Reviews Write New Review
[email protected]
Christian Hosoi
In the 1980's, Christian Hosoi was one of the most popular skateboarders in the world.
In the 1980's, Christian Hosoi was one of the most popular skateboarders in the world.
Hosoi had been skating since he was 5. Hosoi was a skater in the famous Venice Beach Dogtown scene, which played a defining role in the history of skateboarding culture.
Hosoi emerged as one of the new rulers of vert skateboarding while wearing spandex shorts, ripped t-shirts and headbands. Hosoi also pioneering the first professionally endorsed wheel from Santa Cruz Skateboards.
While in prison in 2000, Hosoi became a Born-Again Christian.
Hosoi started skating at seven or eight years old with veterans such as Shogo Kubo, Tony Alva, Stacy Peralta, and Jay Adams as his idols. His father, Ivan "Pops" Hosoi became the manager of the Marina Del Rey Skatepark, and Christian quit school and spent his time there where he quickly developed his emerging talent. In 1979, as an amateur, Hosoi was sponsored by Powell Peralta. He left Powell Peralta a year later when they wouldn't allow him to turn professional and joined Dogtown Skateboards. After Dogtown went out of business shortly thereafter, he turned pro at the age of 14 with Sims Skateboards.
Christian Hosoi emerged as one of the top competitors of vertical riding alongside such pros as Steve Caballero, Mike McGill, Lester Kasai, and Mark "Gator" Rogowski with an eventual rivalry developing with Tony Hawk with contrasting styles in both skateboarding and lifestyles Hosoi, known for his flair and graceful style, and Hawk raising the bar with his technical ability and difficult tricks. Hosoi invented the Christ Air and Rocket Air, and was renowned for pulling huge aerials; at one point he was the world record holder. Vertical skateboarding grew in spectator popularity with prize money to match. This, combined with major endorsements with Converse, Swatch, and Jimmy'Z, as well as receiving a pro model wheel, the OJ II Hosoi Rocket through Santa Cruz Speed Wheels, earning Hosoi more money than he'd ever dreamed of. In 1984 he formed his own company, Hosoi Skates, first distributed through Skull Skates, then through NHS-INC. The board proved to be so popular that it was counterfeited. When street skating began to emerge in the mid-to-late 80s, Hosoi proved a threat as well, winning both the vert and street contests at the Lotte Cup contest in Japan in 1989.
Videos
News
Related Speakers View all
Tony Alva
Alva and the other Z-Boys may well have been the fir...
|
|
Tommy Guerrero
Guerrero was one of the prominent members of the Bon...
|
|
Stacy Peralta
He is one of the original Z-Boys and is well known i...
|
|
Danny Way
Danny Way was born on April 15, 1974 in Portland, Or...
|
|
Mike Vallely
An iconic and driving member of the skateboarding bo...
|
|
Rodney Mullen
Professional Skateboarder; Known as “Godfather of Mo...
|
|
Bucky Lasek
5x X-Games Gold Medalist
|
|
Tony Hawk
Legendary Skateboarder, Entrepreneur & Founder of Th...
|
|
Mike McGill
Partner, MHT Partners
|
|
Oli France
Expedition Leader & Adventurer
|
|
Devin Logan
Olympic & X Games Freestyle Medalist
|
|
Mark Pattison
Former NFL Player, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur & Cl...
|
|
Matt Bromley
Professional Big Wave Surfer & Motivational Speaker
|
|
Dianette Wells
Mt. Everest Climber, Adventure Racer & Ultra-Maratho...
|
|
Julia Mancuso
Former Olympic Gold Medalist Skier, Fitness Guru & P...
|
|
Steph Davis
Free Solo Climber & Base Jumper; First Woman to Free...
|
|
Margo Hayes
Record-Breaking USA Climbing Bronze Medalist
|
|
Minna Stess
2021 Women's Park Skateboarding National Champion; 2...
|
|
Toby Miller
Halfpipe Snowboarder; 3-Time Medalist at the Junior ...
|
|
Joey Okesson
Halfpipe Snowboarder; Youngest Member of the Men’s U...
|