DIG ARCHIVES: EDWIN DELAROSA FRAGMENTS

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FRAGMENTS: EDWIN DELAROSA - ARTICLE REPRINTED FROM DIG 15, MARCH/APRIL 2001

Name: Edwin Delarosa
Age: 16
Home: Brooklyn, New York
Co-Sponsors: Animal Components, Zoo York.

Edwin and I first met briefly last winter when I was working on an article about street riders in New York City. Shortly after that he took a lengthy voyage to his homeland of Panama. Next spring we met again when I began filming for the upcoming Animal video. I don’t know if it was the unbelievably good feeling of the first warm spring day, the everlasting energy of a 15 year-old, or just some kind of natural abilities, but he rode so well that he was on the Animal team by the day’s end.

Good thing too, because over the course of the next few months we would spend countless days together riding, filming, shooting photos, and more importantly, having fun and becoming good friends. The photos on these pages give you a glimpse of how amazing Ed is on a bike, but tell absolutely nothing about how generous, considerate, and friendly he is. If he finds ten bucks, then you’ve both got five. When your back hurts, he’ll carry the bag. If you miss the train, he’ll ride home with you. If in some absurd chance Edwin’s riding skills don’t take him far in life, his personality definitely will.

Union Square, NYC.

New York was too cold so we took a trip somewhere warm. Once we got to Florida Edwin celebrated the warm weather with a rail ride to 180.

Snowstorm, Washington DC.

Barspin wallride at a colourful spot somewhere in Midtown Manhattan.

Rail 180 at NYC’s unofficial rider’s meeting spot, Union Square.

Edwin doesn’t know how to swim, but he can do fakie 540’s down stairs.

Words and Photos by JZ