Jay Adams
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Jay Adams (born February 3, 1961 in Los Angeles, California) is one of the original Z-Boys and is considered one of the most influential skateboarders of all time.
Adams is "The world's greatest natural skater" according to fellow Zephyr skateboard team member, and Powell-Peralta Bones Brigade founder Stacy Peralta. [1]
The Godfather of modern day skateboarding, Craig Stecyk, dubbed Adams "the original 'seed.'" [2] Stecyk also wrote, "Having known Adams over the years I really can't say he's changed much. He remains one of the most spontaneous, unpredictable persons I've ever encountered... Everything you've ever heard about him is probably true, or should be anyway. Mere words could never come close to accurately describing him." [3]
Adams is featured prominently in the award winning documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys and in the major motion picture dramatized account of the Z-Boys origins; the Lords of Dogtown.
In addition to being an excellent skateboarder, Adams is also an excellent surfer, having an ambidexterous style. In the mid-1970s as a teenager he was not only part of the original Zephyr skateboard team, but also part of the Zephyr surf team as well.
Adams has had numerous run-ins with the law in his adult life and spent time in prison for, amongst other things, assault and drug-related crimes. During his most recent incarceration, Jay suddenly became outspoken on the topic of the dangers of drug abuse, possibly for the reason that he became Born Again.
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[edit] Books of significance
- DOGTOWN-The Legend of the Z-Boys, C.R. Stecyk III & Glen E. Friedman, Burning Flags Press, 2000, ISBN 0-9641916-4-4
- JAY-BOY - Classic photographs by Jay Adams stepfather, Kent Sherwood, Concrete Wave Editions, 2006, ISBN 0973528664 *[1]
- Scarred for Life - Eleven Stories About Skateboarders by Keith Hamm, Chronicle Books, 2004, ISBN 0811840530
- Fuck You Heroes, Glen E. Friedman photographs 1976-1991, Burning Flags Press, 1994, ISBN 0-9641916-0-1
- Fuck You Too, The Extras + More Scrapbook - Music and Skating thru> '04, Glen E. Friedman, ConSafos press, 2005, ISBN 0-9656535-0-1
[edit] Trivia
The character "Iggy" in the video game, Tony Hawk's American Wasteland is inspired by Jay Adams.
[edit] References
- ^ Thrasher magazine
- ^ thesunmachine.net
- ^ SkateBoarder magazine, 1979 interview
[edit] External links
- the internet's most popular un-official Jay Adams fan page
- Jay Adams print by Shepard Fairey
- The one and only, completely original, unofficial, homegrown, always corporate free, Z-BOYS webpage
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