Charlie Velasquez
Costa Rica
Charlie Velasquez is an entrepreneur, a life-long skater, an environmentalist, and maybe above all, a musician.
Your environmental efforts in Costa Rica have had a huge impact – what’s the main goal of the organization?
Amigos del Rio Torres, or “Friends of the Torres River” is a not-for-profit organization created in 2014. We help to clean up one of the most polluted rivers in Central America. The Torres River runs from east to west right across San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. Our work centres around environmental education, clean up, community outreach, and reforestation that helps to promote economic growth. Throughout the years, we have pulled tons of garbage out of the river that won’t end up in the ocean and planted thousands of trees.
Tell me about the band.
Non Neutral started in 2012. Music is everything to me. It is not a hobby, it’s part of my lifestyle and everything in my life revolves around it. I love being able to create sonic art that affects me in so many ways and lets me influence people one way or another.
“I used to skate” is something you hear alot. It doesn’t apply to you – what impact has skating had on your life?
Like music, skating has shaped my life and I try to mix them up as much as I can. After all music and skating go hand in hand. Some of the best shows we’ve played have been at skate contests (’cause I also get to skate). I love the fact that there’s a risk factor involved, I think the thrill helps to keep you sharp. It has taught me to persevere and overcome regardless of the circumstances, because it takes so much discipline and practice to learn. My skating goals are to keep skating til I physically can’t anymore. I’m just as stoked about it as I was the first day I jumped on a board at age 3.
5 Questions
What’s your motto?
“Just live today like it’s your last show, that’s immortality.” – Non Neutral
What single person has had the biggest impact on your life?
My friend Greg Widdowson, who is no longer with us. One of the boys, a true friend, an amazing human.
What has been your biggest adventure in life so far?
Camping in the northern pacific coast of Costa Rica in my early 20s, with a couple of the other “chuchos”. No drinking water, no electricity, just the earth, the ocean, surf, skate and an acoutic guitar for a whole week of outdoor adventures.
What place is most meaningful to you?
Bocas del Toro, Panama in the early 90s. Beautiful islands in the Atlantic. I had the privilege living and enjoying them back when it was not a tourist destination.
What’s a song that motivates you?
Los Chuchos Stuff
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