Ronnie Bertino

Blind and Plan B were two of the top companies to ride for in the early 90's. Riding for even one of those companies was an honor. Now it is our honor to introduce one man who was fortunate enough to ride for both. We are happy to introduce Ronnie Bertino as we also introduce the Bobshirt interview section.

words and interview by:
Mike Regan

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BS: Thanks for joining us Ronnie. Gino Iannucci once said "I miss the times when skating was hated on." Back in the early 90's, because skating was so hated on, I think it took a genuine interest to get into it. As a result, skating in the early 90's felt more genuine than it does today. Do you agree? If so, why?

RB: I do agree. There weren't as many people for one, and for two, we skated for a different reason then most do today. I mean, most kids these days would rather be better than the pros who are doing it than respect them. I guess it makes for good competition, but in the early 90's it wasn't about all that, we all respected each other and were interested in knowing what the other was doing to be psyched for them, not to one up
them. I hate to say it but it seems the soul of
skating is gone due to the mass market!!! It's funny what we thought would take skating where it needed to be is whats killing it.

BS: Most skaters aren't too fond of the pressure flip days. Do you feel the same?

RB: I still throw one out there occasionally. I mean fuck it, Ron Knigge was the shit when he first did it, so there was definitely a place for it, but not a long lasting one.

BS: Skating today is generally more accepted by the main stream than it was 15 years ago. As a result, it seems to attract a more main stream type of person. If half of today's new jacks, including some top pros and ams, were born 10 years earlier, do you think they still would've started skating?

RB: The mass market definitely opened it to people who would have never seen or thought of doing it. So I would say no.

BS: Would you agree that skaters today treat skating more like a job than in the early 90's when? For example, it wasn't unheard of for a skater to wear another team's shirt or ride another team's board just because he liked the graphic.

RB: Yeah they do, but there is nothing wrong with that. I mean there is big money in it, I don't look at it like
that because that's what kept me away for so long. I should have so I could have stayed in the limelight and
came up but I realized that's not what I was in it for. I mean, I made decent money at one time and sometimes I think to myself damn I should have stayed on it for a little for big money. At this point the friendships,
the trips, and the fun of skating all over the world are just as valuable as money. So I won either way; they
can take away the limelight but they can't take my memories!

BS: Who was your typical crew in the early 90's?

RB: I had an old friend who is now a designer for Circa. He was my best friend and was with me during the growth of my career. His name is Dustin Deardorff. He was my crew with another buddy of ours, Rick. Pat Brennen was another good friend of mine and the best skater. From his passing early, skating lost a great spirit and talent.

When I started traveling I went to S.F. for like 6 months to a year and rolled with the EMB crew and stayed with Mikey Carroll and many others . That was where I progressed most. When you went to Embarcodero you were with a hand full of some of the best skaters in the world, I had no choice but to get better at skating. I mean Henry Sanchez is doing ollie impossibles to nose blunt slides!!!! You had no choice but to get good with that crew. The crews I skated with changed and it was cool skating with all of them.

BS: What are some memorable sessions from
Lockwood/Embarcadero/World Park?

RB: Any session for one, you kind of had to keep a look out for thugs. So that kept it interesting. All of them, I mean, anytime we went skating someone was doing some sick shit.

BS: Who first approached you about riding for blind?

RB: From what I remember, it was Henry. It was right before the Back to the City. I was skating EMB pretty early in the morning and Henry mentioned something about riding for them. The day before the contest everyone who was in town was at EMB, and I remember Guy, Rudy, and Henry chilling on one of the blocks and it came up. I was just shocked.

BS: How did you feel about being asked to ride for blind?

RB: How would you feel? (laughs) I didn't believe it at first, and I think I asked them, "are you serious; you guys think I'm good enough?!!!" (laughs) Totally doubting myself. When I was younger, I was like that as far as my skating. It was one of the best moments of my career. Even though it didn't last that long, I am very honored to have been a part of it

BS: What's your earliest memory of skating with Guy Mariano?

RB: Well, Guy was just on top of the game. I remember one time going to this crazy double sided ledge/wall thing, and Guy did, I believe it was a nollie tailslide kickflip fakie but transferred. At the time people wouldn't even thought of skating the thing. Guy was Guy, and to skate with him was like skating with Henry; you always knew some shit was going to go down.

BS:Who first approached you about riding for Plan B?

RB: Danny Way

BS: How did you feel about being asked to ride for Plan B?

RB: Same as blind, an honor. I mean, you have Danny Way asking to be on the team and then Mike Ternansky seconds it. Back then it was hard to be on a team of that type and I was really in awe.

BS: Do you remember how may tries Jeremy Wray's front side flip run in SHS at the Carlsbad gap took?

RB: I really don't remember, but I know it was 4 or under.

BS: What are you up to these days Ronnie?

RB: Well I am working at ATM skateboards as the domestic sales manager. I also ride for the company, so it is good. I've been with my girl Anna for 8 years and will eventually get married once that tax thing is completely out of the way. I have a punk rock band called Pig Champion. Go to www.myspace.com/pigchampions if you want to check it out. I still skate a lot and don't plan on stopping however, it is on my time and my terms. Obviously I need to perform for ATM and do what I can but I am no fool, kids these days are on the next level. I do it for fun and it is like when I first started. I don't do it to cater to the public; I do it for me. Skating has been a big part of my life and it will be until I am in the ground. For those I have left out, I am sorry. It's just hard to remember 15 years of something and put it all in the spots of 15 questions.

BS: Looking back, would you do it all over again the same, or would you change anything as far as your days of skateboarding in the 90's goes?

RB: The only thing I would change would be taking care of taxes. I got screwed and had to pay $26,000 to the IRS. That would be it. My memories are great and I got to see places and countries that most people don't ever get the chance to see. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

BS: Thanks Ronnie!