Demarcus James

Day 110- Here at Last 🗽🛹 Today was anything but easy. Getting into New York felt like going through Philadelphia and Tahoe at the same time — massive hills, flying full speed down unknown terrain, and barely any room to breathe. It took most of the day just to reach the George Washington Bridge. A true grind. As I got closer, @anna_shea_skates her dad Jesse surprised me at the entrance of the bridge. They even skated with me across the Hudson and into The Bronx’s. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect — clear skies, the sun finally showing its face as it dipped toward sunset. One of those moments you don’t forget. Once I reached New York, there wasn’t much time to celebrate. I still wanted to make it to Manhattan, and getting there from Uptown was pretty insane. Skating through Times Square felt like being inside a virtual reality game — massive screens, endless people, everything moving at once. The lights were so bright it felt like straight eye candy, almost unreal. After passing Central Park and Times Square, it was a straight shot to Manhattan. I rolled all the way to the pier and ended the day staring at the Statue of Liberty, standing tall in the distance. And just like that, the journey is complete. Oakland, California to New York City. On Christmas 40.29 miles 🛹 6 hours and 1 min ⏱️ 1,922 ft elevation climbed ⛰️ #skateacrossamerica #❤️skateboarders #metrogrammed #mentalhealth

On Christmas Day, the man skateboarding across America will finally arrive in New York City after a six-month odyssey. You can read Demarcus James’ full profile for free in the link in my bio. See you in NYC, Demarcus! [Transcript] I’m Demarcus James, and I’m skating across America. I grew up in San Francisco. I started this for mental health awareness, for people that are in the same position I’m in where, like, they felt like no one can help them. I’m doing this to just show people that there is a way out of mental darkness. Happiness is just doing what I love doing: skating, no distractions, being free. I physically feel fine. My body craves to be used the way it’s supposed to: sweat every day, be in the sun, smell fresh air. I totally get lonely, but I always save that for the next random stranger I meet. It’s nice to just have so much anticipation for a conversation. I’m like, “What’s up? How are you doing?” People throw in their jabs and stuff, like, “Watch out for sundown towns,” and they just forget I’ve been Black my entire life and racism is everywhere. I’m excited to make it to New York. I’m worried about the weather becoming unmanageable, if I’m gonna financially be able to make it there. I just kinda have to put my foot on the gas a little bit more.

Day 109- Earned Ease ☺️❤️‍🔥 This morning felt a little melancholy, knowing this will probably be the last snow day I skate on this trip. But instead of slowing me down, it gave me more reason to get out there and push with intention. With the storm still blasting snow, I kept today minimal — just enough to keep the legs moving without straining myself, saving energy for the Christmas run into New York. Everything felt easy today, even the uphill. After all the long, brutal, unpredictable days I’ve already endured, the cold, snow, and rain just didn’t faze me anymore. Tomorrow I’ll rest and spend Christmas Eve with my sister. Then I’ll push straight into Manhattan on Christmas Day — carrying every mile, every hard day, every lesson with me. This journey didn’t just take me across the country. It changed me. And I’ll roll into New York knowing I gave it everything I had. 10.39 miles 🛹 1 hour and 20 mins ⏱️ 279 ft elevation climbed 🏔️ #skateacrossamerica #❤️skateboarders #metrogrammed #mentalhealth

Day 108 The Softening ❤️‍🔥 This morning, while gearing up and laying out all my essentials, a quiet realization hit me — this may be one of the last times I ever prepare for something like this. At least in this way. That thought sat with me longer than I expected. Once I started pushing and made it through Mount Olive, another shift happened. From here on out, it’s neighborhoods, streets with stories, and familiar rhythms all the way to New York. And with that came a deep sense of pride. I’ve already faced the hardest terrain of this entire journey — the brutal climbs, the endless miles, and the mental battles that tried to break me long before my body ever did. I didn’t just survive them. I rose over them. About fifteen miles in, the road gave back. Miles of downhill. Full speed. Minimal traffic. A wide, smooth shoulder. It felt like a gift — not something I demanded, just something the journey chose to offer. I’ll arrive in New York on Christmas. And honestly, I can’t think of a greater gift to myself. To everyone who’s tuned in, donated, liked, commented, shared, and believed — this didn’t happen because of me alone. I carried all of you with me every mile. Thank you. See you in New York. 🗽🛹 23.73 miles 🛹 3h 52m ⏱️ 1,336 ft climbed ⛰️ #skateacrossamerica #❤️skateboarders #metrogrammed #mentalhealth #rollforever

Day 107- A Chosen Few Moments ❤️‍🔥 After yesterday’s thunderstorm, I woke up to blue skies and coffee, and the New Jersey vibes rolled right back in. The ride was smooth today. I’m not fully out of the mountains yet—there’s still climbing ahead—but I can feel the shift. I’m close now. The reality of skating from California to New Jersey is almost impossible to wrap my head around. Some experiences are so big they live beyond words. Today I saw a New York sign for the first time. Just a sign—but it lit something up inside me. In that moment, the miles behind me finally made sense. The end of this journey came into view, not as an ending, but as a doorway. I started this trip for my mental health, hoping to find my footing again. What I found was proof—proof that healing is real, that kindness is everywhere, and that movement, belief, and community can carry you farther than you ever imagined. This journey is almost complete, but the hope it gave me is just getting started. 18.79 miles 🛹 2 hours and 47 minutes ⏱️ 1,124 ft elevation climbed ⛰️ #skateacrossamerica #❤️skateboarders #metrogrammed #mentalhealth

Day 106 — A Quiet Crossing into New Jersey Today was definitely one of my favorites of the whole journey, officially out of Pennsylvania and the views were incredible! First part of the roll was getting through Stroudsburg and pushing up a monster of a hill but on the other side was probably the best most perfect hill ever, steep but not enough to freak me out and the pavement was incredibly smooth and there was almost no traffic, it lasted about 10 mins and I screamed at the bottom from the pure adrenaline and excitement. Rolling on I took a break at random gas station and a lady walked up to me and asked if I was homeless, I said no I’m skating across the country and she was happy to hear that and insisted on giving me a 20 straight from her purse, I told her she really didn’t have too and she replied “it’s the season of giving” and that statement went straight to my heart, so amazing. I didn’t get video because the moment was so fast and pure but I’ll never forget. Halfway through I got to see the Delaware Gap in all of its glory, so beautiful and breathtaking, I also skated over the Delaware River which is something I didn’t know I needed to see, it felt unreal and so incredibly magical skating into New Jersey that way. Towards the end of the day, I got blessed with the best hot apple cider — it totally hit the spot and warmed me up right when I needed it most. I had a late start and the sun was going to go down soon so I found a nice Hotel in a small town of Belvidere, turns out it’s a historic building and even better the couple running it are one the nicest people I’ve met on this trip, i told them what I was doing and there were so hyped, even sharing my gofundme on their Instagram!! Thank you @hotel_belvidere_nj 22.88 miles 🛹 2 hours and 53 mins ⏱️ 952 ft elevation climbed 🏔️ #skateacrossamerica #❤️skateboarders #metrogrammed #mentalhealth

Day 105 — Almost Out of Pennsylvania Today was rough, no way around it. After yesterday’s roll I was completely wiped—body hurting, mind heavy, and the thought of over 27 miles with a ton of hills made getting started feel almost impossible. But I swallowed the pain, swallowed the grief, and kept it moving. The start wasn’t terrible. It was about 29 degrees and the sun was out, which always helps. After a grueling climb, I got rewarded with a long downhill—but it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. Rough pavement, potholes appearing out of nowhere, and zero room for mistakes meant full focus the entire time. A few hours in, I realized the worst of the climbs were behind me and most of what remained was downhill. It actually became fun. Probably not so fun for the drivers I upset along the way—but bombing downhill and trying to stop would’ve been way more dangerous for everyone. I stayed as far right as I could, even skating through patches of black ice and snow just to be respectful. Halfway through the day, the battle really kicked in. My body and mind started pushing back, searching for reasons to spiral, to quit, to panic. But I kept going. A Red Bull and a solid 20-minute break helped reset things, and suddenly I could see the end coming into focus. Rolling into Stroudsburg, PA, it hit me—I’m a stone’s throw from New Jersey. Less than two miles from the border. That realization alone nearly brought me to tears. Finally… the end of Pennsylvania. 😮‍💨😱🥹 30.46 miles 🛹 4 hours and 35 mins ⏱️ 1,824 ft elevation climbed 🏔️ #skateacrossamerica #❤️skateboarders #metrogrammed #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness

Day 104- Cold Enough to Listen 😌 After yesterday’s snow day in Drums, PA, I was beyond grateful to wake up to clear roads. Seriously, shoutout to the snowplow crews working nonstop to keep things moving. Without them, days like this wouldn’t be possible. I rolled out in 17-degree weather, and it didn’t warm up much, but the sun was out, and that alone lifted my spirits. The route wasted no time reminding me where I was. Long, serious uphill climbs that drained me fast. The cold made it hit even harder, and after the first mountain I was already exhausted. Still, bombing down the other side almost made the grind worth it — that rush, that release, that reminder of why I keep pushing. A few hours in, I noticed my eyelashes freezing, then my scarf stiffening with ice. That had never happened before. It was strange, almost surreal — but I didn’t feel frozen, so I kept rolling. When I reached White Haven, I stopped at a gas station to warm up. The guy working there laughed and told me my dreads were frozen solid. He was incredibly kind, and we ended up talking for nearly half an hour — real conversation, deep stuff. When I told him I was skating across the country, he was blown away. He said customers had come in earlier talking about “some random guy skating through the mountains,” and he couldn’t believe that guy had just walked through the door. Moments like that mean everything to me. Connecting with people, hearing their stories, sharing a piece of this journey — it fills me up in a way miles never could. Out here in the cold, those connections are the real warmth. 23.57 miles 🛹 4 hours and 35 mins ⏱️ 2,279 ft elevation climbed 🏔️ #skateacrossamerica #❤️skateboarders #metrogrammed #mentalhealth

Day 103- Past Doubt ❤️‍🔥😇 This morning started out brutally cold, and after checking the map I realized I still had a sizable stretch of mountains ahead. Nothing like what I’ve already been through, but enough to make me slow down and be intentional about the route I chose. As I pushed forward, I ran into some serious climbs. Long, grinding hills with pebbles and patches of black ice that demanded focus and patience. Every uphill drained me, but the trade-off was worth it—each one opened up into a downhill just as big, and I got to take some solid bombs with unreal views that made the effort feel justified. Being a Saturday helped. Traffic was light, and at one point a car stayed behind me instead of passing as I descended. I don’t know if it was intentional, but it gave me a sense of protection in a moment where focus mattered, and I appreciated it more than they probably knew. The road to New York from here still won’t be easy, but at this point I’m so committed that it barely registers. Whatever’s ahead, I’m ready for it. 15 miles 🛹 2 hours and 20 mins ⏱️ 1,384 ft elevation climbed 🏔️ #skateacrossamerica #❤️skateboarders #metrogrammed #mentalhealth

Day 102- Staying Hungry at the End ❤️‍🔥 This morning felt a little strange. Being this close means every night I go to sleep feeling like the journey is basically over — but every morning I still have to wake up and choose it all over again. I’m learning it’s better to stay in the day, in the moment. If I think too far ahead, my mind gets comfortable, starts relaxing, and I lose that edge that’s carried me across the country. Telling myself New York is still a thousand miles away keeps me hungry. Outside of those little “mind games,” today was smooth. The sun was out, the route looked gentle, and I let myself just push, breathe, and take in the views. Still cold, but the first hills warmed me up, and once I hit about eight miles it turned into a long, easy glide — smooth pavement, big shoulders, and that kind of downhill that makes your whole body exhale. I caught myself thinking about how much of this really comes down to my head staying steady — learning how to relax without checking out, how to rest without slipping. Maybe that’s the real work out here, figuring out how to hold myself together even when the road gets easy. 21.06 miles 🛹 2 hours and 40 mins ⏱️ 825 ft elevation climbed 🏔️ #skateacrossamerica #❤️skateboarders #metrogrammed #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #

Day 101- Rolling Into Myself ❤️‍🔥 After a much-needed recovery from that wild push into Milton, I woke up feeling surprisingly renewed-like my body finally exhaled and said, alright, let’s go again. When I checked the map this morning and saw that New York is just a little over a two-hour drive away, it hit me in a way I didn’t expect. When you live this journey moment to moment, it can feel endless—like time stretches and bends around each mile. But nothing lasts forever, and realizing how close I am to my destination lit something up inside me. Today’s roll was humbling in the best way. After days of being pushed to my limits, it felt good to just… move. No strain. No mental war. Just the rhythm of the board beneath me. It was cold—mid-30s—but at this point that feels like a summer day to me. Snow was in the forecast, and that had me on edge early on, but knowing there were places to stay nearby kept me steady. And honestly, confidently rolling down a hill while snow came down around me in 32 degrees made me proud. Proud that my mind and body have adapted. Proud that I can navigate conditions that once would’ve terrified me. I love the body that’s carried me this far, and I love the person I’m becoming through all of this. #skateacrossamerica #❤️skateboarders #metrogrammed #mentalhealth 16.08 miles 🛹 2 hours 16 minutes ⏱️ 830 ft elevation climbed 🏔️

Day 100- The Century Mark ❤️‍🔥 Today felt like a test written just for me. Waking up to 19 degrees with a “high” of 26 had my stomach tight, knowing I still had mountains to climb. But instead of letting the cold get in my head, I threw myself into the push. One breath, one shove, one moment at a time. As I climbed, my mind drifted back to Nevada — waking up every morning to 100-degree heat, dreading the sun but still moving anyway. Now here I am in temperatures that could freeze my thoughts solid. It’s eerie how life can flip, how discomfort just changes shape but never really leaves. Midday I was making good time, but then I hit a shaded side of the mountain — untouched by sun, frozen solid. Four straight miles of ice and snow. The only thing between me and disaster were the all-terrain wheels @theoghollywood gave me back in Altoona. Slower, sketchier, but somehow I stayed upright. When I finally rolled onto dry pavement, I let out a scream that felt like it came from my soul. The last 10 miles were a different kind of battle. Freezing temps, total darkness, and my mind spinning through every fear it could find. But I kept pushing. Step by step, breath by breath, until I made it through to the other side in Milton. One hundred days. One hundred tests. And still rolling. 😤🙏🏿 #skateacrossamerica #❤️skateboarders #metrogrammed #mentalhealth 41.74 miles 🛹 7 hours and 10 minutes ⏱️ 2,330 ft elevation climbed 🏔️