TransWorld SKATEboarding

“This is Chula, bitch! There are cops everywhere,” joked Tommy after getting the boot for playing a game of SKATE on the sidewalk. He then proceeded to kid, “This is what my day is like. Just got some food. How you guys gonna film me take a nap until four?” Real talk. But seriously, it’s hard as hell to skate after takin’ down a whole pie.

“I like to drive my own car and listen to my music. It gets me hyped.” Tommy’s always in his Nissan Sentra with a couple friends, but the good thing about following him is you never lose sight…errr sound. You could hear the reggae tunes blastin’ from at least five—maybe six—stoplights ahead.

Ever wondered how your life changes after scoring your name on the bottom of a board? It ain’t all glamour: “This is what it’s like right here. The single life. Having your own place, doing your own dishes. Real life shit,” said Tommy while pit stopping to do chores around his one-bedroom Chula Vista apartment. Some things in life never change.

Tommy’s baby girl Della Hope Sandoval—named Della after his favorite reggae singer, Della Grant—usually cuddles in her crib right beside dad. And while he describes being a father as the best thing ever, it unavoidably increases day-to-day responsibilities. Luckily we caught him on his day off daddy daycare. “It’s my day to just skate.”

One of Tommy’s best friends works at Overload, the shop Tommy rides for, so we had to make the mandatory visit to say what’s up (gotta hook up the homeys, right?) and set up a fresh board. And in case you were wondering where to find more autographed Tommy pro models than you knew existed, Overload’s definitely the spot.

Upon arrivin’ at Chula Park the gates were locked shut, but Tommy’s the hometown hero, so he pretty much has keys to the city. “Look, it’s Tommy Sandoval. We’ve been seeing you on TV.” Just one of the many lines overheard from the park employees who opened the park and were psyched to see the local celebrity launch backside flips over the fence with minimal effort.