As we previously reported, Sean Pablo and Sage Elsesser have officially parted ways with Converse CONS after spending 12 years with the team.
READ MORE: Sean Pablo’s Run With Converse CONS Reportedly Comes to an End After 12 Years on the Team
Now, another longtime member of the Converse CONS family is saying goodbye.
READ MORE: Skater Rapper Sage Elsesser Parts Ways With Converse CONS and Is the New Face of UGG
Skater Of The Year Milton Martinez has announced that his time with Converse has come to an end after 15 years with the brand.
Milton shared a collection of previously unseen clips along with a heartfelt message looking back at his time with CONS.
The connection is not just about having a shoe sponsor.
It started with his homies back in Argentina, who were already riding for the company and helped bring him into the fold.
From there, Milton spent years traveling around Argentina, building his career and eventually earning his place on the North American team.
During his time with Converse, he traveled to different parts of the world, met countless people and built friendships that will stay with him long after his sponsorship is over.
He also addressed the current situation surrounding the CONS team, saying it was difficult to watch almost the entire team get let go.
The timing comes during a difficult period for Nike and Converse.
READ MORE: Corporate Skate Shoe Giant Nike Cuts 1,400 Jobs as Restructuring Includes Converse Operations
Nike has been going through a broad restructuring that has included thousands of job cuts, along with changes to its operations and spending.
Converse has also been affected as Nike continues to reshape the business.
READ MORE: Corporate Skate Shoe Giant Nike Cuts Converse Marketing 44% Despite CEO’s Turnaround Promise
Milton was also very open about how he feels about the current state of the skate industry.
Despite everything happening around him, Milton noted that his love for skateboarding has not changed.
That attitude has always been a big part of Milton's career.
This is the end of an era as Milton's relationship with Converse is now over, but the friendships and memories he made during that time are clearly what matter most to him.
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He closed the post with a line that pretty much sums up his attitude toward skateboarding and the industry surrounding it:
“Skateboarding doesn’t owe you shit, better remember that!”
Milton now joins Sean Pablo and Sage Elsesser among the longtime CONS names who have recently departed from the brand.
For a skater who spent 15 years representing Converse, this is the end of one chapter, but definitely not the end of Milton Martinez's story.
Milton Posted:
"Here are some unseen clips to close this chapter, and my last ones wearing Converse. The only reason I was so stoked to ride for Cons in the first place was because my best friends back in Argentina were on the team, and they brought me in. From those early days doing trips across Argentina and a long, heavy road to make my way up to the North American team for the last decade, I’ve gained lifelong friends, visited incredible places, and made memories I’ll hold onto forever.
It sucks to see how things are going down right now and to see almost the whole team let go.. the skate industry can be brutal like that. But we do this shit because we fucking love it, and thats never going to change.
Huge thank you to everyone I crossed paths with along this 15 years. Thank you Cons, but specially the people for all the good times, and even the tough ones that taught us something, like this one.
Skateboarding doesn’t owe you shit, better remember that!"