Skateboarding & Partying: It’s Killing our Heros

[skategeezer]

Found this on www.skateornot.com



Skateboarding & Partying: It’s Killing our Heros

by skateornot on Feb.05, 2008, under famous, industry, news, stooops
Phil Shao, Kit Ericsson, Jeff Klindt, Keenan Milton, Harold Hunter, Shane Cross, Van Wastell… what do they all have in common? They’re all skateboard greats who have passed on. The thing is though, no one in the skateboard industry wants to confront the problem(s) which lead directly or indirectly to their deaths: the partying.

I’m going to get a lot of @#$@ for posting this, but it’s high time someone looks at the problem because it’s costing us our friends, our heros, and our families. When Shane Cross died, I thought to myself, here we go again. Stupid party antics, late in the evening, while drinking (or whatever). I was mad he died. I was also mad at Blitz for not taking responsibilty in using his death as an avenue to get a message across. What message? That the partying has got to stop, or at least be toned down. WTF? I mean, why was he on the back of a motorcycle with Ali Boulala anyway? Why did they crash into a building? The same skateboarders with the dexterity and balance to kickflip boardslide a handrail can’t manuever a motorcycle properly? They were drinking and partying. Ever heard of a Darwin Award? Look it up.
What about the “oh so mysterious” death of everyone’s favorite Keenan Milton? I mean, he WAS my favorite. Found in a swimming pool? Alone? Why was he alone? What was he doing that evening? Why should I care? He was a favorite of mine, that’s why.
When they die, we mourn. Their sponsors mourn. We create sites for them. RIP we say. Maybe they can’t Rest in Peace until we tell their story. Ever think about that? Maybe they can’t RIP until we stop it from happening to others? Maybe they want us to tell as many people as we can, to NOT PARTY like they did?! Ever think about that?
Kit Ericsson. Remember him? Sonic skateboards. Bay Area skateboarder. He fell down a flight of stairs. DOA. Again, how are these skateboarders falling down stairs, crashing into buildings, crashing their cars (Phil Shao), drowning in swimming pools? ALCOHOL no doubt plays a HUGE ROLE.
I remember seeing Steve Berra at some sort of MTV award ceremony wearing a KEENAN FOREVER t-shirt shortly after Keenan passed. That’s an effective way to keep Keenan’s life remembered, but, I sorta wish he could have said something like – Keenan didn’t have to die – he didn’t have to party the way he did etc. Whatever. Something like that. But nothing. No one at Girl ever made any public statements about it. Never. And I can understand that. You want them to die with dignity. But you can still encourage everyone to not make the same poor decisions that they did.
I mean, how many more greats are we going to have to loose? Seriously. Why do I have to post something like this in order to get the message out? I mean, why can’t FLIP put out something that says something to the effect of: “Ali and Shane were partying and made some poor decisions that night. Please don’t make the same poor decisions they did….” They don’t have the balls, that’s why. Maybe it’s bad for skateboarding.
Is it bad for skateboarding? To make cliche statements like “don’t drink and drive”? At the very least, stay with the person you’re partying with. Keenan wouldn’t have died if someone was always with him that night.
I’m honoring them all in this post believe it or not. They want me too. The greats. Our heroes. They want us to get this message out. It’s not meant to guilt anyone, it’s just meant to open up some eyes in the industry. Do your part. Remember them AND TELL THEIR STORY.
-eric b.
Stereo’s own Danny Renaud fell out of a 9 story building. He’s lucky to be alive. He’s in intensive care with a broken tibula and fiblua in both legs, a ruptured kidney, and a punctured lung. Doctors also removed 2/3 of his pancreas and his spleen. Drinking, yes.
Ali Boulala/Flip haven’t really given us an update on his status. As of Sunday the 24th of June, Ali has been staying in his new apartment just around the corner from the hospital. He will be cared for by his girlfriend and will have doctor visits throughout the week. He will still be reporting to the hospital for physiotherapy three times a week. Ali is walking completely unassisted and was last seen at Ikea in Melbourne purchasing Swedish meatballs. (source: wikipedia) UPDATE: Ali Boulala is currently serving a jail sentence for his recklessness that evening.

[Cann0n]

I'd rather die partying than slowly in a bed.

[benneb2]

Originally Posted by Cann0n

I'd rather die partying than slowly in a bed.

+1ed

10parties

[GrassDiver]

Alcohol has this strange way of causing accidents, all you can really say is: Work hard, play hard, but stay safe - staying safe does not mean you can't party, but maybe sometimes if you've had too much its better to sleep it off, and skate another day.

[Petary791]

This is heavy! Like seriously heavy. I'm happy someone wrote something like this.

Limits and self control ftw.

[gavmck]

Shiiit Ali Boulala, he was one of my skate heros and now he's screwed.

I'd rather die of skating than drinking.

[Jat.]

I concur. I limit myself to a six pack and wonder how getting beat up or accidently ramming yourself through a table and not remembering anthing about those stitches you wake up with the next morning in the hospital.

What's the deal? Binge drinking is a joke. Go use your money on some quality rather than quantity. I get that not everyone likes beer, I myself LOVE the oil spill-ish kind.
But that doesn't mean that you should make up the lack of beer in the same quantity of rum, vodka or what ever you poison is.

This rant is slightly off topic, but I agree, these are people and companies with great influence. Why not use their influence to educate the fans that dying in a tragic way like this is not the way to go.

[Tagsrover]

Originally Posted by Cann0n

I'd rather die partying than slowly in a bed.

Originally Posted by benneb2

+1ed

10parties

I'd rather die when i'm old than when i'm young.

The point isn't stop partying, the point is don't do it to the point where you are going to do something and kill your self. If you are black out drunk you aren't even going to remember it.

If you think the only life worth living is the party life and that nothing good happens after your 20's then i'm sorry becuase that is sad.

shout out to the kids

[Cann0n]

Originally Posted by Tagsrover

I'd rather die when i'm old than when i'm young.

The point isn't stop partying, the point is don't do it to the point where you are going to do something and kill your self. If you are black out drunk you aren't even going to remember it.

If you think the only life worth living is the party life and that nothing good happens after your 20's then i'm sorry becuase that is sad.

shout out to the kids

I don't tell people how they should live. I don't party my ass off or anything. I'm just saying, I would rather die at my own hands than let time talk hold. After seeing relatives suffer out the rest of their days, I'd rather go out when I'm not expecting it. I won't mind lasting until 70s, but if I am going to be sick and in dire need of medical attention, "I'm out. Peace." I'll be in good terms with myself when I'm judged. My last meal wont be in liquid form either.

[B_Dubya_B]

Originally Posted by Cann0n

I don't tell people how they should live. I don't party my ass off or anything. I'm just saying, I would rather die at my own hands than let time talk hold. After seeing relatives suffer out the rest of their days, I'd rather go out when I'm not expecting it. I won't mind lasting until 70s, but if I am going to be sick and in dire need of medical attention, "I'm out. Peace." I'll be in good terms with myself when I'm judged. My last meal wont be in liquid form either.

word.

i decided if i live to be 65, im going to take up B.A.S.E. jumping and big wave surfing.

[the cruisader]

It reminds me the way rappers from the past use to talk about how education and knowledge are vital in the jungle we live in. They felt responsible for what they brothers and friends were doing to themselves out there.
Today, I hear no voice telling young people to make sure they've heard about landing before getting high. The young ones don't want to be modern slaves, they prefer to die tryin to be rockstars.
Whose side are you on? Your companies or your children?

[BDirthead]

Thanks to geezer for posting this and to everyone for sharing your thoughts. When I was alot younger, I partied hard and skated harder (or was that the opposite) anyhow, I am fortunate to have survived those early years. Now in my 40's, I still get to do all the stuff that I love to do (surf, skate, snowboard, and mountainboard), but partying doesn't help me physically or mentally. I'm in this for the long haul. My current goals is to skate and do these other board sports with my 2 sons when they are teen agers. They currently are 2 and 6. Even though I currently have a cast on my lower leg and need another surgery in 2 months, I've got another decade of skating to go before I start to reach my goal. Partying will not be part of my plan! I alos need to be a good example to my boys and others, so that they don't make the same mistakes that these great skaters had made.

[Brian Holden]

YOU CANT KILL DUSTIN DOLLIN!

YouTube - baker 3- dustin dollin

[Slops57]

everyone is responsible for their own actions. it sucks that stuff happened to those people but they did it to themselves. You have to be responsible for you and not try to blame alcohol or peer pressure. those are total cop-outs. it's like blamming music for kids going out and shooting up their schools. thats just bad parenting.

[Petary791]

Originally Posted by Slops57

thats just bad parenting.

If only things were that easy...

[Wells]

This just in: Drugs and alcohol are killing stupid young people! NEWS AT ELEVEN.

[Slops57]

Originally Posted by Wells

This just in: Drugs and alcohol are killing stupid young people! NEWS AT ELEVEN.

LOL. Natural selection FTW.

[ows371]

parenting bad or otherwise has nothin to do with this issue...its about being accountable for ones actions. people are responsible enough to do the dirt but not responsible enough to pay the ####### consequences without trying to pawn it off on someone else because its easier. the fact is,most kids youth and young adults are doing drugs,because of a lack of self worth or a need to fit in,the problem is it can catch up with you in a kick ass fashion,and ruin or take your life...trust me i speak from experience and have lost a brother to drug addiction. facts or facts,become responsible for your actions or pay the ###### piper...wah wah wah...love always,skip

[enemy combatant]

Originally Posted by Wells

This just in: Drugs and alcohol are killing stupid young people! NEWS AT ELEVEN.

Word. Most of you other guys sound like a bunch of old ladies. Moderation is for middle aged 40 year olds with families and mortgages.

19 year old organ donors are are the main source of high quality transplants since the long term effects of bodily abuse has not kicked in yet. I was into machine gun firefights when I was 19.

I say play hard, party hard, and keep rockin' the fvck on...

[snozzboarder55]

look of the image of skateboarding. it is all about being "free" and going against the grain, part of the counter culture. pretty much do the opposite of a "responsible" adult. it is unfortunate that no one keeps these stars in check, but how can they? these people are good at what they do and are getting paid to do it, they are being told they are invincible and great, it is going to their heads and they just want to have the most extreme fun possible.

the responsibility is up to the companies that sponsor these skaters. instead of picking up young kids and giving them everything they want, they need to treat them like professional athletes and accommodate for their age. set limits and remind these people that their job and their lives require responsibility, case in point Christian Hosoi. it wasn't until a drug arrest and multiple close calls that he cleaned up his act.