If there’s one person who I’m always stoked to see something new from, it’s Ruben Alcantara. Between his riding and everything else he does, like the work he has been doing designing skateparks lately, it’s always something awesome.
We were lucky enough to catch up with him the other day to find out what is new in his life and find out what he has cooking up here in the near future. It sounds like we can expect a full video part, more riding and plenty of amazing parks popping up. Let’s take a look and see what he had to say!
Name: Ruben Alcantara
Current location: Malaga, Spain
Sponsors: Flybikes, Etnies, Fox, T1
Years riding: Since I had a BMX, it has been 30 years… But knowing about what BMX is, about 25. I don’t really know from when to start counting…
Ruben! How’s it going? I’d imagine it’s sunny and warm over there right about now, huh?
Yes! It’s always nice here. Maybe a bit too hot in the summer…
How are things going with Fly? Do you have any cool projects in the works with them as far as trips or videos go?
Things are good as always. David had to make some big changes with moving the warehouse and everything. Now we start working again on some new ideas that I’m very excited about and I can’t wait to see.
Any new signature parts you guys are working on? I feel like David is always cooking up something fresh.
Not necessarily a signature part, but we’ll see! Yes, something is cooking as always! “We Spanish, we love cooking”
How about with Terrible One? Do you and Joe have any trips, videos or projects in the works at all? Seems like he’s always on the move with something.
Yes, always changing some dimensions and geometry. We would like to make an other cool trip, but thats not news, we always want that!
I know Etnies has been working on their new full-length video “Chapters. Will you be filming a full part for the video this time around? Do they have any trips that you will be hoping on a plane for anytime soon?
Yes! I’m super exaited about it. I also have less pain in my back and I have been riding the new bowl in Malaga a lot! So I feel good and am motivated to try to film stuff and see what happens.
What about Fox? Anything new going on with them these days that you can tell us about?
Fox went through some big changes recently, but from what I heard, it sounds like it is for better. Next week we will find out about things to do this year.
Back in October, you announced your new company called Soulparks that you are doing with Aitor Veguillas. When did you guys decide to give it a go? Was it just a random idea or was there a lot of planning before you did it?
Soulparks was created to help places have good parks because we are tired of see money wasted in bad parks, as you can see with 80% of the ones in Spain. We are also working on restoring old parks or bad parks. What we’re doing is using the existing park, but building on top with better transitions and materials to make it much better.
You guys had your first park in Malaga, Spain open up pretty recently and it looks amazing. Have you been working on any other parks yet? Can we expect some more cement waves popping up soon?
We have been asked a lot and so far there are 2 or 3 projects flying around that I hope to make happen.
Before…
After…
Speaking of waves… Have you been getting much surfing in lately? Do you have any trips you’re trying to make happen this summer?
Well, I try to surf here when it is possible, but not much… just enough! No trips really, but this summer I will be filming by northland Portugal, so I will try to get some waves there.
Outside of riding, surfing and designing parks, what have you been getting into? Any new hobbies you have been excited about?
Just trying to play music and I have also been having fun skating the bowl.
How can people keep up with you these days?
Instagram – @RubenAlcantara and the Soulparks site!
Anything else you want to say?
Since this is about BMX, I’d like to tell everyone in this industry to please think about it and quit promoting smoking for a number of reasons:
1. I don’t think it helps anyone at all, only tobacco companies and governments because it is all tax money for them “and we love to complain how bad they do things.”
2. There are many kids out there that are getting serious addictions that many of them will have big problems with in the future. I see so many kids lighting up cigarettes and makes me sad….
3. It is making BMX look very unhealthy and I don’t think parents are going to like to see that. So many kids will never start to ride because their dad will not want to his kid end up like that… The whole industry is already complaining about how low sales are these days…
4. It is normal to smoke a package a day (It is $5 a pack here) so in one week, the kid will not have money to buy parts when in one month or two he could have a new set of cranks or frame.
5. It does not makes sense … If you really like it just do it in private. Don’t show it…
So, please, I hope we can all help BMX look awesome just how it is and healthy like it should be. Let’s all be proud about it being that way. – R
