Jay Haizlip

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jay "Alabamy" Haizlip, born in 1964 in Gadsden, Alabama, is a professional skateboarder. Considered one of the pioneering greats in the sport of skateboarding, Haizlip now serves as Senior Pastor of The Sanctuary of Huntington Beach, reaching out to today's youth.

Jay received a skateboard for Christmas at the age of 13. It quickly became apparent that the young Haizlip was a natural. He began to make ramps, skate ditches, and pools quickly gaining respect in the fledging industry. With a few contest wins under his belt he quickly became sponsored by companies like G&S, Alva Skates, Steve Olson Skates (AKA S.O.S), and Vision. Routinely appearing in magazines like Thrasher and Skateboarding (now known as Transworld), Jay was known for his aggressive pool skating.

Sporting contemporaries such as Tony Alva and Steve Olson, Jay recounts many instances of "guerilla" pool sessions, when a group of skaters would sneak into a backyard, drain and skate the pool.

While living in Newport Beach in the 80's, Jay's life turned to hard drugs and that began a twelve-year streak as a junkie, leaving Jay strung out and existing from one fix to the next. A desperate Jay soon ended up back in Alabama, contemplating suicide.

In 1990, Haizlip was born-again and soon answered the call to preach. He returned to the housing projects where in years past he had scored cocaine on so many occasions with a new agenda, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Since that time, Jay has traveled all across the United States and the rest of the world speaking in churches, doing school assemblies, and city wide alternative parties. Jay's stops have included Haiti, Jamaica, England, Indonesia, Malaysia and more.

In 2003, along with fellow skaterboarders, Christian Hosoi, Brian Sumner, 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.

Jay is married to Christy Haizlip and has two sons and a daughter: Newt Godfree, Baylen Haizlip, and Paris Haizlip.

Jay continues skateboarding and being a part of the current youth scene, in addition to his role as senior pastor at The Sanctuary Church. His current sponsors include: Hosoi Skates, Blak Flag Choppers, and Lift Clothing.