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.

Marco de Santi Show Notes:

3:30:  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

18:30:  Stanley:  Get 30% off site wide with the code drinkfast

Peter Glenn Ski and Sports:  Over 60 years of getting you out there

10 Barrel Brewery:  Buy their beers; they support action sports more than anyone

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 Brothers, 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

Elan Skis:  Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better

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