Xava Maldonado is a talented Puerto Rican artist and skateboarder celebrated for his impact on both the art and skateboarding worlds. With
over 15 years of experience in the art industry, Xava began as a graffiti writer and has since become a skilled mixed-media and fine arts artist. His murals can be found across Puerto Rico, including the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Dorado. Xava has collaborated with major brands like Bones Wheels and Sandlot Times, working with renowned skaters Manny Santiago and Ryan Sheckler.

“I started fingerboarding around 1998–2000 when Tech Decks first became popular,” Xava shares. “It was a hobby I loved when I wasn’t skating—it kept skateboarding present in my life.” He highlights the contributions of Vennuck, which began developing high-quality fingerboarding boards, obstacles, and accessories in 2018. “Because of the community’s hard work,
fingerboarding keeps growing stronger every day”.
Currently, Xava is sponsored by Ryse Fingerboards, Vennuck, and Sk8hop. For 2025, he is excited about his upcoming pro models with Ryse Fingerboards. “We’re working on a Ryse team montage, ads for my pro models, and more commercial content,” he says. One highlight of his career was the premiere of his first fingerboard video part, presented by Vennuck. “It was an amazing experience to share that with the community.”
Follow Xava’s journey in art, skating,
and fingerboarding: Instagram: @xava.fb
@xavamaldonado & @soloraise