ALEC SCHROEDER: UNSUNG SGV SKATE LEGEND AND BACKYARD PIONEER

Posted on 18 April 2025
By George Stix
Posted in alecschroeder
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Alec Schroeder: Unsung SGV Skate Legend and Backyard Pioneer

In the heart of the San Gabriel Valley, where suburban sprawl meets deep skate roots, Alec Schroeder quietly carved out a legacy as one of the region’s most respected underground skate legends. While his brother Ben shredded worldwide with chaotic vert aggression, Alec kept his wheels closer to home—building not just his skill, but a backyard skate sanctuary that became a refuge for generations of SGV rippers.

The Roots of a Quiet Giant

Alec came up during a time when pool skating was gospel, punk was king, and the SGV scene was defined by raw attitude. Monrovia, Temple City, Covina, and the foothill towns were brimming with crust, backyard ramps, and tight-knit crews. Alec wasn’t just skating—he was shaping the foundation of what SGV skating would look like: humble, heavy, and DIY.

He didn’t chase magazine covers or video parts. Instead, Alec chased transitions, perfecting lip tricks, coping grinds, and flowing lines with surgical consistency. While his brother Ben was known for throwing his whole frame into high-speed insanity, Alec had a finesse that gave him cult status. Those who skated with him knew: his timing was flawless, and his balance unmatched.

The Ramp That Raised a Scene

Alec’s backyard ramp became the stuff of SGV legend. Tucked behind a modest green-walled structure with a white canopy overhead, the ramp wasn’t just a setup—it was a statement. The buttery transitions, custom coping, and perfectly maintained surface turned it into one of the most respected private ramps in Southern California.

The space itself, surrounded by trees, tools, and hand-built additions, reflected Alec’s craftsmanship and work ethic. The ramp was a living thing—updated, maintained, dialed. It served not just as a place to skate, but a community hub. Locals who were lucky enough to get a session in remember it like a rite of passage.

"That ramp made you better, whether you wanted it to or not," said one SGV skater. "If Alec invited you to ride it, it meant you were doing something right."

A Mentor Without a Megaphone

What made Alec unique wasn’t just his skating—it was his presence. He never needed to say much. Younger skaters respected his aura. He was the kind of guy who'd quietly fix your truck bolt mid-session without a word, just a nod. That humility and wisdom made him a mentor to many who rolled through the SGV during the 90s and 2000s.

Skaters who spent time at Alec’s ramp walked away with better frontside grinds, cleaner rock fakies, and deeper appreciation for line-based skating. It wasn’t about tricks for the 'gram. It was about flow, consistency, and soul.

Deep Ties to SGV Culture

Alec embodied what SGV skateboarding was always about: low-key, high-skill, and community-driven. He wasn’t trying to go pro. He wasn’t sending sponsor tapes. He was keeping skating sacred. In a time when Southern California was exploding with corporate skateparks and curated brand images, Alec’s ramp was an antidote. It was the purest form of local skateboarding.

His connection to the wider scene was undeniable. Ben Schroeder might’ve made the noise, but Alec made the space. The SGV owes much of its DIY ramp culture and respect for homegrown terrain to him. Even legends like Salba have acknowledged the influence of backyard builders like Alec in keeping transition skating alive.

Legacy Through Design

The images of Alec’s ramp tell their own story. The deep lines in the transition are a work of beauty, —it’s not just a ramp, it’s a sculpture. A physical manifestation of care, grit, and evolution. Every scratch in the surface has a story. Every screw in the coping was placed with intention.

That ramp has seen sunrise sessions, sunset hangs, and late-night slams. And it still stands, holding secrets and stories from a scene that often gets overlooked in the shadow of LA’s media-slick image.

Final Word: SGV Royalty

Alec Schroeder may not have chased the limelight, but he became a pillar in one of the most respected skate communities in Southern California. His dedication, his ramp, and his legacy as a quiet destroyer have left an imprint on every skater who's ever dropped in on SGV soil.

In a world full of shouty influencers and brand-chasers, Alec is proof that true legends are built on consistency, craftsmanship, and community. In the SGV, that’s royalty.

If you know, you know.

Stix SGV has proudly served the San Gabriel Valley skateboarding community since the late ‘90s. With three locations across Los Angeles County, we’ve been deeply rooted in the local scene. Our Monrovia shop has been a staple since 1997, followed by our Claremont location in 2014, and our South Pasadena shop opening its doors in 2022. Our mission has always been simple: to uphold skateboarding culture and stay true to our community.