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Willy Santos
Personal information
Bornc. 1975
Subic Bay, Philippines
Occupations
Years active1985–present
Websitewillysworkshop.com
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportSkateboarding
EventStreet skateboarding
TeamBirdhouse Skateboards
Turned pro1990
Achievements and titles
World finalsMunster World Cup Street Contest, 1997
National finalsX-Games Street Contest, 1997

Willy Monolato Santos (born c. 1975) is a Filipino-American professional skateboarder and entrepreneur, specializing in street skateboarding. He was one of the original skaters with Tony Hawk's Birdhouse Skateboards team. In 1992, he was the TransWorld Skateboarding skater of the year. He won the Munster World Cup Street Contest in Germany in 1997. Thrasher Magazine calls him "one of the best street skaters during the dark early 90s."[1]

Early life

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Willy Monolato Santos was born in a military base in Subic Bay, Philippines around 1975.[2][3][4][5] His father is a United States Navy engineer from Manila and his mother is Kapampangan.[2][6][7]

When his father was transferred by the Navy, his family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas when he was one year old and to San Diego, California when he was two.[8][2] The family moved back to Subic Bay when he was in the second grade.[2] They returned to San Diego when Santos was in fifth grade.[2]

Santos took up skateboarding after seeing youths in his area who were also into the sport.[8][2] He started participating in amateur contests in San Diego when he was thirteen years old.[1][7]

Career

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Santos was one of the first Filipino professional skaters.[8] He turned professional when he was fifteen years old,[6][9][7] and was first sponsored by G&S Skateboards.[2][1][5] G&S released a Santos skateboard.[2]

When he was in the eleventh grade, he was heavily recruited and was asked to join skateboarding teams by Tony Hawk, Plan B Skateboards, Rodney Mullen, Steve Rocco and Mike Ternasky of World Industries.[5][2] He joined Tony Hawk as one of the original riders for Birdhouse Skateboards in 1992[3][2] and was given a used Honda Accord as part of his sponsorship deal.[8][2] Santos suggested then-amateurs Andrew Reynolds and Matt Beach for the Birdhouse team.[5] Later, he discovered Jim Greco and recruited him to the team.[5]

Santos is regarded by Thrasher Magazine as "one of the best street skaters during the dark early 90s."[1] In 1992, he was the TransWorld Skateboarding skater of the year.[8] In June 1997, he was ranked fifth in the world.[4] He placed third in the first X Games Street Contest in Rhode Island in 1997, competing against Tony Hawk.[1][4] He then won the Munster World Cup Street Contest in Germany in 1997.[8][6] In 1998, he won the New Jersey Vans Triple Crown Street Contest.[8] He also won the Gravity Games Best Trick Street in 2000.[8]

Santos appeared in several skate videos for the team such as Feasters (1992) and The End (1998).[10][11] He was known for his "nollie nosegrind down handrails".[5] He used a dog graphic on his skateboards in the 1990s and early 2000s.[7] He also was sponsored by Vans and had a signature shoe in 1997.[7]

After almost 25 years, he left Birdhouse to form his own skateboard company, Willys Workshop in Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego, California.[1][6][2][9] where he now coaches skaters for his brand.[6] He uses Filipino imagery on his products.[2] In 2012, HBO featured Santos in its East of Main Street series.[8]

Media appearances

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Santos appears as one of the playable pro skaters in Grind Session for the PlayStation.[12][13]

Personal life

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Santos lives in Mira Mesa, San Diego, California.[1][8] He has two children with his wife Shelly.[2]

Filmography

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Films and videos

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Year Title Role Notes References
1992 Feasters Himself [11][14]
1993 Ravers Himself [14][15]
1994 The Skateboard Kid 2 Mike Roads
1996 Europe 1996 Himself [16]
1996 Balance In The World of Chaos Himself [17]
1998 The End Himself [10]
2000 Tampa 2000 Himself [18]
2001 Destroying America Himself [19]
2007 The Beginning Himself [20][21]
2007 Transworld Skateboarding Presents Trick Tips with Willy Santos: Instructional Video Number Two Himself
2009 It's Always Sunnies In Australia Himself [22]
2010 East Coast Tour Himself [23]
2011 Tour Du Monde Himself [24]
2020 SK8MAFIA 2020 Himself [25]

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes References
2000 Grind Session Himself Playable skater [12][13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Medina, Andrei (2012-05-29). "Willy Santos -- the Manny Pacquiao of US skateboarding". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Boas, Benjamin (2012-02-16). "Big Willy Style". FRANK. No. 151. pp. 38–45 – via issuu.
  3. ^ a b "Kilalanin si Willy Santos, ang Pinoy pro skateboarder". GMA Integrated News. 2013-06-02. Retrieved 2024-08-30 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ a b c "Skateboarderes find X-ceptance at Games". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. 1997-06-23. pp. 1D, 6D. Retrieved 2024-08-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Stricker, Eric; Sherwood, Nate (2006-07-10). "Willy Santos - 20 Questions". TransWorld SKATEboarding Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Celebrating Community: Skateboarding legend Willy Santos talks sport's growth and his Filipino culture". ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV. 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  7. ^ a b c d e "SD Loyal Launches Skateboard Collaboration With Willy Santos". There San Diego. 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Pimentel, Joseph (2012-05-29). "Willy Santos, first Filipino-American pioneer of skateboarding". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  9. ^ a b Coakley, Amber (July 23, 2023). "Legendary skateboarder Willy Santos mashes up with SD Loyal for unique deck". Fox 5 San Diego. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Alley, Blair (2024-02-23). "Willy Santos tells the story of his gnarly kickflip into this bank in Poway, CA". TransWorld SKATEboarding Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  11. ^ a b "Classics: Willy Santos". Thrasher.
  12. ^ a b Gerstmann, Jeff (May 17, 2006). "Grind Session Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  13. ^ a b Fiction, Silas (2017-05-12). "We Tried to Review Every Skateboarding Game on Playstation". Jenkem Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  14. ^ a b "Willy Santos". The Nine Club. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  15. ^ "Birdhouse Projects - Ravers". Skate Video Site. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  16. ^ "411VM - Europe 1996". Skate Video Site. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  17. ^ "Balance In The World of Chaos". Skate Video Site. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  18. ^ "11VM - Tampa 2000". Skate Video Site. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  19. ^ "Destroying America". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  20. ^ Kelly, Kevin (2007-10-27). "Hawk Brings Skateboard to Florence for Film Event". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 17. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  21. ^ "Birdhouse - The Beginning". Skate Video Site. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  22. ^ "Birdhouse - It's Always Sunnies In Australia". Skate Video Site. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  23. ^ "Birdhouse - East Coast Tour". Skate Video Site. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  24. ^ "Birdhouse - Tour Du Monde". Skate Video Site. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  25. ^ "SK8MAFIA - SK8MAFIA 2020". Skate Video Site. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
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