Marco de Santi came to the US with $100 in his pocket and he spoke no English. It was both comical, inspiring and sad… Until he became a World Champion. And when skating died, Marco went to the Cirque du Soleil.

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Marco de Santi has the most interesting journey of any athlete I’ve had on the podcast. Born in a less than desirable situation in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Marco did what every kid does; he played soccer until he found skateparks. Marco quit team sports and headed to the USA at age 15, with literally nothing, to make his pro skating dream happen. While Marco eventually became a world Champion, inline was dropped by X-Games, and the organizing body of his sport didn’t include Marco in future events. So the first skater to land a triple was forced out of competition and into a life of LOVE, which he performs in every night with the Cirque de Soleil. It doesn’t get more rags to riches than this one.

TIMECODES: 03:30: Issues around his backyard vert ramp, growing up in Sao Paolo, and family life 10:00: Soccer, finding skating, stereotypes, roller rink skateparks, how does he pay to get to the US, and how does he stay 21:00: Not speaking English, meeting me, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and problems with judging 32:00: Mountain Dew, other sponsors, never wearing pads, and spending time at Woodward 34:00: The Yasutoko, the triple, and what’s cool about X Games 39:30: Rollerblade: Ski season may be over, but that feeling lasts all year with inline skating 41:30: Nerves, Silver at X Games, losing X Games, and then getting screwed by the ASA 47:00: Winning World Championships, all things Cirque de Soleil’s LOVE (skating, money, injury, perks), building his Vegas empire, and day trading 54:00: Inappropriate Questions with Hardcore Brazil, Carlos Pianowski.

Photos.

Tom Hyser was born into the Quad culture of the rinks around Atlanta and went from rink rat to skate rat. His family’s move to the Midwest was life-changing—He first discovered inline skating there. Tom is an original X Gamer, a product visionary whose designs have sold millions of units, an internet pioneer, and through it all he’s lived the struggle of being an inline skater. On the show, we talk about the love of skate, the hate received for it, and everything in between. The podcast ends with a laugh out loud “Inappropriate Questions” segment with Andy Kruse. Photos: Hyser Archives.

Check the podcast on Libsyn | Itunes | Thepowellmovement.com.

TIMECODES: 4:00: Covid travel, skateboarding, and Wisconsin 17:00: Jamie Thomas, skateboard hate, and incidents 21:45: The decline of inline, growing up outside of Atlanta, roller skating, and wrestling year-round 26:00: Getting sponsored, high school, qualifying for the pro tour, and college 33:00: Hoax 2, blowing his knee at the first X Games, and going in house at K2 41:00: Peter Glenn Ski and Sports: 43:45: The Fatty, crazy opportunities, no rules, going to Korea and recalls 51:00: The end of K2, Skatepile, Fiziks, and the scary future 61:00: Rollerblade and business is booming 65:00: Inappropriate Questions with Andy Kruse

Brian Aragon’s life sounded like a dream until he realized it wasn’t. He was a world champion pro skater and his video parts were as legendary as his park skills.

He’s traveled the world many times over, had 6 Pro Model skates, and a skatepark named after him all before the age of 30… And then he rolled away from it all to become the Inside Account Manager over at Arrow Electronics. Find out why on the podcast.

Podcast on Libsyn | Itunes - Visit Thepowellmovement.com.

Arlo Eisenberg was once dubbed the face and voice of his generation and his story sounds like the best 90’s movie that was never made. Arlo, the punk rock kid from Texas drops out of the University of Texas and moves to California to become a star in a sport that isn’t really a sport yet. He arrives on Venice Beach, gets “found” and blows up to be a global sensation who lives a life that is every 13 year old’s fantasy. Along the way he stirs up a national controversy, hosts the X-Games and rides off into a world of graphic design. - Michael Powell.

Check the podcast on Thepowellmovement.com.

I’m honored to have been interviewed for Michael Powell’s “The Powell Movement” podcast. We went pretty deep into the history books for this one, like all the way back to how my parents met and what I was doing before I discovered rollerblades. But it really does give some insight into the very early days of rollerblading and my career. Enjoyed the chat very much. Hope you enjoy it as well. - Arlo Eisenberg.

Alex Broskow’s life is full of juxtapositions. From dropping out of high school and moving into the dorms of the University of Kansas to being an athlete who is looked at as one of the best to ever participate in his sport… But couldn’t afford groceries.

This rare interview dives deep into the world of skating, travel and all that comes with being a pro athlete (minus money).

Check the podcast on Thepowellmovement.com.

Chris Haffey is part athlete, part stuntman, part survivor. He’s a professional rollerblader who started getting recognition for his skating when the industry was at its peak and became one of the top skaters in the world as the bottom was dropping out. While his peers were leaving the sport to find other ways to support themselves, Chris landed on the Nitro Circus, touring arenas across the globe with a motley crew of bad-asses.

Check the podcast on Thepowellmovement.com.

In this week’s Podcast Tuesday we decided to show you guys a special sneak peek at Game Theory. Featuring: Jeph Howard, Brian Aragon, Julian Bah, Dre Powell, Horn. Filmed & Edited by Brazilionaire ; Additional Filming by Blake Cohen, Geoff Acres & Courtney Cain.

Video Offline.