Words and photos by Matt Fabiano
If you want to take a trip to Mexico City to skate with your homies, here are a few do’s and don’ts to help you along the way. There are some high quality unique skate spots, however the city is huge and in order to stack clips you have to know where to go and make a plan before heading out.
Your first task, map out your journey and take advantage of public transportation. CDMX has a great subway system that can get you just about anywhere for 5 pesos ($.25 US). That said, we rented a gringo blue, VW SUV for $650 with a faulty onboard computer and a rear view mirror that broke off on the way to the Airbnb. A new world lay ahead! So let’s get to it.
Tip #1: Compile your pins and try to strategically hit spots in the same neighborhood. We spent too much time driving between spots and the traffic was stressful. Traffic can be devastating to your skate sessions and parking is a whole other ball game. For example, we accidentally parked in a private parking zone that wasn’t clearly marked and got our car booted. After paying the 750 peso fine ($38US), we then lost the receipt and that also created some problems. Good thing we clipped the fuck up at Parque América. Keep your receipts!
Tip #2: Knowing a little Spanish or going with someone who speaks is clutch. If you know nothing, it will be a little rough. My friends Carlos and Jimmy really held it down when it came to speaking to our host, waiters, and local vendors.
Tip #3: You can eat like royalty with the US dollar in Mexico. The US dollar is currently worth about 20 pesos. Fresh pressed orange juice, craft coffee, and a few delicious baked goods became our routine breakfast for about 100 pesos each. Cheap street vendors are everywhere and finding your next meal can become an exciting adventure. Buying bottled water is advised. This means that you should be careful eating fresh veggies that may have been washed with the tap and avoiding ice in your drinks unless it is fine dining. Drinking clean water will keep you skating bowls instead of sitting on one!
Tip #4: Check out the skatepark at Parque Lira and meet a local who is willing to show you around. Shout out to Nacho, Santiago G, Santiago Gomez Rodriguez, and Fabiano Barbosa the hash lord. They became our spot sherpas for a couple days. Much love to those fellas. My skate spot recommendations are Plaza Rio de Janeiro, Parque América, Ciudad Deportiva Serdán, and the incredible ledge spot on one of the four corners of Alameda Central.
Long story short, avoid trouble. No one wants to go to Mexican jail for smoking cigarettes inside a bank. Luckily, Carlos escaped his fate with the cops debt free. The city has amazing museums, archaeological sights, and is full of beautiful people. I recommend you take a trip like we did, You’ll have good memories to share for years to come.
