After a two-year hiatus, Fifth Avenue in Manhattan is back in action for the return of the Puerto Rican Day Parade! In the 65th year of the international event, New York City will celebrate on Sunday, June 12th, with millions gathered on the street and watching the live broadcast from home on ABC. The patriotic parade features more than 80,000 participants who honor the nearly 6 million people with Puerto Rican heritage currently living in the United States. The Big Apple offers a perfect destination to host the largest Puerto Rican Day celebration in the country – the city is home to over 700,000 people of Puerto Rican descent, close to 9% of the total population. Kicking off at 5th Avenue and marching from 44th to 79th Street, the parade route will follow the traditional path that it took for 60+ years before the parade’s postponement. With a rich history in Puerto Rican culture in NYC, from artists and athletes to politicians and pop singers, many “Nuyoricans” honor their heritage each year during this historic event. In the spirit of celebrating the largest display of ethnic pride in America, SNIPES and Nike came together to highlight the Brooklyn-born handball master, Timothy “Timbo” Gonzalez.
Timbo Gonzalez picked up the sport when he was just eight years old, not realizing that the game he was playing for fun would one day become his profession. Handball (known to some as “Wallball”) requires continuous motion while using your hand as the paddle, creating a test of endurance, strength, and focus for the player. Gonzalez honed his craft and is now known as one of the world’s greatest outdoor players of the game, earning well over 200 championships and tournament wins throughout his career. One of Timbo’s most impactful wins came during his 3-wall singles victory in the 2017 World Players of Handball Outdoor tournament in Las Vegas. Gonzalez took down the #1 ranked Samson Hernandez two games to one in an excruciating final where both players struggled to compete on the 120-degree concrete. For Gonzalez, handball provided an escape from negative happenings in his neighborhood. For Gonzalez, handball provided an escape from negative happenings in his neighborhood. Today, the sport continues to serve as an effective method for keeping kids across the five boroughs clear of any off-court concerns. Timbo’s Puerto Rican heritage is extremely important to him as he looks forward to the tasty food, waving flags, and fun festivities that the parade celebration provides each year. With the parade making a huge comeback after the two-year pause Gonzalez will be ready to shout “¡Yo soy Boricua, pa’que tu lo sepas!” (I am Puerto Rican, so that you know) loud and proud for this special occasion.
With the latest Air Force 1 sneaker dedicated to the NYC Puerto Rican Day parade, Nike pays tribute to the community and culture with a special edition silhouette featuring “Puerto Rico” detail at the heel tab, domino perforations at the side, classic phrases on the sockliner, and a shoebox displaying the word “Familia” in the flag’s colors. The fresh summer shoe released earlier this month on June 4th and is available at select SNIPES stores in Florida, Pennsylvania, and of course, New York. SNIPES had the privilege of highlighting Puerto Rican culture through the lens of the sport of handball, but Puerto Rican influence has made its mark on society in plenty of ways through many different avenues. SNIPES looks forward to further honoring the Puerto Rican people of New York and other areas of the United States in our continual celebration of this vibrant community. For the latest news and sneaker/streetwear releases, follow us on our Instagram, read up on our blog posts, and download the mobile app to stay up to date on everything SNIPES.
