Jay Adams 1961-2014

Adam's is probably not the greatest skater of all time, but I can say without fear of being wrong, that he is clearly the archetype of modern day skateboarding.

Stacy Peralta

©kent sherwood

Skateboard innovator Jay Adams passed away today from a heart attack.

Jay was one of the original Z-Boy's; a group of misfits from southern California, who bucked popular mainstream trends to create a style that would become the prototype for modern day skating.

A true innovator, Jay helped revolutionized the sport from the trick-based, upright style of the early 60's, to the radical, down-to-the-ground surfer style made famous by Jay and other members of the Z-boys.

I never picked up a skateboard in my youth, but I've always had a taste for innovators and game changers, and Jay Adams was just that.  A true revolutionary.