INTO THE BLUE Malibu local Dave Hackett remembers legendary skateboarder Jay Adams who died in Puerto Escondido, Mexico on August 14, 2014 at 53 years old. A significant passing for our town as it is the true birthplace of “Sidewalk Surfing”, which had a profound influence on surf culture and Adams, being instrumental in propelling skateboarding into an international sport. - Cece Woods
JAY ADAMS 1961-2014 By Dave Hackett
JAY ADAMS was the first Z-Boy to compete at the legendary Del Mar Nationals in 1975 and his contribution to skateboarding is unparalleled. Adams is without a doubt one of the most influential skateboarders of all time. Since the age of thirteen “JayBoy” busted down the door of almost every aspect of skateboarding – freestyle, streetstyle, vertical, slalom, and downhill – you name it, he did it. Charging hard with wild abandon and youthful creativity he attempted anything and everything that hadn’t been done before – sometimes making it, sometimes not - but always setting new standards for everyone else to achieve. Adams is known for his insanely radical abandon, stylish execution and setting trends in everything he does; the Jay Adams design “Z-Flex board”, the Jay Adams “Fly Away” helmet, and The Jay Adams shoe by Osiris remain to this day some of the most sought after products ever made. JAY ADAMS’ contribution to skateboarding defies description or category. Adams is clearly the archetype of modern-day skateboarding. He’s the real deal. He is beyond comparison. Up until his untimely passing on August 14th, he was more vital, more dynamic, more exciting, more unpredictable, and more spontaneous in his approach than any other skater, dead or alive. He never skated the same run the same way twice. His deal was wickedly random, yet tight and beautiful to watch - he even invented new tricks during his contest runs! He destroyed all convention and all expectations. Watching him skateboard was something new every second: he was and will forever remain “Skate and Destroy” personified. Adams’ skateboarding was aggression, style, power and fury. Wild abandon, and destruction of all fear, Untamed Individualism, and a free-spirited Determination to rip, tear and shred FOREVER - 100% SKATER FOR LIFE. JAY ADAMS was named by Stacy Peralta, (Award winning director of DOGTOWN AND Z-BOYS) “the original seed; the original virus that infected us all.” By 1976, Jay Adams had won 1st place in the freestyle and the obstacle course events at the Hang Ten World Championships.
photo courtest of the Jay Adams Family archive