Ragdoll – Rags to Stitches interview
Name : Anthony Scalamere. “RAGDOLL”
From: Las Vegas NV
So whats up with this surgery? why haven’t you been able to finish filming for your Welcome Back part for Hurtlife skateboards new movie “Hello Mercy” ?
I don’t have insurance and that’s the problem. I’ve had injuries before that I could just ace bandage and ice. But this one I’m going through now is fucked. It’s a Hydrocele,which is pretty much a swelling of your scrotom and balls. It’s like a water balloon half the size of a orange on my left side of my ballsack. They have to surgically remove it. It’s super uncomfortable and awkward for me to even push on my board let alone jump down stuff. Sucks. Mentally puts me in a damper because it’s hard not to think about 24/7.
So how can people help?
*I started a gofundme page to try and raise the money that way. Seems to have worked for people that are in certain similar situations that just need some extra help from people that are willing to donate. I truly appreciate every single one of the people that have contributed already. Very heartwarming. THANK YOU! But the title of it on GoFundMe is RagsToStitches. Http://www.gofundme.com/
ragstostitches. The homies will also be holding a Benefit for me at Cornerstone Art Gallery, Saturday July 25th, ISI Group, Hurtlife, Pharmacy Boardshop, Happy Hour Shades and Official Genius are helping put together; a Grip Tape Art Auction, Carnival Games, BBQ, Music and session on the half-pipe. Come check some amazing art, chill with good people and win some prizes in the door raffles, been working on collecting some really cool stuff to help raise some $ for this dam surgery, so please come out if you are in Las Vegas.
what is Hurtlife, can you fill us in on the movement?
*Hurt Life Skateboards is what any passion is you have, and know the battle between not giving in or giving up. For me it’s Skateboarding, the best Blessing and Curse skateboarders know all to well. It’ll destroy you physically,mentally and emotionally. But at the same time it Cures you, And brings a Feeling of Pleasure nothing else can do to just to be on your board. And Hurt Life skateboards is the outlet we want people to connect with,Even if it’s just Visually. I feel it speaks to the people that get it. THAT’S THE DEEP VERSION/ But overall it’s just Raw,Alluring,and The graphics Visually grab you.
Fill us in on the early years of your pro career, what was it like to be one of the early pros coming out of Las Vegas?
*Actually there is a list of pros before me. I was part of the new youth coming up when I turned pro and don’t like the title that I put it on the map. Quick history of real Vegas legends to me includes Kenny Anderson, Mike Chu, Ryan Fabry, Rick Jaramillo, Joe Nemeth and Chad Muska even lived here for a bit. I can honestly say that they all helped me in one way or another. Thanks Mates!
What made you slide that ledge with no shoes on?
*I did it with shoes first,but it felt so natural that it was kind of easy. So I figured I could try something else but didn’t really have another trick in mind. So it came down to me wanting to at least punish myself in some weird way, so I went barefoot and at the time i was trying to get a Cover for a magazine I was doing an interview for. I didn’t have a shoe sponsor at the time and felt it unnecessary to promote a shoe especially if it was a cover shot. All in all it worked out, I felt a little abuse from doing it and the photo came out amazing. It was for an article about the Self Destruction skateboarders put them self through. David Broach shot it and put a fantastic story together with me and a few other psychopaths Hahahahaha.
Those early pig wheels and black label movie parts were legendary rumor is you might be dropping a new part soon?
*Thats what I’ve been hearing to Hahahahaha. I’m mentally prepared I think to jump back in. But I’m not trying to out do anyone or myself. Those parts I filmed were what I liked to do they way I wanted to do it. And that’s the mind fuck I get when people expect something from me. So my advice is just sit back,watch and either know I enjoyed filming it,or be disappointed with comparing it to things that I’ve done. I just want to put a little dirtiness back in skateboarding again. It’s to polished these days.
closing thoughts?
*I want to thank Everyone involved at HURT LIFE SKATEBOARDS, KC and Lowden for giving me back the passion to be involved again. My HL team who I couldn’t be happier or proud of to have apart of HL and in my life like family. Dustin from Official Genius for all his help, Brownie at KREW, HAPPY HOUR SHADES, Erik at SUPRA, BP, Pharmacy Boardshop,and everyone who’s supported HL and what I love to do and be apart of. SKATEBOARDING!
donate to Rag Dolls Surgery fund and help him get back on a board!
http://www.gofundme.com/ragstostitches
http://www.gofundme.com/ragstostitches
http://www.gofundme.com/ragstostitches
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http://www.gofundme.com/ragstostitches
http://www.gofundme.com/ragstostitches
Save the date *July 25th*
Cornerstone Art Gallery – 201 E. Colorado Ave. – Las Vegas, NV
Rags to Stitches benefit – All proceeds going to Surgery fund of ‘ Anthony Ragdoll Scalamere‘
www.gofundme.com/
Help Ragdoll get back on his board and finish filming his “Welcome Back part” for Hurtlife Skateboards new flick “Merci” !
“wiped out pretty bad and went to the doctor in a panic’ 4days after the fact when I discovered my jewels were really swollen. They diagnosed me with a ‘Hydrocele’. It Gives me anxiety and is to harsh to describe, but its basically a big water sack swollen around my balls, it constantly hurts, makes walking extremely uncomfortable and needs to be iced daily.”
“It’s a surgery toward getting me back on board and just being able to be happy.”
“I have No Insurance , But Trust me, this wouldn’t be an issue for a toothache, But I ain’t messing around with my jewels. Embarrassing yes. But I’ve done more embarrassing stuff in my life , and this one is to correct it.”
“Any donations help, and all of it is going towards the surgery,perscriptions and recovery.” – Ragdoll
Door raffle
Best Trick Contest
Grip Tape art auction with art from Skaters & ISI artists
Carnival Games
Food and LIVE MUSIC !!
Carnival Prizes sponsored by donations from Hurtlife, Happy Hour Shades, Pharmacy Boardshop and Official Genius! (more TBA)
EARLY DONATION RAFFLE! — EVERY $1 Counts!! please donate!
For every $10 donation you will be in the raffle for this signed Artic shirt, winner will be randomly selected to the people that donated. July 4th I will swipe on Instagram the winner.
P.S. More than a $10 donation gets a better chance at winning.
PLEASE DONATE TODAY and help this underground skate legend get his much needed surgery!
www.gofundme.com/
www.gofundme.com/
www.gofundme.com/
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Pig Wheel’s – Slaughterhouse Part.
“This overlooked and underrated part fell though the cracks, but skate history will be kind to Ragdoll and his wild style and truly unpredictable bag of tricks. Rowan Zorilla introduces a classic from the 2005 Pig video” – Thrasher Magazine.
Rag Dolls Classic part from Black Label’s Blacked Out
