Young and Alone.

Means that you are willing to try.

HOLY FUCK.

I miss this band more than you could ever imagine. 

Year of the GHOST.

Today I received an email from an old friend.
A friend who was announcing he was going to be gone for a while.
You know, the usual. Leaving on some sort of vacation.
It makes sense.

But it turns out…

This old friend is leaving for a mental institution.
After battling addiction for the past eight years it appears that some of those demons
have finally gotten the best of him.

As I was reading the email, I couldn’t help but think of us when we were fifteen.
Just two vulnerable kids, trying to trudge through the shit dumpster that is high school. What if this was me? What if I was the one dealing with severe addiction and gambling problems? If it happened to him, why wouldn’t it happen to me? 
After all, we were the exact same two kids who grew up in the exact same shit hole.

I really hope this old friend can make it out and start over. He always seemed a lot stronger than me. He was probably a lot smarter, too. 

As for me, maybe I’ll finally stop taking so much shit for granted.



 

There’s no easy way to say this, but you are completely dead to me. I hope you live a happy long life full of fake fucking people, useless world travels, cocaine, and plenty of guy friends who will only be around you to get in your pants. 

”So long, goodbye. I’ll be happy when you die”. 

Mike Vallely is my hero.

It just doesn’t get more real than him.
Not only is he one of the most inspiring athletes in modern history, but
he’s also a loving husband and father. 

Finally someone I can look up to.

We may operate in two completely different fields - it doesn’t matter.
I will always look up to the way he runs his career.
He’s always been in it for the good reasons - no fucking gimmicks.
Like me. In it for the long haul. 

In 2010, after parting ways with Powell Peralta for the third time, he started working on his own project. 
Something we now call Elephant Skateboards.

After riding for various corporate entities for so many years, he decided to bring it back to where it began.
To a time where he was riding for himself. Before companies came knocking at his door. Before friends turned to strangers and enemies. 

Finally something I can relate to.

Doing what you love because you just love it.
No agenda. Pure, raw passion.
No girls, no clothes.
Doing it because you have no other choice.

Something I can finally understand. 

And all the principles and morals I have learned through Mike Vallely.
All the tips and pointers he has unconsciously given me.
I can finally apply to my own career.

And for that, I thank him.

Long live Elephant Skateboards.