Jay Adams, part of the legendary Zephyr skate team, died last Thursday of a heart attack at age 53. He had been spending time in Mexico on a surfing holiday. Reports say, despite a long history of drug use, Adams had no history of heart problems. The Zephyr team, known locally as the Z-Boys, were the subject of 2005's Lords Of Dogtown. As the skating world mourns the death of Adams, may they remember the full life he led.
Though he was known the world over for his and his friends' innovations in vertical skateboarding, Adams, like all his friends on the Zephyr team, started out surfing. Kent Sherwood, a surrogate father to a young Adams, recalls his early days at Venice Beach (via New York Times):
"I got him in the water when he was 4."
Jeff Ho, the premiere surfboard shaper of that era, remembers seeing the youngster surfing as well:
"It really took me aback because in that time you didn't see little kids in the water."
After a great deal of success with his childhood friends in the Z-Boys, Adams eventually fell prey to drug and alcohol abuse, in and out of prison for much of the last two decades.
After reportedly getting clean and finding Christ, Adams got married and was living a quiet life in recent years.
He was in Mexico for about three months when he suddenly died of a heart attack (via TMZ):
"This was the first time in 20 years Adams was allowed to leave the U.S. He had been in and out of jail since the '80s on various felony drug charges."
RIP Jay Boy. He was an original soul; both his skate style and his lifestyle were fearless and unique. He will be missed by friends and fans alike.
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