Thrasher’ Editor Jake Phelpsn died at 56.
thrashermagazine: Jake Phelps Lifetime Retrospective
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Jake Phelps was 100% skateboarder, but that label sells him way too short, because beyond his enormous influence in our world, he was truly an individual beyond this world. When loved ones pass we sometimes mythologize about their full lives rich in friendships and experiences. Sometimes we need to talk ourselves into believing it all. It makes us feel better, and helps us cope with the loss. Well, in the case of Jake, the task becomes wrapping your head around just how many lives one person could possibly live. He really did see it all, do it all, and that incredible brain of his could relish every last detail. But most of you reading this now identified primarily with Jake Phelps the skateboarder, and editor of our magazine, so I will leave you with this truth – I never met anybody who loves anything more than Jake worshipped skateboarding. Just as we need food and water to survive, Jake needed skateboarding to keep his blood pumping. It was more than a hobby or form of transportation or way of life – it was his oxygen. Here’s another thing. Jake never bailed. Jake fucking slammed. And there is a big difference. He only knew commitment. He was going to go for it without hesitation, and there were only two outcomes. Either you’d see his triumphant fist pumping in the air or it’d be an earth-shaking collision with the concrete. I remember him telling me once that he never fell backwards, he always fell forward. Leaning back meant there was hesitation, and Jake was all the way IN. There was no myth. The man was the myth. We love you, Jake. -Tony Vitello
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How profound…. Jake loved skateboarding and everything about it. I posted this clip of Jake 6 months ago, and now looking back on it, it rings so true with Jake. I didn’t get to see Jake as often now as I used to when I rode for stereo and would stay with @4q69 when I traveled to SF, but when I did I always had a smile on my face. The stuff he would come up with was the stuff movie “ one liners “ were made of. Jake never called me by my first name, it was always by my last name. He was a straight shooter, and he never left you wondering where you stood with him ( good or bad). I remember a long time ago, after not riding for stereo Jake said something kind of snarky about me and hearing about it rubbed me the wrong way. I hadn’t seen him in a while, and when I did , it was at a Tampa contest. Ironically…. the first time I see him again it was outside, in the parking lot, both of us walking towards each other. Jake says “ what’s up Fraze!!”, I said what’s up Jake, are we buddies again now? Jake says” What are you talking about?” I told hm , “I heard you talked shit about me”…. Jake stopped acting happy to see me, his demeanor changed and he got serious on me…. He said…”Listen Frazier… Don’t ever question me if I’m friends with you or not,… if I’m friends with you, you’ll know it, I say shit all the time, that’s just how I am”! If I don’t like you, you’ll know it! He was right. There was no gray area with Jake. I appreciated him setting me straight.. We did the bro hug/ hand shake thing, and it was back to old Jake. He was a stand up guy, that called it like it was. He would tell you what he thought… no filter. That’s a quality a lot of people are afraid to have, for fear of being alienated. Jake didn’t care… You , your influence, and your opinions will be sorely missed …Rest easy Jake…. ?
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