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Skateshop Spotlight: Classic Skate Shop Reno, NV

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Owner Eric Lantto showed us how he Keeps it Classic in Reno. Classic Skate Shop (aka The Biggest Little Skate Shop stocked with a curated collection of boards and gear) is best known as the only skater owned/operated/frequented shop in Nevada. In this Spotlight feature, Eric treats us to a closer look at what makes Classic one of a kind.



I had no interest in selling flip flops, overpriced sunglasses, wakeboards, or whatever the latest trending brand was.

Let’s start with the backstory of Classic Skate Shop. How did it all come together?

Classic started with the mindset of being a true skate shop, not a board shop. I thought so many places that sell skateboards morphed into a lifestyle shop. I had no interest in selling flip flops, overpriced sunglasses, wakeboards, or whatever the latest trending brand was. We went barebones and made our mark slowly in the local scene.

Tell us a little bit about your personal background as a skater.

I started skating in 1984. It was pure love. I had found my calling, and in 37 years I never quit. I also knew after memorizing every image in magazines that I had an interest in the skateboard industry. I thought that would have come to fruition in San Francisco but, after a trip to San Diego I met Ozzy Alvarez who was pro for Zorlac. We became friends immediately, and shortly after I had my first “skateboard job” at a company called Fishlips. It was kind of the perfect nightmare. No money is tough. Being able to create board shapes and graphics was a dream come true. Time flies, and I have worked for many different companies since and still do including my own brand Biggest Little Skateboard Co out of Reno. I still get to tour the world because of skateboarding and I never take that for granted.

To support our local scene first and foremost. That is everything.

I see that Classic is a skater-owned shop focusing on boards and skate products more than apparel. What would you say is your company’s mission?

To support our local scene first and foremost. That is everything. Beyond sponsoring locals, putting on events, we want people to feel welcome to the shop. Beginners are always nervous and don’t want to ask the wrong questions. I remember walking into my first shop and the guy behind the counter “cool guying” me a bit. That doesn’t happen at Classic. I love skateboarding, so why would I want to give a potential skater a bad first experience? Shops still do that and I’ll never understand that.

What are some of the most exciting items you carry in the shop?

There is a local brand named Techne that is cool. They are all over the world and I love to see them grow. We’ve been with them since the beginning and I love to see them on the racks. Obviously Dunks do well. New Balance is another great brand to work with. Anything DLX does is fun. They are something truly special in our industry. I’m also a big fan of FA/Hockey. They are doing their own thing and that’s always refreshing in a world overrun with logo boards.

Do you have any local events coming up? If not, what are some of your favorite events you normally participate in?

COVID shut down events for the most part. We squeezed in some here and there. It’s pretty exhausting dealing with it. Every year we do a Death Race which is best described as organized chaos. It’s a two person race through the park with minimal rules. We’ve been doing it for 11 years. This year I worked with the City of Reno to create a skate plaza in one of our spots that is skated regularly. It was an honor to be a part of the ribbon cutting with our Mayor in the city I love so much.

Have you had any special visitors or fun stories you’d like to share with us?

Signings and demos are always special. Kids meeting their first pro is what it’s all about. The first pros I ever met were John Lucero and Jeff Grosso. I still remember it like it was yesterday. Even cooler is when I have a friend visiting (no name dropping required) and a customer walks in surprised to see them. A random sighting in the shop is the best.

Leave us with your thoughts on how beginners can get started.

Make sure and get set up with the right gear first and foremost. Shops still pushing board size based on height and shoe size is ridiculous. It’s ALL about personal preference. Take the time to show beginners multiple sizes and give them options. Parents ask about skate lessons and I always suggest letting the beginner learn from their friends. Between Youtube and your first skate crew, it will all fall into place. I explain that you are going to fall a lot and that’s the reality of it. There’s nothing more rewarding than landing a trick after battling it forever. If you make it through the struggle, you’ll understand what it’s all about. The influx of women’s skateboarding is one of the most rewarding things to happen in decades. It’s been incredible to see that scene evolve. Skateboarding changed the direction of my life. It’s important to me to help new skaters in any way I can.

Visit Classic Skate Shop at 299 East Plumb Lane #105 in Reno, Nevada or online on Facebook or Instagram.

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CONTESTS

Get Behind the Scenes of the Red Bull Bowl Rippers

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In September, Red Bull Bowl Rippers brought pro skateboarding action back to Marseille’s famous beachside Bowl Du Prado after a two-year hiatus.

As thousands of enthusiastic French spectators witnessed the action-packed event, Marc Churchill and Corbin Harris interviewed the participating skaters, as well as industry veterans such as Greg Poissonnier, Chris Gregson, and Bryce Kanights. They also spoke with the event organizer, Jeremie Grynblat, and local hero Vincent Matheron to understand what makes this unique proving ground so special and why people keep coming back to it for decades.

The first Bowl Rippers was held in 2016 at the iconic park to celebrate its 25th year. Now on its sixth edition, The Red Bull Bowl Rippers continued the Bowl Du Prado’s legacy of enshrining legends into a new era.

The Bowl Du Prado, designed by Jean-Pierre Collinet, has been visited by every great skateboarder to leave their mark on the sport. Along with famous names like Cardiel, Speyer, Trujillo, and Petersen, there are also local legends like Molinier, Benoliel, Salah, and the Matheron clan who have all contributed to the skatepark’s worldwide notoriety.

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CULTURE

Atita Verghese: India’s Top Female Skater in ‘Skate Tales’

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In this episode of Skate Tales, Madars Apse visited Bangalore to meet Atita Verghese, India’s leading female skater.

Atita was introduced to skateboard culture by the Holystoked crew, who constructed India’s first DIY skatepark in Bangalore. Her life was transformed when she stepped onto a skateboard, and she has never looked back.

In 2014, Atita established Girl Skate India, a non-profit organization that encourages young women to pursue skateboarding. Atita is a source of inspiration for women worldwide, particularly in India, where skateboarding is still in its early stages.

She has been involved in the construction of the majority of skateparks in her home country to this day, having learned how to mix concrete and shape transitions with the Holystoked collective.

Skateboarding has led her to appear in numerous advertisements, a TED talk, movie roles, and even a cameo in the Netflix series Skater Girl.

Atita has created a one-woman movement beyond providing boards, pads, or lessons. In a society where opportunities for girls to be free of social constraints and have fun are limited, Atita’s work is definitely worth checking out.

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CULTURE

Andrew Arthur: From Sponsored Skateboarder to Fashion Photographer

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The Transworld Skateboarding crew catches up with Andrew Arthur in this episode of “Brain Floss.”

Andrew Arthur was raised in Oceanside, California, surrounded by some of the best skaters who eventually became pros. Although he once pursued skateboarding and even reached the amateur level, his career took a different path when he found his niche in fashion photography.

Fast forward ten years and Andrew now resides in New York City, where he continues to skate and stay connected with the local scene. His latest photo project, which will be compiled into a book, is a unique take on the sun bounce setup popularized by Peter Lindbergh.

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