dogs and if we cant, well just keep it here with us. We have so many dogs, so one more is no big deal.
How did you get into breeding dogs?
When I met my girlfriend she was breeding pit bulls and other dogs like that. I guess it sort of started from there. Once we moved in together she didnt really want to breed pit bulls anymore, so we got into breeding American Bull dogs.
Have you always liked dogs?
Yeah. I always had dogs growing up for the most part, except for when my parents got separated. Then it was, like, you cant have a dog here, this and that. So there was a while when I didnt have any pets around. There was also a problem with me skating and traveling around all the time. It got to the point that I was traveling so much that I couldnt take care of any animals.
How did you ever get into skating?
When I was like twelve I ended up watching that movie Thrashin and thought that it looked so sick. I knew it was something I had to get into.
How was the industry back when you first started as compared to now?
Back then it was more about skating; the whole industry was underground. What money that came in from it was good, I guess. I mean, I wasnt so involved with it at that age, but from what I noticed people were just doing it to do it. It was big. You had people like Tony Hawk and a few other dudes making good money, but other heads were in it for just skating. There were a limited amount of pros because you actually had to earn it.
And now?
Now a day everyone is looking for that next Arto [Saari]. When he came out, he was, like, a young sixteen-year-old boy and was doing things that a lot of pros werent even stepping to. So that is what all the companies want now. Some young kids that will go out and just kill himself. To me, there is no loyalty in skateboarding any more. All the loyalty is in the dollar. I mean, there is nothing wrong with it; you cant pay your bills with loyalty. But it just seems like everyone is raping each other for shit. Its getting so watered down that eventually it is all just going to come to a halt. People need to start opening their minds a little more when it comes to skateboarding. Skateboarding is like high school now. Once you are tagged with a certain image, that is it. Everyone is so damn clicky.
When I met my girlfriend she was breeding pit bulls and other dogs like that. I guess it sort of started from there. Once we moved in together she didnt really want to breed pit bulls anymore, so we got into breeding American Bull dogs.
Have you always liked dogs?
Yeah. I always had dogs growing up for the most part, except for when my parents got separated. Then it was, like, you cant have a dog here, this and that. So there was a while when I didnt have any pets around. There was also a problem with me skating and traveling around all the time. It got to the point that I was traveling so much that I couldnt take care of any animals.
How did you ever get into skating?
When I was like twelve I ended up watching that movie Thrashin and thought that it looked so sick. I knew it was something I had to get into.
How was the industry back when you first started as compared to now?
Back then it was more about skating; the whole industry was underground. What money that came in from it was good, I guess. I mean, I wasnt so involved with it at that age, but from what I noticed people were just doing it to do it. It was big. You had people like Tony Hawk and a few other dudes making good money, but other heads were in it for just skating. There were a limited amount of pros because you actually had to earn it.
And now?
Now a day everyone is looking for that next Arto [Saari]. When he came out, he was, like, a young sixteen-year-old boy and was doing things that a lot of pros werent even stepping to. So that is what all the companies want now. Some young kids that will go out and just kill himself. To me, there is no loyalty in skateboarding any more. All the loyalty is in the dollar. I mean, there is nothing wrong with it; you cant pay your bills with loyalty. But it just seems like everyone is raping each other for shit. Its getting so watered down that eventually it is all just going to come to a halt. People need to start opening their minds a little more when it comes to skateboarding. Skateboarding is like high school now. Once you are tagged with a certain image, that is it. Everyone is so damn clicky.
Trick: Ollie Photography: Andrew Garrett
Dude, I totally know what you mean. I got to deal with that shit all the time with Focus.
I can definitely see it being hard in your spot. Being a new magazine, people are reluctant to go that extra mile and help out because you have to establish yourself first. I mean, when one hand washes the other shit just works. You help me out and I can help you out, you know.
Yeah. I agree.
Skateboarding is a quick fame for a lot of people. When in reality, no one knows who you are when you walk down the street. People think they are someone special because of skateboarding and they arent. Youre not 50 Cent. Youre not the Game. Youre not some tough dude because you skateboard. I mean, its a physical thing and falling down makes your body tough. But a lot of heads walk around with this tough attitude only for the next dude to come up and knock them the fuck out. There are plenty of people out there that dont give a fuck about a persons image. If you give the wrong person attitude and they dont give a fuck about who you are, theyll knock you the fuck out, and thats the nice people. There are definitely people out there that might really get offended by something you might say and put you in the hospital. Just because you are good on a skateboard doesnt mean anything.
I heard you hate photographers, whats up?
I just dont like a lot of photographers because most of them just seem really fake. Its like; most of these dudes will only shoot with the people they can make money off of. Or you got these other dudes that just lose your shit. I mean if Im out busting my ass physically for a photographer, he should at least bust his ass a little to try to get the photo used somewhere. I just hate when photographers waste my time. Knowing that they are just going to lose the photo or not try to send it anywhere. Ive gone out and shot photos with dudes before and then had to go back and shoot the same thing again with someone else because the last dude lost it. Come on! I mean, Im not a little bitch and wont skate because someone isnt shooting it. I skate for me. But if a dude is shooting it, I know I cant just give up, so Ill bust my ass a bit more, so that he can get the shot. And if Im working for it that much harder, so should the photographer.
I can definitely see it being hard in your spot. Being a new magazine, people are reluctant to go that extra mile and help out because you have to establish yourself first. I mean, when one hand washes the other shit just works. You help me out and I can help you out, you know.
Yeah. I agree.
Skateboarding is a quick fame for a lot of people. When in reality, no one knows who you are when you walk down the street. People think they are someone special because of skateboarding and they arent. Youre not 50 Cent. Youre not the Game. Youre not some tough dude because you skateboard. I mean, its a physical thing and falling down makes your body tough. But a lot of heads walk around with this tough attitude only for the next dude to come up and knock them the fuck out. There are plenty of people out there that dont give a fuck about a persons image. If you give the wrong person attitude and they dont give a fuck about who you are, theyll knock you the fuck out, and thats the nice people. There are definitely people out there that might really get offended by something you might say and put you in the hospital. Just because you are good on a skateboard doesnt mean anything.
I heard you hate photographers, whats up?
I just dont like a lot of photographers because most of them just seem really fake. Its like; most of these dudes will only shoot with the people they can make money off of. Or you got these other dudes that just lose your shit. I mean if Im out busting my ass physically for a photographer, he should at least bust his ass a little to try to get the photo used somewhere. I just hate when photographers waste my time. Knowing that they are just going to lose the photo or not try to send it anywhere. Ive gone out and shot photos with dudes before and then had to go back and shoot the same thing again with someone else because the last dude lost it. Come on! I mean, Im not a little bitch and wont skate because someone isnt shooting it. I skate for me. But if a dude is shooting it, I know I cant just give up, so Ill bust my ass a bit more, so that he can get the shot. And if Im working for it that much harder, so should the photographer.
Trick: Frontside 180 Photography: Mazur
Do you hate me?
Well, I havent really shot any skate photos with you yet, but from what I heard you seem like a sound dude. There are a couple people in the industry I really like and will shoot photos with. But, there are others that I honestly dont even care if I ever fucking talk to again. Im going to leave all these industry people nameless right now, but soon Im going to just start calling heads out.
Why do a lot of people call you Twix?
It started when I was living in Huntington Beach and hanging around with Reynolds and Sumner. Whenever those dudes came over Id always be eating Twix bars. I love those candy bars. Then one day they all just started calling me Twix and it stuck.
Any thanks?
Umm, just anyone that I am still friends with and anyone that has looked out for me. Big ups to Jay Strickland, he is the one dude that gets shitted on the most in this industry, but he is probably one of the most genuine peeps in it. Hes gone out of his way a lot when he didnt need to, to help me out. Also, Mark Brandstetter. Hes helped me out a lot. And if anyone thinks they need a shout out, then you probably dont need one at all.
Well, I havent really shot any skate photos with you yet, but from what I heard you seem like a sound dude. There are a couple people in the industry I really like and will shoot photos with. But, there are others that I honestly dont even care if I ever fucking talk to again. Im going to leave all these industry people nameless right now, but soon Im going to just start calling heads out.
Why do a lot of people call you Twix?
It started when I was living in Huntington Beach and hanging around with Reynolds and Sumner. Whenever those dudes came over Id always be eating Twix bars. I love those candy bars. Then one day they all just started calling me Twix and it stuck.
Any thanks?
Umm, just anyone that I am still friends with and anyone that has looked out for me. Big ups to Jay Strickland, he is the one dude that gets shitted on the most in this industry, but he is probably one of the most genuine peeps in it. Hes gone out of his way a lot when he didnt need to, to help me out. Also, Mark Brandstetter. Hes helped me out a lot. And if anyone thinks they need a shout out, then you probably dont need one at all.
Trick: Sal Flip Photography: Chris Stadler
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