My first skateboard was a nameless 60’s style board my mom had from Hawaii and then at some point in the mid 80’s my folks got me a crappy board with a ninja on it from the City of Industry, CA Costco.
Finally after getting an acceptable report card, my mom took me to the Tilly’s across the street from the Puente Hills Mall (you may know it as the Twin Pines Mall from Back To the Future) and I picked out a blue Jason Jesse Neptune board with Trackers and red OJII Combos.
I had no idea who he was, it was just one of the coolest looking graphics on the wall and it met my strict Japanese moms requirement of “NO SKULLS!”
Fast forward to my early 30’s and I got the mermaid that was on the tail of that board tattooed on my forearm with “Skate/ Destroy” on the banner that covers the mermaids naughty bits instead of the “Santa Cruz” that appears on the board (I also had her belly button replaced with an “&” to make it say “Skate & Destroy”.) I was so impressed with myself that I thought of this as a tattoo idea.
Now I’m 40 and all this shit comes out about Jason Jessee so needless to say I’m super bummed and have contemplated getting it removed but fuck man it was because it was my first real skateboard that I loved and coveted and I didn’t know jack shit about Jason Jessee as a kid so I’m torn.
Also, my 2nd board was a Salba Tiger but if I get it tattooed on me I’d be worried that I’d look like I’m dick riding Adam Levine from Maroon 5/The Voice. As dreamy as he is, I think I’m done with skate related tattoos. I already have a shitty Indy cross that’s I let an apprentice do because my head was in a weird place at the time and I wasn’t thinking.
Plus, with my luck, I’d get the ink and a week later an article would come out that Salba kicks puppies for fun in his spare time.
I guess what I’m saying is that I’m a dumb fuck but if it makes at least one of you internet strangers chuckle at my poor life decisions then I’ll be a bit happier.