Local Native American skateboarding duo Jeremy and Cecely Todacheenie, both from Gallup, NM, are “shredding” the light on talented local skateboarders by posting skateboarding news on their community-based page called “Enchantment Skateboarding.” Gallup Sun got the chance to find out more from these avid skateboarders, who also happen to be husband and wife, and tell of their upcoming skateboard event coming to the El Morro Theatre at 7 pm on Feb. 4.
GS: First off, thanks for doing this … let’s get right into it ... what is Enchantment Skateboarding about?
CT: ES is a community based page where we post skateboarding events, news, videos, as well as getting the community youth more known about skateboarding. The videos posted are of local skateboarders, and we usually keep track of three main areas: Albuquerque, Farmington, and of course, Gallup. Basically just getting the word out to the area youth.
GS: Why did you guys decide to do it and how long has ES been going on?
CT: My husband and I had always talked about it and felt there was a need for it. We noticed that the Gallup skate scene here was pretty dead, and a lot kids needed something to encourage them about what they loved, which is skateboarding. We also wanted to help kids stay out of trouble, and to use skateboarding as a way to work on goals for their life. We always wanted to help out our community ... so one day we just decided to do it, it’s been three years now for ES.
GS: Wow thats awesome, so do you have skaters not only from Gallup, but from different places too?
CT: Yup … from Thoreau, Window Rock, AZ, Ft. Defiance, Albuquerque, and Zuni, just to skate the street spots in Gallup and to hang out with other skateboarders who live in the area. We usually do all our skateboarding at the, “DIY” which we call it, it’s located where the old Big Bear warehouse use to be on the northside of Gallup. So for now we skateboard there until the new skateboard park opens up this coming Spring.
GS: Oh cool, so before I ask about the new skateboard park, how did you get into skateboarding?
CT: I got into skateboarding when I was teenager by watching my brothers who were interested in it at the time, and also from watching a video. I’ve been skateboarding since for over ten years. I’m 26 now and I love it!
GS: Now … you and your husband are sponsored too right?
CT: Yeah, I’m actually sponsored by Four Wheel War Pony-Silver Skate Shop, out of Albuquerque, which is a skateboarding company. I’m the only female here in Gallup who is sponsored by these guys because of the tricks I do one after another ... I’m very consistent in my moves plus I help them out their events. I’m also sponsored by a company out of Australia called, Athletes Gel. My husband is also sponsored by Four Wheel War Pony.
GS: Wow that is way cool...so lets talk about this new skateboard park coming soon, do you guys play a part in it?
CT: Yes, we helped out by raising money for it with a couple events. We raised about $400,000 so far and the City of Gallup has been very helpful too. It will break ground this coming Spring. We’re still raising more for another section that will be a part of the skateboard park. Local business owners donated multiple donations, the state & again the City of Gallup helped out. It’s going to be on the East side of Gallup along Historic Route 66.
GS: That is way cool to hear, so tell me about this upcoming event that is gonna be at the El Morro Theatre.
CT: We will be having an event coming up, on Saturday, Feb. 4 at the El Morro Theatre, beginning at 7 pm, where we’ll be streaming our first full length film for ES, called “It’s Organic.” We’ll do a little talking prior to the video, but before we show that, we’re going to show a video about our Skate Jam event we held last year where we raised money for the upcoming skate park, as well as showing plans for the new skate park. Plus we’re going to have a live music performance by, Jimmy Chee, who also is a skateboarder. It’s a free event so we invite everyone to come check it out and especially if you are a skateboarder young and old.
GS: Awesome, can’t wait to check it out. Hey thank you guys for doing this and much success to ES.
CT: Thank you guys for doing this for us we really appreciate it.
For more info on Enchantment Skateboarding, find them on Facebook, Instagram, or call (505) 620-6920.
By Dee Velasco
For the Sun
