Mame Bonsu - instructor/coach
SURE Flashback To One Of Our Influential Contributors.
Mame came in to help SURE in the summer of 2020. During the height of the Covid lockdown, outdoor activities started being welcomed back late in June. I was down one head instructor and my friend Andrew form Substance Skatepark recommended Mame.
Mame stepped in to help and immediately took charge of weekly group classes and many regular private students. I am happy that her entrepreneurial spirit led her to start Anansi Skatelife.
SURE Flashback To One Of Our Influential Contributors
Mame came in to help SURE in the summer of 2020. During the height of the Covid lockdown, outdoor activities started being welcomed back late in June. I was down one head instructor and my friend Andrew from Substance Skatepark recommended Mame.
Mame stepped in to help and immediately took charge of weekly group classes and many regular private students. I am happy that her entrepreneurial spirit led her to start Anansi Skatelife.
Visit https://www.anansiskatelife.com/ to find out more about Mame and her coaching services.
“What I most appreciated about working with Rob was the space he allowed for us to teach our own way. It forced me to be creative with lessons while making them fun. I definitely learned a lot through leading group classes. I am grateful that Rob took the time to organize them, so I could fully focus on the kids.
Being a SURE instructor definitely prepared me to eventually run my own business. At Anansi Skatelife the focus is learning and growing through skateboarding. Fundamentals, basic tricks and riding ramps are taught in ASL classes. I try to use demonstration and imagery to get concepts across.”
If you would like to book a private lesson or join a group class with Mame, send her a message at https://www.anansiskatelife.com/contact.
Thrasher, Supreme, And The Mainstream
Thoughts On Skate Fashion
Originally posted on 1/5/2018
I recently sat down with Molly Collins for a brief audio interview. She asked me to share my thoughts on the look of skate fashion being worn by the non-skating public. Vans Sneakers, Thrasher Shirts, Supreme clothing, these companies have become household names in teen culture. Fashion designers and brands are also using skate inspired looks in their collections. Where do I stand on all of this? I’m surprisingly ok with it.
Thoughts On Skate Fashion
Originally posted on 1/5/2018
I recently sat down with Molly Collins for a brief audio interview. She asked me to share my thoughts on the look of skate fashion being worn by the non-skating public. Vans Sneakers, Thrasher Shirts, Supreme clothing, these companies have become household names in teen culture. Fashion designers and brands are also using skate inspired looks in their collections. Where do I stand on all of this? I’m surprisingly ok with it.
Skate NYC – The Origin on Avenue A
A fight for skateboarding at Tompkins Square Park and the shop that established the destination.
Originally posted on 10/10/2019
When my mother, a retired woman living in South Florida asked me, “Did you hear about what’s going on in Tompkins Square Park with the skateboarders?” I was surprised and put on high alert. Beyond my mom, several people outside of the skateboarding genre have asked me about what is happening at the park in the East Village.
What’s So Special?
A fight for skateboarding at Tompkins Square Park and the shop that established the destination. Originally posted on 10/10/2019
1988, The original storefront at 445 east 9th street at Avenue A. The first of two homes for Skate NYC and thousands of skaters. Photo: Charlie Samuels
When my mother, a retired woman living in South Florida asked me, “Did you hear about what’s going on in Tompkins Square Park with the skateboarders?” I was surprised and put on high alert. Beyond my mom, several people outside of the skateboarding genre have asked me about what is happening at the park in the East Village.
What’s So Special?
Since the late 1980’s when a shop named Skate NYC occupied retail spaces at 445 east 9th street, and then 149 Avenue A, both directly across the street from Tompkins Square Park, the paved ball field on the northwest quadrant of the park has been a gathering point for skateboarding in NYC. It was freshly repaved and repainted in 1988 making it ideal to roll urethane wheels on and has since been a sacred spot for skaters. Even now, with all of the awesome NYC public skate parks that are readily available around the five boroughs, they still can’t take away from the magic & historical vibe of Tompkins. This is thirty plus years it’s been happening here.
In Recent Times
A clash between the city and skateboarders began after skaters learned last spring that the nearby East River Park would be closed in 2020 for a $1.45 billion renovation, to protect it against storm surges. The shutdown, which could last about four years, means that park’s ballplayers will have to go elsewhere.
The loss of public access to the ball fields in the East River Park had the city finding alternative places to resurface paved park spaces into turf covered fields for ball sports.
Tompkins Square was identified as one of several parks with an area for Turf Conversion.
Skater Reaction
“As soon as we made that announcement people started saying ‘you don’t know the history… there is a culture of skating here that goes back generations’. ” – NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver
Skateboarders united and circulated a petition, asking that Tompkins Square Park be left as is. — More than 30,000 people signed it.
The Outcome
Skateboarders Win ‘Turf War’ With NYC, Parks Department Will Not Cover Over Tompkins Square Park.
A scheduled rally to protest the planned surface changes at Tompkins Square on Saturday September 7th was turned into a massive celebration when the parks department announced one day prior that it had abandoned its current plans.
How Did This Begin?
Living and skating in the East Village during the 1980’s & 90’s, I inevitably spent a lot of time at my local skate shop, Skate NYC and skating across from the shop in Tompkins Square Park.
Being a frequent freestyle skater at that time, sponsored by Skate NYC and several other companies, I had a unique perspective and watched a very dynamic scene unfold with skaters that would go on to lead the next generations. Joe Humeres, who would join Steve & Tom as a partner at Skate NYC for a couple of years was also a freestyle skater and my teammate on the Walker skateboards team. Joe and I would spend countless hours skating in area parks with Tompkins and Skate NYC serving as the central gathering point for us and thousands of skaters.
As time went on deeper into the 90’s decade, the partners of Skate NYC would move on from running the skate shop to pursue other opportunities in Art, Streetwear, Law, and Film.
In the years that followed, other skate shops such as, Autumn and ABC would go on to open retail spaces in the immediate Tompkins area. No doubt helping to carry the torch forward and making a contribution to what was started at Skate NYC and still stands today.
A New Beginning
In the twelve years that SURE functioned as a small business, I had many great experiences, worked with some amazing skaters, both students and instructors. I also became very friendly with some awesome parents.
This section of sure-skateboards.com will be dedicated to telling stories of the adventures that I’ve had and also acknowledging some of the key people that made contributions to the SURE journey.
I look forward to Taking the time to get the history organized and documented.
In the twelve years that SURE functioned as a small business, I had many great experiences, worked with some amazing skaters, both students and instructors. I also became very friendly with some awesome parents.
This section of sure-skateboards.com will be dedicated to telling stories of the adventures that I’ve had and also acknowledging some of the key people that made contributions to the SURE journey.
I look forward to Taking the time to get the history organized and documented.