By Matthew Becerra, May 13, 2025
Students, alumni, Pomona locals and skaters from the well-known Pawnshop Skate Co. community packed the Lopez Urban Farm for the premiere of “Club Tapes Volumes 2” at sundown May 9.
Organized by Cal Poly Pomona Skate Club president and vice president Aaron Pangilinan and Brandon “Bogie” Bocanegra, the video was a yearlong project, the longest and most collaborative the club has ever attempted.
The video itself ran roughly 30 minutes and was shot entirely in HD. Bocanegra said it has a “Baker-inspired” style, with music and humor throughout the video.
The most talked-about part of the night belonged to Ian Patton, a third-year Environmental Biology student whose skating earned the loudest reactions from the crowd. Patton received a free board and T-shirt from Pawnshop at the end of the night, as well as a trophy labeled “Skater of the Year.”
“I don’t want to be the man of the hour, but I’m proud of most of the s–t I’ve done,” Patton said. “I’m just excited to see what Bogie’s put together.”
One trick that had the loudest applause was Patton’s kickflip down the 10-stair in front of Parking Structure 1.
These and other tricks showcased in the video reflect the hard work and effort Pangilinan, Bocanegra and the club put in to make it a reality.
“The quality of tricks were a lot better than last year,” Pangilinan said. “We had the whole year to film it rather than like three weeks like last year.”
The setting was uniquely Pomona, a farm turned DIY skate spot featuring a halfpipe, flat ground, an airbrush booth in a garage, music bumping from a speaker and a makeshift theater setup with chairs and a projector.
Lopez Urban Farm is a community-based farm in Pomona, which focuses on education, creating inclusive green spaces and supporting grassroots projects in the city, according to its website.
“We got in contact with (Lopez Urban Farm) about a month ago, and they were down to do it,” Pangilinan said. “They got Pawn to support us, have our back, I’m just happy for all the effort that everyone put in this video.”
Pawnshop helped promote the event and even canceled its own “Flatbar Friday,” a weekly skate session, to support the club’s premiere.
“It’s really important to me,” Bocanegra said, who filmed and edited the project. “Seeing all the people turning out and all the support online from people everywhere, having Pawn pick it up and put it all over their media, it feels good.”
The video premiere began when the sun started to set. Both Pangilinan and Bocanegra gave short speeches, expressing gratitude to everyone who showed up and everyone who helped work on the video. They announced that after Pangilinan graduates, Bocanegra will become club president.
The crowd reacted loudly and often, especially during standout moments, like the chaotic slam section that had people laughing and wincing as the skaters hit the ground.
Alumni who moved on from the school came back to show support and after stuck around to help.
“I feel like I have an attachment to this,” said Ryan Paja, founder of the CPP Skate Club. “This is my family. We’re more than just a club.”
That message of unity was echoed by the club’s advisor Anthony Acock, who isn’t even in the same department as the students involved but still found himself drawn in.
“Skateboarding’s so universal,” Acock said. “I’ve lived all over the country, and it’s the exact same group of kids in different cities and states.”
More than a simple skate video, the premier of “Club Tapes” represents the community not only at Cal Poly Pomona, but the region of Pomona as a whole.
Feature image courtesy of Teresa Acosta
