My dad took me to see ‘Gleaming The Cube’ when I was 7 years old at this $1 theater in Okinawa. I sat in the theater in just awestruck. I watched and envisioned myself as Christian Slater, skating like a badass, hanging out with a then very young Tony Hawk, and being a complete rebel with a cause.

As soon as I got out of the theater I dragged my dad to the nearest Surf/Skateboard shop and begged him to buy me one. After his refusal because he was scared I’d hurt myself, so he bought me a subscription to Thrasher Magazine instead. I had to mow too many lawns, clean so many dishes, wash endless clothes, and kicked my arcade addiction to save up every quarter I had to buy a skateboard of my own.

I haven’t stopped skating since I was 7 years old.