Braydon Szafranski picked up a skateboard for the first time when he was fourteen, and shortly after, got a sponsorship deal with Baker Skateboards. Now, over twenty years later, Szafranski is still pro, recording parts, and working with several ambassadors.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Szafranski didn’t have any skateparks to go to as a kid, so he learned by going on any staircase or handrail he could find. Luckily, his brother designed ramps and his dad worked as a carpenter, so the two of them built Szafranski a ramp in their backyard, building a space for the skating community at their house. This allowed Szafranski to meet other passionate skaters who encouraged him to make the move to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams of going pro. While skating outside, he got the attention of legends like Kenny Anderson and Chad Muska who offered him sponsorship deals, and the rest is history.

Szafranski dominated during his debut year, leading the TransWorld Skateboard Awards to recognize him as “Best Rookie” in 2007. Since then, he’s been in several parts and skating reels: some of his notable features include “Baker 3,” “Baker Has a Deathwish,” “Stay Gold,” and “This is Skateboarding,” to name a few. He’s also participated in prestigious international events, such as the 2015 Kimberley Diamond Cup Street World Championship Qualifiers, as well as the Copenhagen Open White Banks at Nansengade that same year.

Skateboarding has earned Szafranski sponsorships from the likes of Straye Footwear, Shake Junt, and Hubba. Additionally, he’s worked with the Skatepark of Tampa, who designed a shoe named after him. He’s even done some of his own business ventures, selling sunglasses, clothes, and skateboard wheels with his two companies, Happy Hour Shades and Ghetto Child Wheels.