YOUTH SPOTLIGHT: Shredding it with Darius

It’s dusk on a weekday, and Brandon Lee Romero is encouraging his five-year-old son, Darius, as he prepares to drop in on his skateboard at Clark Field Stake Park.

“He’s really good at everything he does. He’s a good golfer and baseball player; he does it all. He’s an all-around kid. I’m proud of him,” Romero said.

He said skateboarding with his son makes him feel young and fosters a special bond. Romero shared that he grew up without a father, and spending afternoons skating with Darius allows him to be present and involved in his son’s life.

“He gives me an opportunity just to be a kid again,” Romero said, “He has definitely changed my life for the better. And it’s sometimes it’s a stress, but I always say it’s a good stress.”

He loves Darius’ affinity for playing outside.

“I see a lot of kids nowadays who are stuck inside on their video games, but he makes sure that we come outside,” Romero said.

Romero remembers being ten years old when he got his first skateboard.

“I got my first skateboard for my birthday. I’ll never forget it, but it was my first board, and I probably skated that thing for a couple of years,” Romero said, “I remember whenever I was in high school, there’d be a bunch of people here at the skate park, but it’s died down over the years,”

He is part of the Loma Vista Skate Crew, and they enjoy gathering to skate near New Mexico Tech and the skate park. He also said longboards, known for a smooth and stable ride, are the most popular choice for cruising around town.

“I’ll come here sometimes, and I’ll see some good skaters, but not like it used to be about 10 years ago. Maybe it can come back. That’s what we’re hoping; we’re hoping that we can get it going again.” Romero said.

One of his favorite parts of skateboarding is the challenge and setting goals.

“Whether it’s a small trick or a hard trick, and failing and failing and failing and then finally getting it at the end, is what’s the gratifying part,” Romero said, “Besides that, though, is just hanging out with friends and having a good time, you know, yeah, spending quality time with my son,”