Ryan Licon opened Ugly Boy Skates on April 10.
As it says on their website, “Ryan didn’t invent Ugly Boy Skates—he embodies it. The name came from a moment at a skate park when he was just a kid, sitting alone with a board, getting called ‘that ugly boy.’ It stuck through everything: skating, spiraling, addiction, incarceration, and ultimately recovery. Now rooted in Medford after moving from Yucca Valley, California, Ryan is reclaiming the label and building something bigger than a shop. The message behind it is whatever your flaws are, you can turn them into your unique strengths. Ugly Boy is a second chance on four wheels—stocked with the brands real skaters actually ride, from OG ’90s staples to today’s heavy hitters—and driven by someone who learned early that skating isn’t just a hobby… it’s freedom, identity, and passion.
But Ugly Boy isn’t here just to sell decks—it’s here to change trajectories. Ryan is a recovering addict who knows exactly where the wrong path can start, and he’s determined to offer another one. Through mentorship, a nonprofit that puts free boards into kids’ hands, * and a program rewarding good report cards with gear, he’s building a space where skating replaces self-destruction and community replaces isolation. Buy a board here and you’re backing more than a brand – you’re backing a movement led by someone who fought his way back and now spends his days helping the next generation roll forward, stay out of trouble, and believe they belong.
Ugly Boy Skates is a place where you can come as you are and thrive as part of our skating community. Serving skaters in Medford, Ashland, Central Point, and across Southern Oregon. Welcome!”
*Anyone wishing to help out by donating a board to a deserving kid can contact Ryan at [email protected].
Ryan says he “absolutely loves it (being in Downtown Medford). All the neighbors are so welcoming. I have a massive amount of gratitude. I have been asked to be part of the June 19th Third Friday event, partnering with Jack’s Board House. It feels good to be able to work with the community already.”
UGLY BOY SKATES
126 E Main St #4
Medford, OR 97501
458-226-2237
[email protected]
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Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday 10am-6pm
Friday – 10am-8pm
Saturday – 10am-5pm
Sunday – 12pm – 5pm
Monday – Closed