Ruda Lopes is a Brazilian professional skateboarder who now resides in Costa Mesa, California. Lopes first started to make waves at the 2001 Damn Am Championship series where he got into first place in the Vert category. The Damn Am is a series of competitions for amateur skaters to showcase their talents in. This win afforded Lopes a chance to compete at the Tampa Am competition, one of the largest amateur skateboarding competitions in the country. Lopes also won first place at this event’s Vert competition.

In 2002, Lopes competed at the Vans World Amateur Skateboarding Championships held in Phoenix. He won first place in the Vert finals and for his efforts, Vans awarded him a sponsorship contract. Aside from clothing supplies, the contract enables Lopes to be featured as a rider on the Vans Warped Tour. Additionally, Lopes now gets the opportunity to join professional skating competitions, one of which, is the prestigious Slam City Jam in Canada.

During the 2003 Soul Bowl contest held in Hermosa Beach, California, Lopes once again takes part in the competition. He landed at third place for his cab nosegrind revert trick in the Boost Mobile Skateboard Best Trick category. He also placed eighth in the Young Guns category of the same competition.

In 2004, Lopes makes a cameo in “Punk Rock Holocaust,” a comedy film that features the trials and tribulations that plagued the Vans Warped Tour.

Ruda Lopes’ sponsors are:

Vans
Vision Streetwear
Fuct Skateboards
Surfside Sports
Diem Trucks
Vestal
ESP Clothing
Scabs