Two exhausted skate boarders rolled into Occasions Sq. on Saturday — ending an arduous 76-day journey throughout the US.
An ecstatic crowd greeted Jay VanPorppal and Orio Ramirez within the vacationer hotspot to rejoice the unbelievable feat, which the pair devoted to charity.
“Thank you, God!” VanPorppal shouted as supporters swarmed the pair.
“And we’re not better than any of ya’ll either. We all came out the womb!”
VanPorppal and Ramirez, each 25, have been skating ever since they pushed off from Los Angeles on Sept. 30 — typically clocking in 20-mile days in all sorts of climate and terrain.
The “Push to NYC” was brainstormed earlier this yr as a ardour challenge for the duo — each of whom are lifelong skaters — however shortly advanced into a method of sharing their love for the game.
The pair — who boast a mixed 500,000 Instagram followers — capitalized on the hundreds who have been tuning in to comply with their each day vlog posts in regards to the journey. Elevating cash alongside the best way, 100% of the funds can be put towards donating skateboards to youngsters who can’t afford them.
VanPorppal and Ramirez additionally drew inspiration from Chad Caruso, who set a world document in 2023 for crossing the continent by way of skateboard in 57 days. The pair initially estimated their travels would intently mirror Caruso’s, however shortly found the feat can be way more grueling.
In latest weeks, the duo bought caught in rainstorms and below-freezing temperatures that plagued the Northwest.
Oftentimes exhausted, the pair took breaks simply off the aspect of the highway, earlier than inevitably leaping again on their boards to clock in additional miles.
They even needed to swap out their destroyed and cracked wheels, which crumbled from the intense overuse.
“I’m tired, I’m exhausted. I went through so many emotions. The cold and the dark woods, the cold and the rain and the snow and the hails and the heat and everything, bro,” VanPorppal mentioned simply earlier than coasting into the Massive Apple.
“Thank you all for an amazing journey. Thank you all for changing my life. Thank you so much for showing me — I’m just able to see the world, how beautiful it is and all this, bro. I get to be here and skateboard across the whole country.”
