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Nice Kicks: Being a living legend in skateboarding, what has it been like to see the sport and the culture of skateboarding grow over time?
Christian Hosoi: You know, the culture has transformed and it has adapted to what it has to work with. I’ve been a professional skateboarder since 1982, that’s over 30 years now. I’ve watched it go through the cycles, the ups and downs, the ebbs and flows of the industry, tricks, disciplines, the pools, the skate park age to the ramp age, the jump ramp age to the street style, and the hybrid skateboarder. Kids are skating everything now. With the invention of the mega ramp, these are things that people have to adapt to. We sponsor this kid Evan Doherty from Kansas. He was eight years old learning 540s in his first six months of skating vert. Then he’s doing 720s, then he’s going for the mega ramp at eight years old and pulling it. Then going for 900s at nine years old on the mega ramp to almost making a 900 on his vert ramp at his house! I mean it’s a small vert ramp, but to see these kids going for it and pushing the boundaries at the age they’re at is just incredible. I’m proud of this generation doing what they can with what they’re working with. That’s where we as an industry and as a culture need to facilitate raising these kids to be able to push the limits in a safe environment where these kids aren’t hurting themselves. When you look at these mega ramps with these little kids going down you’re like, “Is that child in danger?” But you watch them build up to it, you’re confident and you trust their ability so you let them go.
My seven-year-old kid dropped in on a vert and pulled the other day for the first time. It was one of those moments in a father’s life and I’m sure in his life that is just epic and you’ll cherish forever. I think skateboarding has really grown up – the industry, the companies, the corporations, even the skate contests and competitions all the way to the terrains and the skate parks. Vans is opening up a skate park right down the street from my house that has a clover pool in it with a massive flow bowl and a state of the art street course that’s gonna be free to the public. Then they also have one down the road that’s indoors in the mall. These things are available to the masses and to the public to come, to be creative, to use imagination and to either have fun or become a world champion. I love going through the cycles of life, even with the lags in skateboarding, the culture changes, and the people who come in and go out. Obviously I had a pretty huge timeout in my life with going to prison, being on drugs for ten years, going to prison for five. So fifteen years of my life was kind of rocky. Now the comeback is being fourteen years completely sober since January. No drugs, no alcohol. Just wanting to be an example to this next generation that you can still be rad, you can still dress however you want and you can be cool. For me, I’m a man of faith now, I love the Lord. I just want to be an example and if you want to know about it you can ask me. If you come to a place where I’m talking about it I hope you at least give an ear and listen in because I’ve experienced pretty much everything. I’ve come to the conclusion of the three things that matter most in my life: my family, my faith in God and Christ- to think my name was Christian, my nickname is Christ and I went through the whole ‘Christ Air’ era and now I put my faith in Christ is so ironic. [Laughs] But it worked out, that’s how God works. Now, I just want to be a role model that you’ve got a second chance in life and that you haven’t gone down a road that’s too dark. If there’s hope for me to turn my life around, to own my own company again, have major sponsors like Vans and be able to travel the world and be an ambassador for skateboarding again, this time with integrity and character, then anybody can do it. It just takes maybe listening to somebody’s story and maybe that story can change your life.
Nice Kicks: What role does skateboarding play in your life today?
Christian Hosoi: I’m just stoked to be a part of skateboarding. Now, I use all the new ways of social medial with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Follow me, I post pictures everyday of my family, what I’m doing, where I’m gonna be, inspirational quotes and scriptures, just who I am. I’m also taking Hosoi Skateboards and I’m gonna really put my arms around it and do it myself. I’m starting from scratch just like I did back when I first started Hosoi Skateboards in 1984. [Laughs] It’s funny that it’s gonna be 2014, 30 years later, and I’m getting back on the excitement and the passion to want to be a part of skateboarding. I want to be able to represent my brand my way and who I am as opposed to going through licensing deals or other partnerships that didn’t always turn out so well. I’m also a pastor at Sanctuary Church. If you’re ever in Huntington Beach or downtown LA come look me up and come hear me preach or come and say hi, I’d love to meet you.
Nice Kicks: What are you most excited about at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin?
Christian Hosoi: Really, it’s just about Mat Hoffman and his passion and his love for what he does with BMX. I’ve been doing demos with him since the ’80s. Just for him to invite me out to Fun Fun Fun Fest and be a part of his show. I’m really looking forward to seeing him and hanging out with him and all of the other skaters there and being part of the event. And to meet people – that’s really what it’s all about. Meeting people, sharing stories, and just celebrating the life of skateboarding and music. A place like Fun Fun Fun Fest is a great place to interact with people, make connections, represent who you are, and really give back to what you love so much, whether it be music or skateboarding. For me, skateboarding is what I love so much. I can’t wait to go have a fun time and skate the vert ramp and hang out with Mat Hoffman. It’s gonna be a great time.
Christian Hosoi and Steve Caballero (photo by Scott Witter)Nice Kicks: What can we expect from Christian Hosoi and Vans in the future?
Christian Hosoi: For us to travel around the world together with Steve Van Doren, Steve Caballero and Tony Alva. Just to be ambassadors of the brand. Showing up for events, speaking, and telling the story of Vans at the launches. And Warped Tour’s coming up right after Fun Fun Fun Fest. We’re doing stuff almost every month with Vans and we’re just having a ball.
Of course, I’ve got a collab shoe coming up. I’m always looking forward to when they call me in and say, “Hey Christian ready to work on a new shoe?” And, I’m like, “Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about!” It’s always a great time. Me, Steve Cabellero and Tony Alva are kind of like the legend category for Vans. We rotate our models and we always talk to each other about what we’re gonna do. It’s really fun for us. We’re in our forties and Tony’s in his fifties. So, to see Tony still honored and valued for what he’s done for the sport, Vans has definitely recognized the importance of that. For me to be a part of that legacy and be able to create another shoe coming up, I hope it never stops.
Lead image photo by RHINO
Special thanks to Christian and Vans. Tickets to see Christian ride at Fun Fun Fun Fest are available now here.
