Then, off to the Nor

After Bruel, I woke early, drove to Denver and got a plane to San Fran for Fausto Vitello's memorial service.

For those of you who don't know, Fausto is a big reason skateboarding exists in the form you're familiar with today. In the early 80's there were no magazines so Fausto started the iconic Thasher, there were no contests so he organized professional events in Georgia, Arkansas, and (of all places) Lincoln, Nebraska. He was also one of the founding partners of Independent Trucks — the only trucks that turn or matter. He inspired and antagonized and forced people's hands, but most of all he insisted that skateboarding be for skateboarders and by skateboarders, fuck the outcome.

It worked, too.

R.I.P. Fausto.



A lot of friends were there, and emotions were muddy. It was great to see everybody, but the circumstances led to a respectfully subdued scene. Tommy Guerrero played guitar for a while, Jim Fitzpatrick emceed the memorial, and then later we went and got beers and pizza with Schmitt, Fitz, Swank, Nicole, Landi, Dave and Grant.


Met up later with Bernie and Tammy McGinn who’ve relocated from Lincoln to SF and just hung out and got comfortable with friends.

Thanks for the hospitality, guys.

I’ll see you all again soon.