Skateboarding
Born in Puerto Rico, Manny Santiago moved to the United States with his family around age 5. He makes it clear that his upbringing in Lowell, Massachusetts, introduced him to skateboarding—and his life’s passion.
Today, though, Manny splits his time between the U.S. and Puerto Rico, where he has bought a home. As a Puerto Rican American who built a professional career on a skateboard, creating space and cultivating a scene for skateboarding to flourish on the island has become part of his life’s calling. In 2011, he organized the first Prince of Puerto Rico skate contest, which continues today as the marquee event in the region.
This episode of Portraits explores Manny Santiago’s early life in Lowell and chronicles his present-day life in Puerto Rico. Find out who were the biggest influences in his humble beginnings—from his first skate crew to his lifelong friendship with Dave Bachinsky. Then travel to the island with Manny to see where he rediscovered his Puerto Rican roots, made new connections, and how he has since started a movement to get local kids rolling into the professional ranks alongside him.