Sean CronanRodney Torres locking into a frontside tailslide at the Laguardia Airport banks.

Rodney Torres has been a good friend of mine for nearly 15 years and he's been an even better skateboarder for even longer. Through that time he's pushed a windy road through the skateboard industry from up and coming NYC am to almost Zoo Yorker a few times. He went pro for the old Arcade skateboards just before it folded and then rode for the NY brand Official for a while. Through it all Torres has always been the skate Mayor of New York City, being one of few pros actually raised within the five boroughs.

Sean CronanRodney Torres posted up at the spot that made him who he is today: The Unisphere in Flushing Meadows' Corona Park.

Recently, Zoo York acknowledged Torres' contributions to skating in the city, which includes literally building the new Queens skate plaza used for the Maloof Money Cup NYC, and gave him a spot alongside Donny Barley and Kevin Taylor on their Master's Division. In the early morning before the Maloof Contest went off a little over a week ago, I filmed Torres skating the park he helped create and got him to talk about his new deal with Zoo.

Look for much more from Torres soon to come including a "Cold Call" with in next issue of The Skateboard Mag. His boards are in stores now. Show some support for one of New York's finest.