DANNY
way.
1. Del Mar Skatepark is mostly what comes to mind
when I think that far back. Learning how to do early
grab frontside airs in the keyhole. I also used to love
watching Gator skate. I was so amazed by his
lines-tricks and style. I also remember the first pro
contest I watched at Del Mar in 1984: the Hawk vs
Hosoi battle. I saw a few of those contests in the key-
hole where they battled it out. Those days were the
best memories I'll ever have of skateboarding. I was
lucky to be able to see a lot of the building blocks of
skating as it progressed to where it is now.
2. Well, I know when I was learning how to skate-
board, I never looked at it as a career. I always
thought I'd have to have a college degree or hit the
lottery to have a future. But skateboarding has
taught me so many things, and I've encountered a lot
of experiences with my skating. Skateboarding has
given me everything I have going for me in my life
right now. I feel like I've gotten a business internship
from being around industry people for so long. I've
learned a lot about responsibility, respect and
appreciation. My life might have been a little differ-
ent growing up if it weren't for skateboarding. My
family didn't have a lot of money, and there were a
lot of household disputes and moving around. I was
raised by a single parent, my mom. My dad died
when I was really young. Skateboarding carried me
through a lot of drama I had to endure at a young
age. It kept me in check and kept my frame of mind
in order. I was so into skating, I didn't let anything
else get in the way. At age 13-14, I began traveling a
lot, so I started to get way more focused on what I
wanted to do with my skateboarding. I turned pro at
14 and retired my mom from working when I was 15,
which she needed. Supporting me and my brother for
so long by herself is pretty insane. I know I was very
lucky to be in that position, but it almost seemed too.
ironic with the timing, because we were so broke. I
basically owe everything to skateboarding, because
it has given me the opportunities I've had to make a
future. I will die a skateboarder.
3. It takes a lot of confidence, motivation, creativity
and consistency. If you're focused enough, you can go
off. You can tell when someone has been training or
if they've just been on a board. Consistency pays off.
4. Hosoi: attitude on the vert, lots of finesse and
soul. I could easily say that Hosoi is my all-time
favorite. He just has such a unique flow and style that
no one else has ever had. Hawk: This guy is a vertical
machine-never falling, nailing every trick he does
every time. His contest placings can speak for them-
selves. Gator: He reminds me of the Hawk/Hosoi
combo trickery only with tons of rhythm. I've seen
him terrorize Del Mar pools for years. Gator was the
first guy to really combine tricks, power and style. He
ruled. Miller: Another vert freak in a category all his
own. This guy goes so fast, you can only see a blur on
the ramp, while maintaining a calm, well-respected
style. These guys are all I need to list, because they're
the ones that gave me all my inspiration in skate-
boarding. Watching these guys even today gives me
the chills. To me, they are still legends and heroes,
and I will always look up to them.
5. That's a hard one to answer. That board has
scared me one too many times. But I do remember
one time when I was skating with my friends, we put
kerosene on the coping and lit it on fire, doing tricks
through it. I was pouring more kerosene on as the
flame was burning out, and the flame sucked into the
can, causing it blow up in my hands, burning my face
and hands and legs all over, it was crazy. I stopped,
dropped and rolled in the ice plant. It sounded like a
bomb went off. All the neighbors came out when they
heard the explosion. It took four months for the
burns on my legs to heal.
6. I don't know where skateboarding is headed real-
ly, because its path is always changing. But I do know
it's definitely headed in the right direction. It's finally
getting some of the respect it deserves. Skating has
been neglected by the big promoters and sponsors.
for too long, and finally they're paying attention to
how amazing of a sport it really is. And we need that
help if we want cities to have public skateparks and
for the general public to understand and respect why
we love to skate.
RIGHT: WHILE THE WORLD Watches,
THE 540 IS IN THе сaN. PHOTO: OGDEN.