In 1986 I was 14, the worlds fair was in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»and among the many events at Expo, there was a huge Skateboard event. To be honest I don't remember much from the actual contest as I was there in the stands. Neil Blender gave me a sticker and I remember to get in to the actual Expo grounds you had to take a least one wheel off your skateboard!
The Expo skate contest has been well documented in pretty lame videos like Radical Moves as well as numerous posts. What makes my story about Expo a little different is that I met what I would call a hero of mine.
Me and a friend stepped into PD's when it was on Oak, the place was pretty busy, busier than what I was used to seeing. I recognized right away that Rob Roskoff was standing in the shop, I know I wasn't really all that impressed to see him, I actually know very little about his skating, his board is really well known, but I don't recall seeing much actual skating by him? Anyways I walked up to the counter and started talking to the woman behind the counter who I had become friends with. As we spoke I flipped through the latest Thrasher, and stopped on a Hosoi ad. I was skating a Skull Skates Hammerhead at the time, (I believe her name is Margo) said you like Hosoi? And I said yeah he's awesome, to which she replied he's here you know! I said in Vancouver, yeah I bet. No she said right out back, go say hi.
I stepped out back behind the shop and there was Hosoi smoking. He saw my board and said something like, cuuuuuuuuuustom check it out, homey. We high fived and then I asked (like any kid would) do you mind signing this ad? No problem bro, but he skipped ahead to this other Jimmyz ad where he's just sort of ollying, but he's got sick all around style. He said hang loose and I turned around and skated off. It was a really amazing moment.
