Full Name: Rolando Brenes
From: Nicaragua
Stance: Regular
Chico Brenes was born in 1975 in Nicaragua. Growing up in a rural, poverty-stricken area, Brenes experienced firsthand the hardships of life during Nicaragua's turbulent Contra Revolution in the late 1970s. His mother was shot in the face during the conflict, and after receiving medical treatment in the U.S., she arranged for Chico to join her there when he was just 10 or 11 years old, crossing the border illegally.
Upon arriving in San Francisco, Brenes faced the challenge of a new language and culture, but his love for skateboarding was sparked when he saw a local skater perform an ollie. With a $10 plastic skateboard gifted by his grandmother, he began honing his skills and quickly became a fixture at the legendary Embarcadero skate spot. By his teens, he was already making waves in the San Francisco skate scene.
Brenes' career skyrocketed as he earned sponsorships from major brands like Chocolate, Lakai, and LRG. In 2009, he opened Nicaragua's first dedicated skate shop, Central Skate Shop, to support the local skate community.
Today, Chico continues to inspire both on and off the board, running his own skate brand, Chico Stix, and remaining an influential figure in skateboarding, especially in his home country.