Tuesday, June 19, 2012

CHRISTIAN HOSOI - MY LIFE AS A SKATEBOARDER JUNKIE INMATE PASTOR








  Christian Hosoi has been a childhood hero of mine ever since I can remember seeing him the pages of Thrasher Magazine in the mid to late 1980's. I was never a good skater myself but had fun doing the most basic of tricks and my first board was a Santa Cruz Hosoi Hammerhead Street Model which I dearly loved. Hosoi was always amazing to watch as he would float effortlessly with grace and style with amazing airs; judo, Christ, rocket, backside, you name it, he could pull it off with ease. The opening sequence and ending ramp sequence with him riding with Rob Roskopp and Claus Grabke in "Wheels on Fire" was a favorite as well as jump ramp acrobats at Venice Beach. His rise to meteoric stardom as a skateboarding legend was truely amazing but then it was extremely disheartening to watch his life get destroyed but drugs in the late 1990's. Then he went to jail after he was caught trafficking Meth in 2000. For most people jail would have been he end but got his hands on a Bible through the request of girlfriend and shortly thereafter gave his life to Christ. For a glimpse of his transformation watch "I Am Second" above!

 While checking good old Facebook last week I came across a post from a friend of mine that Christian had a new book out, a life memoir, that was released on 06/12/12 and he was having a Q&A Session about the book at the Sanctuary Church in Westminster, CA, where he's an ordained Associate Pastor. I ordered the book on Amazon and finished it up before the Session and have to admit it was a great read as his live is an inspirational story of Redemption. I'll have to admit hearing Christian speak was very motivating and getting the chance to meet him and having the book signed was an extremely humbling experience.

 Hosoi is having another book signing next Wednesday 06/27/12 at the Barnes and Noble at 7881 Edinger Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA at 7 PM. If anyone wants a signed copy of the book I'd be happy to purchase one and get it signed for you and mail it out. I will only charge actual shipping. You'd be looking at $29.08 for the book (including sales tax) plus $5.00 to ship it in the US and $15.00 internationally. Grand total would be $34.08 in the US and $44.08 International if I can get it for less I will refund you the difference. If interested you can email me at pureheavensmetal@yahoo.com by Wednesday 06/27/12 at noon Pacific Standard Time and I'd be happy to have Christian sign a book for you and I'll mail it out right away!

Check out the OC Register ARTICLE and the Hosoi interview at the INDIE SPIRITUALIST as both are great.  For those who haven't already seen Christian's 2006 Documentary entitled "Rising Son" and you're a Netflix Streaming Subscriber, you can do so HERE; you won't be disappointed as its an awesome movie!

Also check out HOSOI SKATEBOARDS as Christian recently restarted the company and he has old and new school Hammerhead decks, t-shirts, and stickers along with some great photos and all the latest updates with his skateboarding and ministry.

1 comment:

  1. As a kid I hated Hosoi. My heroes were Powell skaters and in style and attitude they seemed like his rival camp. I could go into all the reasons why I didn't like him but I would have to summon my twelve year old self and that kids long gone. That being said, I've seen the movie and it's great. It took me back. I still didn't like the eighteen year old Hosoi, but it was clear and sad to see, that environment, fame and just being young and rich can really fuck you up. The Gator movie is also pretty sad in the same way. Ironically I've seen the Tony Hawk book but wasn't really interested in reading it, but the Hosoi book appeals to me a little more.

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