I grew up in Long Beach California only two blocks from the beach, so I took up surfing at an early age. Then in 1958 I cut my brothers metal roller skates in half, nailed them to a 2 X 4 to make my first skateboard. There was something special about skateboarding and it seemed to be more of a friend than an activity for me. Skateboarding became my main means of transportation, even when I was attending college I got around campus on my skateboard. Sharing my passion for skateboarding with others through teaching at the local community centre established the foundation of my involvement with the Sport. One of the students brought a flyer to class which advertised the 1975 Bahne/Cadillac United States National Skateboarding Championships. My students urged me to join and so I drove down to Del Mar, California and competed with 500 other skaters from across the nation. Well, I won the National Skateboarding Championships and my life was changed forever that weekend. The National Title now allowed me to become a spokesman for the Sport and elevate it to what I had always believed it deserved.
It’s now 56 years later (1958-2014) and I still love Skateboarding! Ed Nadalin skated in a film clip titled, “The Magic Rolling Board.” What a great description of our Sport. As I look back on the years involved with skating, the greatest treasures are the friends encountered along the way. Although I never made any money from any product that bore my name, I am much richer for riding through Life on a skateboard.
To View Russ’s full story and contest history click here
