Marco de Santi came to the US with $100 in his pocket and he spoke no English. It was both comical, inspiring and sad… Until he became a World Champion. And when skating died, Marco went to the Cirque du Soleil.

Check the podcast on Libsyn | Itunes | Thepowellmovement.com.

Marco de Santi has the most interesting journey of any athlete I’ve had on the podcast. Born in a less than desirable situation in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Marco did what every kid does; he played soccer until he found skateparks. Marco quit team sports and headed to the USA at age 15, with literally nothing, to make his pro skating dream happen. While Marco eventually became a world Champion, inline was dropped by X-Games, and the organizing body of his sport didn’t include Marco in future events. So the first skater to land a triple was forced out of competition and into a life of LOVE, which he performs in every night with the Cirque de Soleil. It doesn’t get more rags to riches than this one.

TIMECODES: 03:30: Issues around his backyard vert ramp, growing up in Sao Paolo, and family life 10:00: Soccer, finding skating, stereotypes, roller rink skateparks, how does he pay to get to the US, and how does he stay 21:00: Not speaking English, meeting me, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and problems with judging 32:00: Mountain Dew, other sponsors, never wearing pads, and spending time at Woodward 34:00: The Yasutoko, the triple, and what’s cool about X Games 39:30: Rollerblade: Ski season may be over, but that feeling lasts all year with inline skating 41:30: Nerves, Silver at X Games, losing X Games, and then getting screwed by the ASA 47:00: Winning World Championships, all things Cirque de Soleil’s LOVE (skating, money, injury, perks), building his Vegas empire, and day trading 54:00: Inappropriate Questions with Hardcore Brazil, Carlos Pianowski.

Photos.

More Photos + Clips: 01 02 | 03 on Twitter. Photos: HayachiN.

Draw the line, Pool Riding with Takeshi Yasutoko in Japan.

Takeshi Yasutoko, “the inline skater who flies higher than anyone”! A video by Hi-Five Magazine (Japan).

Photo Gallery on Hi-five-mag.wowow.co.jp.

Recap of the E-FISE 2021 event (all categories: Roller / Skateboard / Scooter / BMX). Featuring Eito Yasutoko, Danilo Senna, Seoa Jang, Hervé André-Benoit (founder of the FISE) and all the people who made this possible.

Previously: E-Fise Junior by Hotwheels (2021) - Roller Mash Up.

Takeshi Yasutoko was given 60 seconds in an amusement park to display his skating skills. A video by Hi Five Magazine (Japan) - PLAY.

Behind the scenes with Takeshi Yasutoko & Chihiro Azuma

Previously: Chihiro Azuma - 60 seconds in an Amusement Park (2021).

2 X-Games gold medalists session: Takeshi Yasutoko & Moto Shibata, Vert skating at the G skatepark ( Goodskates.com).

Takeshi Yasutoko partnered with Fisher’s, a group of japanese friends quite popular on Youtube (their main channel has about 8.6 millions subscribers, and the secondary one, 2.5m).

About Fisher’s: “We do things that we enjoy, stupid things, and even things that may seem impossible… Our group of internet performers was formed back in the third grade of junior high school - a group of friends who are the same age and have known each other since kindergarten. Fisher’s is made up of 6 members: Silk Road, Ndaho, Dama, Zakao, Motoki & Masai”.

Takeshi Yasutoko Vert Session + Fisher’s First Lesson (297k views) - Filmed at the Murasaki Skatepark in Tokyo, Japan

Takeshi Yasutoko teaches inline skating to beginners (1.1m views)

Guest Star: Eito Yasutoko.

Takeshi Yasutoko - Royal Grind (Clip) + One Line at Jyonanjima Skatepark (2021, Japan).

Royal Grind (Clip)

One Line at Jyonanjima Skatepark

August 27-28-29, 2012 - Strasbourg (France) - get your tickets now at nlcontest.com/english.

Nouvelle Ligne NL Contest - Street PRO Results

• 2020 Winner: Carlos Bernal (full results) - Digital Edition.
• 2019 Winner: Nicolas Servy (full results).
• 2018 Winner: Joe Atkinson (full results).
• 2017 Winner: Nicolas Servy (full results).
• 2016 Winner: Julien Cudot (full results).
• 2015 Winner: Joe Atkinson (full results).
• 2014 Winner: CJ Wellsmore (full results).
• 2013 Winner: CJ Wellsmore (full results).
• 2012 Winner: Nick Lomax (full results).
• 2011 Winner: Brian Aragon (full results).
• 2010 Winner: Brian Aragon (full results).
• 2009 Winner: Stephane Alfano (full results).
• 2008 Winner: Stephane Alfano (full results).
• 2007 Winner: Stephane Alfano (full results).
• 2006 Winner: Bruno Loewe (full results).