Houston Chronicle
Black skateboarders roll into the spotlight
From the ramps of Houston to the pages of Thrasher, local Black skateboarders such as Ty’Rae Carter and Derrick Hayes are getting their due.
By Camilo Hannibal Smith
Published December 13, 2020
It was a photo just like any other that had been taken of him skateboarding. Houston’s Ty’Rae Carter is seen floating in the air doing a tailgrab nosegrind at the edge of a skate ramp, the tallest in the city. He’s gripping the top of his board, his face etched in concentration. The trick was worthy of the picture, but the image ended up being worthy of something else: a historic moment in skateboard culture.
Get ready to boogie on the bayou or at least walk, jog or bike to the rhythm of classical music. ROCO has joined forces with Buffalo Bayou Partnership to provide a new experience along its banks. With ROCO on Buffalo Bayou, visitors can explore miles of trails lining the bayou to discover and scan QR codes posted at landmarks and public art works. Simply hover over each code with a camera app activated, and a link will appear. The link leads to a specific piece of music performed by ROCO, specially selected for each location or art installation and curated by the ROCO team.