drugs, they think it's cool to
have girls flocking everywhere,
gangbangin' and all that. But
you get caught up in that and
you end up in a bad situation,
and then your freedom's taken
away from you. It's a down-
ward spiral. It all depends on
your upbringing, your par-
ents, your friends, the people
you hang out with, and what
you're exposed to. Everybody.
needs foundation.
More than any skater I know,
you've always had a certain spir-
ituality about you and your way
of living.
I was very open minded.
Music-wise, Bob Marley was a
big influence; and my dad's an
artist, and we would talk about
spirituality and history. I've
always been around older peo-
ple all my life. Now I read the
Bible every day, and I have my
girl and fiancée Jennifer Lee
Gilbert, soon to be Jennifer Lee
Hosoi. I wanted to turn my life
around when I was doing drugs
and stuff, but I couldn't do it
on my own.
What can you tell anybody.
who might say you're a "Jesus
freak" or think it's not cool
or whatever?
That's up to them; every-
body's heart is what you're
Hell hole, 1985
From experiencing the ultimate
freedom all of your life to being
locked up, what's it like?
It ain't no fun. You're behind
bars, you go eat, you come back,
you don't do anything, you read.
This is like my little scholarship
to study my Bible, you know
what I mean? I meet people every
day who come in and out, and
you get a feel for the edge. It's
hardcore reality checks for every-
body. There are a lot of people
looking at a lot of hard time, and
things like that can really change
your life. I've never wanted to go
to jail for even a day.
Thanks?
People who have helped
through the hard times: Flip
Skateboards, Rune Glifberg, Pat
Nogho, Rob Dyrdek, Danny Way,
Dave Duncan, Eddie Reatagui,
Steve Olson, Scott Oster, Kareem
'Campbell, Block, Max Perlich,
Mike Crum, Shorty's, Chad
Muska. Everybody who's been
helping me through the years:
Independent Trucks, Dogtown,
Sims, Alva, Skull, Vision, Jim
Ganzer, Santa Cruz, the Fletcher
family, Mic-E Reyes at Deluxe.
People who influenced me: Jay
Adams, Jerry Valdez, Kent
Senatore, Brad Bowman, Marty
Grimes, Steve and Micke Alba,
Lance Mountain, Mike Smith,
"I'VE NEVER WANTED TO GO TO
JAIL FOR EVEN A DAY"
made of. You have to have faith
and hope, and you have to have
love. Those three things can
really make your life a lot better.
I truly believe there's no power
greater, and it's been there
throughout my whole life of
skateboarding. I am a spiritual
person and now I've just opened
up all my doors, and I want to
let it all shine out. I have no
desire to do drugs or anything
that hurts my life anymore. I
have a beautiful son, Christian.
Rhythm Kealii Hosoi (3 1/2
years old), from a prior girl-
friend, and I hope they forgive
me for going through what I did.
But now I'm a better person, and
when I get out of the situation.
I'm in, I know I'm going to be a
wonderful father.
LLCH, VA Beach, 1986.
Monty Nolder, Tommy Guerrero, Sergie
Ventura, Lincoln Ueda, Bob Burnquist.
Skaters who are spreading the word:
Eddie Elguera, Primo and Diane,
Salman Agah. Uncle Dave, Joely Joel,
Lillian and Tom, Jennifer Lee, and my
mom and dad. Any others I've not
mentioned, you know who you are, and
tell 'em I'm going to be busting out.
-Kevin J Thatcher
The sentencing trial for Christian has
been set for January 26, 2001. Skaters
can write to Christian and send some
positive vibes to:
Christian Rasha Hosoi
# 0010300158 J-tank
c/o Central Detention Center
630 E. Rialto Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Ollie, 1989.