In the summer of 2011 Lil Wayne reached out to Uptown Skate School for a personal skateboard instructor to teach him how to skate. So we sent out our best, Adam Z!

Adam has been with Uptown for many years and was the perfect fit for the job. In the past year Adam has traveled the world- going everywhere Wayne goes including all his world tours. He has even relocated to Florida to be Wayne’s full time skate instructor/manager.

Throughout the year Wayne’s skateboarding skills have improved tremendously with the help of Uptown Skate School. Uptown prides itself on having highly qualified staff to make your skateboarding experience the best it can be.

The first step is to go to a local skateshop.  Local skateshops usually carry legitimate brands, which makes a huge difference in your skateboarding experience.  The pre-set up skateboards (those on the rack already set up) are usually cheaper and good for beginners.  For a more custom and advanced board (suggested!) pick out each part of the skateboard individually.  A complete street skateboard should run you around $110-140 and a complete longboard is around $170-250 depending on the brand and where you purchase it.

Uptown’s instructors favorite street skateboard

5boro deck: size 7.8in

Independent trucks         Spitfire wheels          Rockstar Bearings   Mob griptape
size 139 standard             size 52mm                  ceramics

Other highly recommended products are the Ricta Clouds wheels 57mm (which are great for beginners or cruiser boards), Bones Swiss Bearings, and ProTec safety equipment.

Uptown’s instructors favorite longboard

Bustin- “Spliff” longboard (31″) is great for beginner to advance longboarders

Original- “Hybrid 35″ longboard (35″) turns on a dime! It is a extremely truck flexible board that gives a a surf-like experience. Only recommended for advance longboarders.

Lorena Lima has been Uptown’s head skateboard instructor in the New York City and New Jersey area since 2009 and is now co-owner of the company along side Jennifer Loughran. Lorena teaches every type of lesson ranging from beginner-advanced in skateboarding and longboarding, and also is Uptown’s tour guide in the “New York City Skateboarding Tour.”

Lorena is originally from Brazil and now resides in New Jersey where she is a full time college student majoring in Marketing & Management. She started skateboarding in 2001 and just five year later she was competing professionally in all the major skateboarding contests worldwide, including X-Games and the Maloof Money Cup. In the past few years she has hosted numerous events to help inspire skateboarders, especially female riders, by providing free skateboard instruction and contests in countries like Spain and Brazil.

Today she continues to travel all over the world to host her own skate clinics/contests, compete in professional competitions, and participate in various events. Lorena is represented by big sponsors such as 5boro Skateboards, Etnies shoes, Spitfire Wheels, Rockstar Bearings, and NJ Skateshop.

Contests

X-Games                               Maloof Money Cup              Dew Tour

GVR                                        MTV / TRL Contest             Supergirl PRO

Rockstar Masa Pro

Press

Skateboard Mag                   Focus Mag                            Brazilian Voice
Ollie bump                            Nosegrind                             Ollie over girl

Red Bulletin                          Strange Notes Video          FORTHEKREW Mag
X-Games                                NJ commerical                    Feeble to fakie

Rockstar Video                    Dogway Magazine
Full part                                High frontboard slides

Sponsors