Legendary skaters and punk icons collide at SkaterCon’s 10th anniversary

A SkaterCon attendee flips off of the stage during When We Were Kids' set at Goodyear Skatepark in Goodyear, AZ on February 22, 2025. Photographed by Justin de la Cruz.

Full article by Justin de la Cruz; Vendor blurb by Alex Gold

The 10th installment of SkaterCon took place at Goodyear Skatepark last month featuring a slew of pro skater guest appearances, various musical acts, vendors galore, and kickflips aplenty from skaters around the valley. Part of Litchfield Road was closed off to accommodate more area for skaters and tents for the vendors to set up shop. A pop-up stage was placed in the parking lot of the skatepark for various bands to perform throughout the day. Featured acts included CORKY’S LEATHER JACKET, THE SKAVALINAS, CLUSTERFUX, SINCE WE WERE KIDS, GO BETTY GO, and LUICIDAL.

SINCE WE WERE KIDS challenged skaters to nail tricks off of the front of the stage and there was no shortage of takers. Rather than straight up stage diving, skaters launched themselves towards the audience (not expecting to catch them though). Veteran skater STEVE ALBA picked up a guitar and joined in to perform alongside the band as skaters were still lining up to nail flips and grabs off of the stage.

In between bands, skaters occupied the park for various events such as chances to earn prizes for stylish tricks, or slapping a sticker super high inside of a half-bowl. Notable skaters from Arizona such as AJ NELSON and MAZEL PARIS showed their talent to a crowded skatepark competing in said events. The sticker slap event saw skaters attempting to pendulum swing their way higher and further without falling in order to make their literal mark on top of the half-bowl.

You wouldn’t be faulted for not noticing the vendor booths along the sidelines amidst the chaos of everything else happening. At a distance it just looked like another collection of ramps and rails, because in the center aisle between all of the tents there were more ramps and rails.  If you managed to dodge the stray skaters and squeeze through from booth to booth there was quite a bit to see! From skateboard related gear like wax, bearings, wheels, tape, and boards to art pieces made from decks. Even the fingerboard community was represented with a couple of miniature parks set up for them, a gear tent, and even a whole art installation featuring finger boards painted and sent in by artists around the world!

Straying away from the directly skate-related booths, two tattoo shops were featured, both of which will be hosting their own respective tattoo conventions later this year, The Grand Canyon State Tattoo Convention and the 13th Northern Arizona Tattoo Festival. There was also local comic book author RUBEN NAJERA, as well as daredevil VAUGHN SHAFER with his custom built motorized board that’s already set records and is gunning to set more. 

LUICIDAL, the group founded by SUICIDAL TENDENCIES alumni LOUICHE MAYORGA, closed out Skatercon playing early SUICIDAL songs. Rather than a mosh pit, skaters took to the front and formed a skateboarding hurricane. Unfortunately, the generators powering the stage equipment gave out and put an early end to the show.

The music would not stop here though, as a punk and metal afterparty took place at The 44 in Glendale. OBL, SEWER GAP, and THE EARLY GRABS scratched the late night punk rock itch, while SCATTERED GUTS threw a curveball at the crowd with headbanging stoner thrash madness. GUTTERMOUTH was the wildest performance of the night with people moshing the hardest and taking off their bras and throwing them at lead singer MARK ADKINS. He briefly wore that same audience member’s bra while performing “I’m Destroying the World.”