"Little did I realize when Matt came to me at 12
years old and said, 'I want to be a skateboarder' that
he'd be on the same mission 12 years later. Through
the 'No Skateboarding' signs, San Diego police con-
fiscation of boards, and tons of trespassing to skate
that perfect vert pool, he has prevailed.
Next thing I know, a flat bed truck is bringing
the old Linda Vista YMCA ramp in big pieces to be
placed in our front yard. Everyone pitched in, and
soon we were continuing our support of the skate
warriors. I loved the opportunity to watch them
challenge themselves. Skateboarding could've died
out without their determination and love for it.
I remember when Peter had knee surgery. He was
six weeks into his eight-week recovery with
braces and crutches. One day during a skate ses-
sion with everyone cheering and coaxing each
other on, Peter couldn't handle sitting on the side-
lines anymore, so he ripped those leg braces off,
threw the crutches down, grabbed some pads and
a board, and started his own physical therapy. You
should've seen the cheering then.
And then there's Eddy. I have never seen a more
reckless kid. He was always the first to try some-
thing new. Vert wasn't enough on just the
ramp-he had to jump out of a tree, bounce on the
couch, and then go in the ramp, or vice versa. Eddy
doesn't skateboard, the skateboard is Eddy.
We asked Matt on his 20th birthday what he
wanted to do. He said he wanted a small BBQ
and skate party. Two bands and 200 kids later, he
got his skate party.
Skateboarding has taken them all to new
heights, interests and levels of achievement.
When they started skating, they started believing in
themselves. They never believed in the NO, they
focused on the YES. They live to skate and skate to
live-emerging themselves heart, body, and soul. I
am really proud of their successes and being a part
of their lives."
-Matt Moffett's Mom
Clockwise: Peter "Pan" Hewitt teaches the misguided
children of the world a little something about tip-toe
Indy airs. "I just over-rotated a frontside air once and
just went with it." is how Peter describes his affinity for
one of skateboarding's wackier stunts. He's the only
one who does the late grab frontside 540's. The fact
that the shallow end of the Nude Bowl has little to no
transition does little to dissuade Peter from hitting it.
with a lengthy 5-0.
"I WAS DOIN' THE SHAMU IN THE
SWIMMING POOL AT THE ARIZONA NSA
AMATEUR FINALS WHEN I TURNED
AROUND AND SAW LOUISE BALMA,
SONIA, AND ALL THESE TRANSWORLD
LADIES WATCHING ME. I THINK THE
WORD THEY USED WAS DISGRACEFUL.
--PETER ON HIS SPECIAL WATER TRICK