Life for today's skaters isn't nearly what it was a decade ago. With the growth of huge sponsors, contest prize purses, a never-ending stream of media coverage, and high-tech training facilities the possibilities are endless for those with ambition. The possibility of fame and fortune is very real.

But 16-year-old Louie Lopez could care less about all that. His outlook resembles that of skating's golden age, when it was simply about the fun.

To that point, it doesn't take long to realize how uncomfortable he is with the attention his own skating attracts. But like it or not, Lopez is well on his way to a bright career in skateboarding that - should he play his hand well - will allow him to never get a real job.

Lopez's sponsors like Flip and Volcom, along with powerhouses like vitaminwater, give him all the freedom and support he needs to progress his skateboarding, so it was no surprise that we caught up with him in between skate sessions at Camp Woodward East.



Like many of the other 16-year-olds lurking around parks, his goal is to turn pro someday. But unlike most, he has the skills and attitude to make his dreams a reality.

Whether his future is in high profile contests, or highly viewed videos, is still uncertain, but this much we do know: we'll be seeing a whole lot of this pure street skater in the years to come.






(skate session with Louie at Camp Woodward with vitaminwater. p. Nate Hoppes)