ROAD KILL: TIME FOR LIVIN’ NYC
It started with a throwaway question mid‑session:“You down?”
Next thing I knew, I was trading comfort for unknown—booking flights, packing decks, and chasing pavement through New York City. I’ve always traveled with my board, but it was more of a security blanket than a mission. This time, it was the reason.
Words by Roger Santerre, Photos by Shawn Sikatowksy & Roger Santerre
Shawn—seasoned skate‑trip vet, local legend, human GPS— had already locked his itinerary.
Perfect tour guide for a rookie like me. I booked four nights, figuring that was all my legs could handle before they blew up. Once I committed, the stoke hit hard. Pins, clips, routes, daily lineups—Shawn had it dialled.
DAY ZERO - Flying out of Sudbury, quick layover in Toronto, then straight into Newark’s noise.
The city hit like a wall—heat, horns, movement. We dodged hustlers, buses, and subway confusion till we landed in the Financial District, blocks from the Brooklyn Banks.
Rolling up to that spot was surreal.
The bricks rattled under wheels, the banks steep and loud—every push felt like a statement. One evening session we even caught Steve Rodriguez solo‑sessioning, keeping the dream alive. Gave him the nod, didn’t fan out. Respect.
The Banks delivered—both as a skate spot and a scene.
We ran into Connor Neeson and his Dime crew mid‑mission, lines going down heavy. The sound of loose bricks and fast wheels echoed like gladiators fighting in the Colosseum. Great place to start and end the day.
Day one was full throttle.
We hit waterfront ledges, Kimlau Square’s chunky banks, and Thomas Paine Park’s obsidian ledges—way above my pay grade but wild to see in person. The city was alive: drums, tourists, raw energy.
DAY ONE Wrap: Clips stacked, photos snapped, spirits high.
TIME FOR LIVIN - 2025 NYC TRIP
Skater: Roger Santerre
Filmer: Shawn Sikatowsky
Editor: BOB
Music: Beastie Boys - Time For Livin’
Day two, same rhythm: early start, endless push.
We hit a planter fence near the Statue of Liberty, then Cathedral Parkway’s concrete cubes—skating the intersection while taxis screamed past. There’s a weird calm that hits when you’re locked in, city noise fading into focus.
LES Park was pure electricity—graffiti, grit, and every level of skater feeding off each other.
We joined the blur, just another part of the park’s pulse.
Day three: Thompkins Square DIY.
Felt like home even though it was my first time there. Court‑style parks have that familiar hum. I battled a quarter‑to‑fence bounce till the heat cooked me alive. No make, but no regrets. We cooled off at FTC, grabbed swag, and hit the waterfront across from the Empire State Building. Plastic ledge, perfect backdrop, last clips.
Leaving Shawn behind for his full‑week grind felt wrong—but the trip already rewired me.
Every NYC edit I see now hits harder because I’ve been there. I’ve felt that brick under my wheels.
Skating the city wasn’t just about tricks—it was about connection.
Every skater we met had a story, every spot had history. Shawn and I went from casual park nods to weekly “what’s next?” calls.
I used to think adventure was something you planned. Turns out, it’s something you say yes to.
If you’ve been sitting on a trip, a clip, or a story—stop waiting.
Grab your crew, blow up your routine, and chase something real. Comfort kills creativity.
Misprint’s about that spark—the one that gets you out of your box and into the streets.
So go make something worth remembering.
Let’s go.
— Rog - Editor
