Jamie Thomas

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For other people named Jamie Thomas, see Jamie Thomas (disambiguation).
Jamie Thomas
Born (1974-10-11) October 11, 1974
Dothan, Alabama
Residence Encinitas, California
Other names The Chief[1]
Occupation Professional skateboarder
Spouse(s) Joanne
Children Julien Tiger, James Ruby, Maximus Trey
Website
http://wp.blackboxdist.com/

Jamie Thomas (born October 11, 1974), is an American professional skateboarder and skateboard industry magnate from Dothan, Alabama, United States (US). Thomas is the owner and president of Black Box Distribution, a company that distributes brands such as Zero Skateboards and Fallen Footwear. Thomas' nickname in the skateboard industry is "The Chief".[1]

Biography

Early life

Thomas started skateboarding at the age of eleven.[citation needed]

Skateboarding career

Thomas has explained that his nickname, "The Chief", was started by professional skateboarders Elissa Steamer, Erik Ellington and Jim Greco.[1]

Plus Skateshop

Was one of Jamie's first sponsored used to be called Beach Plus Skateshop.

Deluxe

Thomas was second sponsored in 1992 by Deluxe (Thunder trucks, Spitfire wheels and as a flow rider for Real Skateboards). This prompted him to move to San Francisco with his friends Sean Young and Hurley.

Invisible

While living in San Francisco, Thomas turned pro for a short-lived company, Experience Skateboards. Thomas then went on to ride for the San Diego based Invisible Skateboards. After relocating to Southern California in 1994, Thomas was featured on the cover of Transworld Skateboard magazine and had video parts in the Spitfire and Invisible videos.

Toy Machine

In 1995, Thomas joined Ed Templeton's Toy Machine, and filmed and directed two of the company's videos, the second one being Welcome To Hell.

"Leap of Faith"

The Zero video, Thrill Of It All, featured Thomas' attempt at what would be coined "The Leap of Faith"[2] (an "ollie melon", over a handrail, down an 18-foot, 8-inch drop). The location of the "leap" was the Point Loma High School in San Diego, California, US. Although Thomas did not successfully land the trick, his attempt garnered notoriety.

Business career

In 1996, Thomas started a small clothing company through Toy Machine's distributor Tum Yeto. This company later became Zero Skateboards. Thomas is the owner and president of Black Box Distribution, which was created in 2000 and is the parent company of Mystery Skateboards, $lave Skateboards, Zero Skateboards, Threat By Zero, Insight Clothing, and Fallen Footwear. In 2006, Thomas won a regional "Entrepreneur of the Year" award from Ernst & Young.[3]

Reflections

Thomas has stated that he constantly wishes that he is not a perfectionist: "Yeah, I wish that all the time. My whole life is wishing that I didn't need to have something a certain way. I don't like to use the term "perfectionist" because I don't think perfection is accomplishable. But I wish I wasn't obsessed with trying to make things perfect. Yes. It's terrible; it's a curse."[1]

Personal life

Thomas is married to Joanne and has three children (Julien Tiger, born October 30, 2003, James Ruby, born March 30, 2006, and Maximus Trey, born June 11, 2008). The Thomas family resides in Encinitas, California, US. Thomas is also a Christian, with several board graphics that feature Christian imagery and scripture.[4]

Videography

  • Spitfire Wheels: Spitfire (1993)[5]
  • Invisible Skateboards: Invisible (1994)[6]
  • Toy Machine: Heavy Metal (1995)[7]
  • Etnies: High Five (1995)[8]
  • Toy Machine: Welcome to Hell (1996)[9]
  • Emerica: Yellow – shared part with Adrian Lopez (1996)[10]
  • Zero: Thrill of it All (1997)[11]
  • Zero: Misled Youth (1999)[12]
  • Landspeed: CKY (1999)[13]
  • Transworld: VideoRadio (2001)[14][15][16][17][18]
  • Transworld: Chomp on This (2002)[19]
  • Zero: Dying to Live (2002)
  • Zero: New Blood (2005)
  • Reason to Believe (2005)
  • Thrasher: King of the Road (2004)
  • Thrasher: King of the Road (2005)
  • Thrasher: King of the Road (2006)
  • Zero promotional video (2007)
  • Fallen: Ride The Sky (2008)
  • Bill Maher's Religulous (2008)
  • Zero: Strange World (2009)
  • Insight: Untitled (2011)
  • Zero: Cold War (2013)[20]

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 RIDEChannel (6 March 2013). "Jamie Thomas Gets Karate Chopped, Ollies The Gonz Gap Daily, and More ..." (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 
  2. ↑ audiomasterk91 (7 February 2006). "jamie thomas leap of faith" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 19 August 2012. 
  3. ↑ Matt Higgins (24 November 2006). "In Board Sports, Insider Status Makes Gear Sell". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 August 2012. 
  4. ↑ Transworld (22 May 2003). "CASHING IN ON GOD". Transworld Skateboarding. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved 19 August 2012. 
  5. ↑ "Spitfire". Skatevideosite.com. Skatevideosite.com. 2005–2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 
  6. ↑ Don1970 (23 July 2008). "Jamie Thomas - Invisible (1994)" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 
  7. ↑ gamblingproblems (27 March 2009). "JAMIE THOMAS HEAVY METAL TOY MACHINE" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 
  8. ↑ skaidernation (2 November 2009). "Jamie Thomas - Etnies High 5" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 
  9. ↑ James Padilla (29 November 2011). "Jamie Thomas - Welcome to Hell [HD] [720p]" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 
  10. ↑ bigPantsLittleWheels (23 November 2009). "Jamie Thomas & Adrian Lopez - Emerica - Yellow" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 
  11. ↑ SoFaK1NgBeAsT (31 July 2012). "Jamie Thomas Thrill of it All" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 
  12. ↑ skaidernation (10 November 2009). "Jamie Thomas - Zero Misled Youth" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 
  13. ↑ ParisIsHesh; 623skates (2005–2013). "Landspeed: CKY". Skatevideosite.com. Skatevideosite.com. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 
  14. ↑ OstownArmySpoon (28 December 2008). "Tom Penny - Nollie Hardflip" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 29 January 2013. 
  15. ↑ skaidernation (12 November 2009). "Montage 3/4 - Transworld Skateboarding Videoradio '01" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 29 January 2013. 
  16. ↑ skaidernation (12 November 2009). "Montage 2/4 - Transworld Skateboarding Videoradio '01" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 29 January 2013. 
  17. ↑ skaidernation (12 November 2009). "Montage 1/4 - Transworld Skateboarding Videoradio '01" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 29 January 2013. 
  18. ↑ skaidernation (12 November 2009). "Montage 4/4 - Transworld Skateboarding Videoradio '01" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 29 January 2013. 
  19. ↑ skaidernation (13 November 2009). "Jamie Thomas - Chomp On This" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 
  20. ↑ "Jamie Thomas skate videos". SkatevideoSite.com. SkatevideoSite.com. 2005–2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 
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