Manny Santiago-Cedar Herald Index

Emanuel "Manny" Santiago (born September 10, 1985), nicknamed "Manny Slays All", is a professional skateboarder from Cayey, Puerto Rico. Santiago is the first Puerto Rican skateboarder to be in the Street League Skateboarding (SLS) “premier competitive series”. In 2013, Santiago won two consecutive stops in the first ever "Select Series" at Street League Skateboarding (SLS) Brazil and Barcelona. As an amateur, Santiago won 1st place for Best Trick at the Black Box Crossroads Contest amongst professional skateboarders like Nyjah Huston, Chris Cole, Torey Pudwill, and Ryan Sheckler. In 2012, he became the first Puerto Rican street skateboarder to place in the top three in the X Games after coming in 3rd place at the finals in Barcelona. He is famously recognized for his missing tooth, ear-to-ear smile, and endlessly positive demeanor.

Early life

Santiago was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts. As a kid, Santiago attended the local Boys & Girls Club near the Roberto Clemente Skate Park. He began skateboarding at the age of 14. Skateboarding served as an oasis from the growing gang culture in Lowell for Santiago. In 2012 during an interview with Vice Magazine, Santiago stated:

Manny Santiago

“Lowell ended up building some skate parks, and one happened to be near the Boys’ Club where I went. A few of my good friends started skating, so I tried it. The moment I stepped on a board I was hooked, and I haven’t stopped.”

Manny Santiago

Santiago also revealed in a 2014 interview with Eckō Unltd. that growing up in an underprivileged environment made him who he is today.

Manny Santiago

Amateur career

Santiago participated in several national and international amateur contests. During the 2006 Damn Am Contest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Santiago earned a golden ticket by placing 1st in qualifiers and finished in 1st place with tricks including kickflip backside 50-50, bigspin backside boardslide, and varial heelflip backside boardslide. Santiago competed in the 2009 Zoo York's AM Getting Paid Contest in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where he placed 2nd with tricks including kickflip backside crooked grind, laser heel, 360 shuvit lipslide.

Crossroads

Early in his career Santiago won 1st place for “Best Trick” in the Black Box Crossroads Best Trick Contest alongside professional skateboarders like Nyjah Huston, Chris Cole, Torey Pudwill, Ryan Sheckler, et al. Shortly after, Santiago became a professional skateboarder.

Professional career

In 2010, Santiago left Think Skateboards and had his professional board graphic made by AMMO skateboards, a skateboard company owned by professional skateboarder and skateboarding personality, Felix Arguelles.

Dew Tour

In 2011, Santiago won Alli Sport’s Ball Park Rookie of The Year at Dew Tour.

“When is being called a “rookie” a good thing? When you’re called Ball Park’s Rookie of the Year. The highest tour rookie in both skateboarding and BMX…”

Street League (SLS)

In 2013, Santiago finished in 1st place during Street League Skateboarding (SLS) Contests located in Brazil and Barcelona. Both wins made him the first ever Street League Skateboarding (SLS) “Select Series Champion” and first ever “Select Series Winner” to advance to the finals and the podium.

“Qualifying for SLS in 2013, [Manny Santiago] has showed us he can keep up with the best of them in 2014. Manny’s loving and positive energy makes him one seriously entertaining skater to watch.”

Manny Slays All

Santiago has branded a series of hats, shirts, stickers and accessories with the first of letter in each word of his “Manny Slays All” brand, making “MSA” a prominent signature logo. The Manny Slays All line has branched out into collaborations with other companies such as Rastaclat, Grizzly Griptape, Famous Stars and Straps, and Eckō Unltd. Santiago later added a machete alongside the letters: MSA as his logo. This current logo is watermarked on all of his photographs and videos posted on social media. Santiago’s fan base continues to rapidly spike with daily updates on his skateboarding lifestyle. “Beyond dropping sick videos and skating [competitions], Manny runs one of the best skate/ lifestyle blogs on the internet.”