‘Park skating is starting to get a little watered down around here.’
Aileen “Mia” Encarnacion
P.J. Thebeau
Devotion
March 2026
Can you tell us something about Texas people do not know?
PJ: Texas is bigger than California.
What triggered the idea to open up skate shop?
PJ: I love Skateboarding and wanted to do my best to keep my scene going even after best years on the board were behind me.
You run the shop with your wife. What conversations do you have during dinner?
PJ: Usually starts out with about what the dog has been doing all day. Shop wise it’s always product focused, what we need, when we can get it and from where.
What sells well at the moment?
PJ: Shop decks and Bones Red.
Have you ever imagined that one day you will run a skate shop with your partner?
Mia: I can honestly say No. I thought I was going to be an Anesthesiologist. (laughing)
Are you happy with the increasing female representation in skateboarding or do you feel it still has a long way to go?
Mia: We still have a long way to go, and we are going in the right direction. We are definitely trying to make a mark in the skateboarding community. This is still a predominantly man’s sport and it is still a struggle to get recognition. Such as most Skate Shops are owned by men or huge corporations. It is still a struggle to get the proper recognition and respect that Devotion Skateboard Company is 51% woman owned. I want to empower women so that they can be a professional skateboarder and/or owner of their amazing local skate shop and/or company owner. We are out there.
How did you get into skateboarding?
PJ: When I was 10 years old in 1984, I saw a guy roll down my street and pop an ollie. It was amazing looking, and I wanted to do that. Shortly after that I got a Nash Executioner and never looked back. Still friends today with the guy who popped that Ollie, Ronny Ripper.
Who are your team riders?
PJ: Our Shop Family are a little older, Ogs of the surrounding Area past and present including: Rob Wilcox, Teddy Burns, David Sauceda, Jake Bice, Kenny Lewis, Ryan Strader, Thomas SodaPop Mitchell, Taylor Knapp, Josh Miranda and Warren West.
If you could sign up one skater, who would it be and why?
PJ: Anyone with a focus on natural street skating and the creativity out there that comes with that. Park skating is starting to get a little watered down around here.
Do you have one in mind? It can be anyone. Even pros.
PJ: Sal Barbier.
‘Going up against the internet along with MFGs that have insane deals direct on products we already purchase from them.’
On a similar note, if you could pick any board company, which one would you like to carry in your shop and why?
PJ: I would say from a shop standpoint, Palace. We get asked for that a lot and it’s seemingly impossible to get.
What are some of the challenges running a skate shop these days?
PJ: Going up against the internet along with MFGs that have insane deals direct on products we already purchase from them. Also, the explosion of the local brands that sell out of trunks at the parks etc. excluding the local shop for support.
‘This is still a predominantly man’s sport and it is still a struggle to get recognition.’
What is the vibe between the different cities like Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston etc?
PJ: Seems all are kinda vibing the same. Mostly parks with some streets sprinkled in. Houston does go above and beyond for vert skating and that’s cool. You can count the vert ramps in TX on one hand.
Who is the ultimate godfather of the Texas skate community and why?
PJ: Hands Down Jeff Newton. Founder and Creator of Zorlac Skateboards originating here in Dallas. Jeff actually prints our shop shirts today.
Who is the godmother of Texas skateboarding?
Mia: I can’t really answer that. There are a series of different women at different times, and this is not documented anywhere. If there was, it would have been discussed through Grosso’s Love Letters Texas Episode which is a condensed story of Dallas Skateboarding.
Last question. If you could interview any person in the world?
PJ: It would have to be two guests. Jeff Newton & Steve Rocco. Both were in the right place at the right time in skateboarding to really change things and shake things up. I’d like to know about some of those parallels from the 80s going into the 90s in contrasting areas in skateboarding.