In the dead of night, you exit Toronto’s last saloon, the best watering hole this side of the South. A tumbleweed rolls by. All is calm until, there in the distance, comes a noise. Could that be the trodding of hooves? A lone rider in the night sidles up to the streetcar stop. The lights of the 7-11 reflect off his cowboy hat, veiling his face. His trusty stallion appears. The sound has become unmistakable. His stallion is not a stallion after all, but a skateboard.
He’s no stranger to this town. You have come face to face with the cowboy ‘round these parts, best known as Corona Cowboy.
Corona Cowboy (@coronacowboy69) blew up on the internet when videos featuring him shotgunning beers and skating in cowboy boots and heels went viral. Often seen cruising the streets of downtown Toronto with his cowboy hat, he’s become a bit of a local legend (in addition to his TikTok fame).
Whether or not you’ve found yourself in this situation, I’m sure you have some questions for Toronto’s real life cowboy. We’ve got the answers for you: read on for a word-for-word, firsthand account of the wild life of a true cowboy in the city.
The Strand: How did you come up with the name Corona Cowboy?
Corona Cowboy: A lot of Corona beers with my buddies. And then COVID happened, so it just kinda became a thing.
What about the cowboy aesthetic appeals to you?
Cowboys are hot.
Some might question the validity of a cowboy who grew up in the city. Rest assured, we’ve made sure he’s the real deal.
Have you ever ridden a horse?
Yes, in Boy Scouts. His name was Bronco.
Do you listen to a lot of country music on your own? What’s the best country song to skate to?
The first country song I fell in love with was “Neon Moon” [by Brooks and Dunn], it’s a song about love and heartbreak and drinking and that’s what I think about when skating.
Every true cowboy has a backstory. Sometimes the best ones require few words.
When did you get your first cowboy hat?
Lol I stole it at a bar.
When did you get into skating?
Probably grade 8, idk.
His trusty steed has taken him many places. To figure out where the cowboys hang out, you’ve got to look for the horses tied out back. We’ve done you a favour and just asked Corona Cowboy where you should go.
What’s the best cowboy saloon in Toronto?
City Pool, lol.
What’s the best skating spot in the city?
MEC parking lot because that’s where a lot of the videos went viral.
If you frequent these spots, you may even see the lone rider himself.
Do people ever recognize you skating around the city?
Yeah sometimes, it’s weird and I’m shy.
At this point, you’re probably wondering where cowboys are made. You may think they only come from the Wild West, but in this case, look no further than Hogtown.
Did you grow up in Toronto?
Oui.
In bringing a little country to the city’s skate scene, we’ve got to know more about the other riders in the city. This isn’t Corona Cowboy’s first rodeo.
What do you think of the skate scene in Toronto?
I think the skate scene is soft and could use a good kick in the ass.
Do you think the skate community is accepting of non-traditional skateboarding fits?
I think once you stop caring about what you wear, you can wear what you want.
To see what kind of trick riding this cowboy gets up to, you can watch his skate videos on TikTok or Instagram.
What trick are you most proud of landing?
My Favourite trick is Nollie back heel.
If the internet likes two things, it’s cowboys and skaters.
Were you surprised when your TikTok started blowing up?
Yeah, I still don’t get it. My friends still make fun of me for it.
How did you end up skating in heels and boots? Did this come before or after you started posting?
One night, I was out at the bar and this girl wanted to try my board. She took her heels off to try and skate and I put on her heels. I realized that I can skate pretty good in heels. It was a couple years later that I posted my first viral video in heels and that’s how it started.
And now, we turn to the question on everybody’s minds. We’ve heard why he chose the name Corona Cowboy, but is he willing to put all his horses on Corona being the best brew?
Is Corona the best beer? Could you ever be the Busch cowboy?
I liked Corona at the start, but Busch has my heart.
Watch out, Toronto. There’s only room for one cowboy in this town. Don’t try to enter a high noon standoff, because these boots have already been filled.
Do you think Toronto needs more cowboys?
No, just me.
So there you have it: a look into Toronto’s last standing cowboy. Yeehaw! All you city-slickers, take a cue from Corona Cowboy and save a horse, ride a skateboard.
