Recently a crew of 18 friends and I flew to Cuba (via Panama) to give away skateboards to the kids down there who can’t get them because of the embargo. The full stories will appear in Vice and The Skateboard Mag in a few months. You can read the background story here. Or watch this inspirational little documentary on the scene down in Havana that prompted us to put the trip together.
I’d like to start by mustering up all the sarcasm I can and say this: I’d like to thank Vice for their undying support for my ten years of service. This trip could have never have happened without you. It is all thanks to you that I have a stack of shaky handi-cam digi tapes shot with my Parkinson’s hands of this life-changing trip instead of anything of professional caliber. Thank you. Always stoked to know you have my back. (Maybe I should have taken Kanye or Spike with me. Maybe then I’d have gotten a cameraman.)
On the other hand, in all seriousness, thank you to Red Bull, eS, Vans, Skatepark of Tampa, and Tomas Crowder at Wuweifilms.com for making this trip a success, and to all the brands that donated product for the kids. They were all stoked.
One of the people on the trip was my five-month-pregnant wife. And if I could turn back time, I would have never taken her. As uplifting as the trip was, I know that it has forever damaged our relationship and has most likely ruined our marriage. The last time I took her on a skate trip was to England back in October, before she was pregnant, when she was still drinking booze. It was thanks to the booze that she was blinded, unable to see that what I do is very, very easy.
This trip was different. After seeing just how little the Cubans had, not only was this trip an eye-opener for her regarding the unimportance of material items in relation to attaining happiness, but it was a realization that she can do what I do. With her sober pregnant eyes she watched my actions: immerse myself in the action, take some notes, shoot some digi photos, record some Quicktimes with the Elph. It didn’t take long before she realized not only could she do what I do, but she could do it better. I even caught her writing in a notebook. For pages.
While she slept, I read it.
I hated it.
It was very good.
It is Wednesday. It’s been raining for days. I am alone in our bed. My wife is in the office, MY OFFICE, typing an interview! Who the hell did she interview? I DO THE INTERVIEWS AROUND HERE!
I know it’s over. All the photos and videos below were shot by my wife. I’ve already impregnated her. I really don’t see what use I am to her anymore.
CHRIS NIERATKO
old guy in speedo alert!
Posted by: olga | 05/05/2009 at 19:01
that guy is loving the sun in his speedos, i think chris is arroused for sure.
Posted by: banana hammock | 05/05/2009 at 19:02
So Chris... I can't help but notice your wife's tatas are growing. I bet you're loving that.
Posted by: T | 05/05/2009 at 19:25
happiness is a trunk full of redbull and skateboards in cuba
Posted by: zero | 05/05/2009 at 19:30
I want to see more pictures of that girl blasting the shrubbery .
Girls peeing standing up ( and in this case bent over , standing up ) are worthy of a blog all their own !
Posted by: mike | 05/05/2009 at 21:18
seriously can someone make a blog of just pictures of cute girls peeing? please? like not even showing any nudity really, just crouching or leaning or whatever that girl's doing with the shrub
Posted by: nickjonas69 | 05/05/2009 at 22:47
i want to go surfing in CUba, if anyone wants to front a give away surfboard trip, ill do that...
Posted by: caper | 05/05/2009 at 22:50
damnit. all this time i thought robby roadsteamer was right on when he told me the one thing we can do to clip the wings on a chick's dreams is to put a baby in her. thank you, chris. now i know there's nothing stopping my girlfriend from being better than me at anything she wants. fuck
Posted by: stalin | 06/05/2009 at 01:42
you're wife is my favorite person on the planet.
Posted by: jenna | 06/05/2009 at 04:13
First of all Chris, its about time you get some color ya cracka ass cracka! Secondly, I'm very proud of you for making this happen. To give is to receive from God!
Posted by: Ormaza sensei | 06/05/2009 at 14:50
Even if the embargo were lifted they wouldn't be able to afford the skateboards. What do you think, the Cuban Government will start giving them away???
Posted by: Maggie | 06/05/2009 at 16:37
the jerkishness of the bad-husband stuff is so transparent chris. you and wifey and baby make me believe in love.
Posted by: cw | 08/05/2009 at 11:36
I'm a very proud friend of Chris. Tune into the Fuel Channel and watch "Daily Habit"... Chris is on there.
Danny C
Posted by: Danny C | 10/04/2010 at 02:33
Cool pics mate. cuba is so slick
Posted by: tricks for skateboarding | 03/07/2011 at 16:43