PROJECT STATEMENT FROM RODNEY TORRES, TORRO! SKATEBOARDS FOUNDER:
 
Meeting Harold at the Brooklyn Banks back in 1992-93 was really inspiring for me. Harold had skills, style, consistency, and the confidence and personality that complemented it all. Harold was one of those genuine dudes you gravitate towards because of their personality. I honestly don’t think there was ever a time when I skated or chilled with Harold where I wasn’t cracking up laughing!
 
What inspired me most about Harold wasn’t just his skateboarding ability or his personality, it was how he treated people. He was always welcoming, positive, charming, and put a smile on everyone's face. Harold just being Harold helped people feel good about themselves as they went on with their day. Even the haters—he killed them with kindness!
 
At such a young age, I experienced a lot of the negative things that came with growing up during that era; it was a tough time and it honestly had me second guessing skateboarding. I felt like I didn’t fit in with the current circle of “the establishment” in our community, but Harold was one of the older guys that I looked up to who was a voice of reason, encouragement, and acceptance for me at that time. Harold helped me realize that all I needed to do was focus on what’s important to me, and that was skateboarding.

As I started going more and more into Manhattan from Queens, I’d link up and skate with Harold from time to time. I remember Harold taking me to a night club called the Tunnel to skate a mini ramp Eli Gesner had built. We skated it until the sun came up! Afterwards, Harold welcomed me into his home and blessed me with boards. He always said, “Just keep skating, kid.” To this day, I appreciate him for that.

This project is important to me because of the impact Harold had on my life. Harold inspired me to stay focused on what's important, encouraged me to keep pushing myself to be better, and taught me how to treat people. Harold’s impact also contributed to building some really good relationships with great people over time that led to me picking up sponsors, eventually turning pro, and ultimately creating my own skateboard brand.

When I launched TORRO! Skateboards, it was inevitable that I would launch it on Harold’s birthday, April 2nd. That was my way of paying homage to the person who inspired, accepted, encouraged, taught, and supported me to continue skateboarding. You never know the kind of impact a person can leave on a kid trying to find his way in this world, and Harold was the person who had that impact on me. I am forever grateful for Harold, and the mark he left on my life.

My brand TORRO! Skateboards has sponsored HHF events since we launched on Harold’s birthday back in 2012. As we mark our 10th anniversary, it's important to me that we partner with the Harold Hunter Foundation on this occasion because we are also celebrating Harold’s 48th Birthday! (R.I.P.)
 
This is an incredible opportunity to bring our community together to have a fun-filled weekend of skateboarding at LES and Substance on April 2nd and 3rd. We will also be unveiling a collaboration deck and t-shirt with a portion of proceeds donated to HHF to further its mission of helping NYC kids find their way through skateboarding the way Harold did for me. -Rodney Torres