Brian Sumner
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Brian Sumner (born June 2, 1979 in Liverpool, England) is a professional skateboarder for Adio footwear, Independent Trucks, Birdhouse Decks, Analog Clothing, Ninja Bearings, and Project Hardware. Brian went pro after only a few years on a board, he began skating at age 13.
Brian traveled to America and made his US debut in the skate video The End and One Step Beyond by Adio shoes. He filmed for the first Baker video and also appeared in Baker 2g. Brian can be seen in many 411 movies and other such known skate videos.
Brian spent many summers traveling the US on Tony Hawks Gigantic skate park tour.
Brian is an avid Bruce Lee fan. In 2001, he released an instructional video called "The Tao of Skateboarding." He also creates shoes for Adio, his newest shoe is the Adio Brian Sumner V.3.
Brian was a stunt double for Adam Brody in the movie Grind and also made a cameo appearance as himself. He was also in Sleepover where he jumped over a fountain with a rubber mask on. He has also appeared in other movies and music videos.
He became a Christian in 2004 after spending 7 or so months trying to figure out if God is real. Brian read books and watched DVDs from Discovery Channel, National Geographic and many other historic and geographic based sources. He said that he called out God by reading the Bible but at the same time trying to see what the best arguments against it where. At the same time he looked at most world religions and after days and hours of study decided that Jesus was the son of God and gave his life over. He read The Case for Christ and Purpose Driven Life during the process. He and his wife had split up and after America, Skateboarding, money and the rest he married and had a child. They split some years into it and this was the point that turned Brian's life around. He said "I just knew I would figure out if God was real or not and by playing devils advocate I actually read and studied and realised just how many people take for granted scientific theories and the idea of evolution, if this was so then you can never complain about anything being good or bad, because in reality, none of it is, we just evolved, also there is no after life and everything we do is just organisms acting out in a way while we are often selfish and only focused on the now. The Bible claims you can know God, right now. I had read Revelation 3:20 and understood, but even after months of study I still did not believe. After a day of still fighting with my ex wife at the time and also of going to The Sanctuary for the first or second time I realise based on Galations 5:16-21 just how we are separate from God, and how our sins stop HIM from moving in our lives. I was cussing, living in sin and thinking HE would just show up. That night after church and another fight with my ex wife I went into my office and sat on the floor and called on God. This time I meant it, I had been suicidal for months and I had searched for God the whole time. This night however I said I will give you my life, my skateboarding, will get baptised and will get re-married. I am sick of fighting in front of my son, of living in frustration and what else does life really have to offer? I opened the Bible am focused on Jesus coming into my heart, forgiving me and changing my life. After a 40 minute prayer as clear as can be I felt the Holy Spirit enter into me and it changed me in an instant. Everything made sense, just like the Bible says. From that day until today it is the same feeling and drive and I can now only do my best to share with the world who Jesus is and that HE wants to set people free."
Today he is remarried to the same woman, his son is six and they are expecting another child in 2007.
In 2003, along with fellow skateboarders, Christian Hosoi, Jay Haizlip, Lance Mountain and Richard Mulder, he started The Uprising, a skateboard ministry that reaches out to youth and the skating community through assemblies and large arena festivals.
Brian currently resides and skates in Huntington Beach, California, where he serves as a Deacon at The Sanctuary Church of Huntington Beach, California, along with fellow skater, Christian Hosoi.
Brian has appeared in many Christian based films, had toured and spoken at many events and will be spending the next few years skating and learning the WORD so he can use his gifts to minister the WORD to the world.
[edit] References
- The Sanctuary Church of Huntington Beach, California. Retrieved on December 20, 2006.
- The Uprising Skateboard Ministry. Retrieved on December 20, 2006.
- Brian Summer Home Page. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.