Rising Stars: Meet Tyler McIntosh (McShred) and Rawger Kalamaio of Phoenix

Okay we’d like to introduce you to Tyler McIntosh (McShred) and Rawger Kalamaio.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Desperation Skate Syndicate is a hydra of myself (The Formidable Rawger “Slammer” Kalamaio), Tyler McShred and a third entity we’ll call KW. Its mission began with a grand declaration of raw skate culture to stand in fierce opposition to the mainstream skate “athletes” and olympians in the form of a self published zine. Nobody cared. Undeterred, we began to provide custom battle garb for the skateboarder’s never-ending war against the concrete in the form of decks and apparel. This was nearly ten years ago. Since then, it has formed into a loosely organized and shadowy force of uncalled for artistic expression that is still rooted in skateboarding. It is a medium to produce whatever we feel like based on our DIY principles of creativity. McShred is the front-facing brains of the operation while myself and KW lurk in the background quietly providing input and content.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We never wanted things to be smooth, that’s more or less the ethos we stand upon. Nothing should be smooth for skateboarders except (hopefully) the terrain beneath their wheels (even then the rough stuff is more fun half the time). Skaters attack obstacles by nature but more often than not wind up broken and bloodied on the ground. But skaters also get back up, don’t rinse, and repeat. That’s more or less where we find ourselves. The more obstacles the better.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The creativity starts on the board through the act of skating. The outlaw spirit of skateboarding inspires us to create our own aesthetic off the board. We are working on our third zine that includes original artwork and commentary which will be available this winter. We also print limited runs of decks, apparel, and of course, stickers. All of our graphics are designed and silk-screened by hand on a variety of board shapes and sizes. In 2021, we had the opportunity to partner with a local non-profit, Uncle Skate, that provides underserved youth with skateboarding equipment. We printed a limited board series that sold-out and all proceeds were donated to the organization. We were able to do what we love and give back to the community – it was a full circle moment.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
We’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with talented local artists and organizations. Alex Remple is a local musician and digital artist that designed our first board graphic. LBX Printing and Design (former Lunchbox music venue) helps with our DIY printing needs. We screen print our boards in house but they format our screens and even printed our last zine. Brian Paulson runs a local business, Brain Damage Boutique, and hosts the monthly Punk Rock Flea Swap at Yucca Taproom. He helped design the aforementioned Uncle Skate graphic and plugs us into local events around the valley. On a personal note, Lady and Baby McShred provide steady support and inspiration over at Desperation HQ. We’re grateful for the many rounds of printing after work, on weekends, from the kitchen table where it all began. Last but not least, anyone who slapped a Desperation sticker or bought a board over the years, the Valley Vanguard salutes you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://desperationskateboards.bigcartel.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desperation_skateboards/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/desperationskateboards/

Image Credits
Photo Cred – Oscar Griffin