Jason Adams '50 Years To Life'
Skateboarding is a pastime of trends, both macro and micro. From scratching backyard pools in the late 1970's to the big air vert ramps of the early 80's, the 90's dominance of 'street style' or the ATV park rippers we see today, the macro offers seismic shifts to which almost all of skateboarding's prominent afficionados adhere.
Then there's the micro, like the bigspin trend of the early noughties or no-complies and wallies every guy and dog was putting in a part ten years ago. Momentary peaks of interest in various moves that last little more than the blink of an eye but, for a short moment, virtually everyone in skateboarding is biting.
Beyond that, way outside of this mainstream circle of fashion, sit the likes of Jason Adams, marching to the beat of their own drum.
When The Kid's legendary 'Label Kills' part dropped back in 2001, skateboarding pro's fell into one of two camps; switch heels & chunky moonboots or tight jeans and massive handrails. Jason, slappying the sh*t out of his local kerb in a pair of Vans Eras, was anything but on trend. But that's why, at 50 years old, his career remains as vital as ever.
Whilst most of us find solace in a crowd, skateboarding needs the artisans, the freaks and the vagabonds to blaze their own path. People like Jason Adams remind us that, ultimately, the only rule in skateboarding is to have fun.