Ron Beaulieu

One of the things that are special about the World Round-Up is that there are several fathers that come with their sons or daughters to watch them compete. Victor Maldonado is one of those parents who not only love to watch his son CJ skate but also teams up with him and enters HIPPIE MIKES WORST TRICK CONTEST, an event that they have won two years in a row. The other dad that comes to mind is Ron Beaulieu who not only drives his son Nick the 19-hour 1,200-mile endurance run from Cedar City, Utah to Cloverdale but also brings his arsenal of vintage skateboards with him.

Ron who skated skating back in 1971 remembers each skateboard he has owned many of which he still has in his collection. Ron told us, “My first board was a California Surfer with Roller Derby clay wheels. I didn’t get another board until urethane wheels first came out. It was plastic as I recall, so I sanded the deck and put grip tape on it and started to learn freestyle, this would have been in 1974. I then found a used Fiberflex, bought a set of Road Rider 4 wheels and started to advance my freestyle tricks. Then in 1978, I competed in my first freestyle contest which I won, but it was also the last freestyle contest I entered? In 1977 I discovered empty swimming pools and started to learn how to skate vertical terrain.” Ron had to take time out from skating to attend college, he then got married and started to raise a family. He went on to say “I didn’t do much skating until my son’s Tyler and Nicholas discovered skateboarding. It sorta came around full circle, seeing them skate brought back so many good memories that I rediscovered skating.” He still loves to ride vertical whenever he can find a good halfpipe.

A drilling rig operator by trade, Ron also likes to make longboards, races in ATV motocross, and builds show cars. He also has this thing for drums. After watching Nick compete for two years Ron decided to enter the Legends Freestyle Classic and compete with the other skaters over 50.

1978 Local Freestyle Contest: 1st place