Our people: Staying on board

Iaasic Martinez started skateboarding six years ago when his father bought him a skateboard at age 10. Martinez said when he hopped on his board his dream of becoming a professional skateboarder began.

BENNA SAYYED: CNJ staff photo

Iaasic Martinez, third from left, hangs out with friends at the skate park at Greene Acres Lake park. Martinez said he skates at the park everyday. He said he plans to be a professional skateboarder.

At age 13 he pulled tendons in his left ankle while doing a nollie half cab, a trick. He took three months off, started skating again and soon pulled tendons in his right ankle while doing a 360 flip off of a pyramid ramp.

Martinez took a year and a half off to fully recover before skating again. He said he can't imagine life without skateboarding and can't remember his hobbies before skating.

Courtesy photo

Iaasic Martinez age 8.

What got you into skateboarding? My dad bought me a board and I thought it was cool. I saw some cool tricks on YouTube and just wanted to be like the pro skateboarders.

What are your future plans with skateboarding? I hope to keep going, probably move to California or Florida and see what happens. California and Florida have lots of skate parks, good spots and good weather.

They have parks that have contests. If you win a contest you're open to sponsorships. If you get a good sponsorship you start getting noticed and hopefully go pro.

BENNA SAYYED: CNJ staff photo

Iaasic Martinez completes a backside 180, an aerial trick, at Greene Acres skate park in Clovis.

I want to be sponsored by Plan B (skateboarding company). It is my favorite team. It has the best boards I've skated.

Do you have a plan to become a professional skateboarder? I make videos here (at Greene Acres skate park). We're working on them and we'll put them on YouTube soon. Hopefully we'll have the videos online before Christmas.

I plan on contacting some professional skateboard companies when I get a little better. I don't think I'm just there yet. I skate everyday, even if it's cold, raining, snowing. It doesn't matter. I've skated on ice but it hurts if you fall down. I try to stay up.

BENNA SAYYED: CNJ staff photo

Iaasic Martinez does a nose grind on a rail at Greene Acres skate park in Clovis.

The last time I did not skate was June 21, Go Skateboarding day. I was on the way to visit my mom in Washington (state). I was either in a car or a plane all day.

How do you think the skateboarding scene in Clovis could improve? We need better skate parks for sure. We need at least two. We need an indoor park so we can skate when it snows. This park (Greene Acres skate park) should be expanded with new ramps and rails. The same things get boring.

It's dangerous to have kids in the skate park on the ramps. If you're on a board doing something and you're not in the way you're fine. If you're just running around trying to slide down the ramps you can get seriously hurt.

BENNA SAYYED: CNJ staff photo

Iaasic Martinez sands a car fender in his autobody class at Clovis High School.

How do you spend your summers? I visit my mom (Salina Ford) in Richland, Washington. I spend most of the summer there. Richland has one of the best skateparks in the Northwest. All my friends there are skaters.

What is your favorite music and who is your favorite artist? Rap. Lil Wayne. I can relate to the music. He talks about skateboarding and other stuff that I can relate to (laughing).

What is your favorite kind of clothing? I like skate clothes like Diamond.

— Compiled by CMI staff writer Benna Sayyed

Bio

• Name: Iaasic Martinez

• Age: 16

• Hometown: Clovis

• Occupation: Clovis High School junior