Growing up in Oregon my pro encounters were limited.. One time living in NW Portland I decided to cross the river and check out Burnside and some spots on the waterfront. I'm a few blocks out from the Burnside bridge on an empty industrial street when I notice another dude by himself skating towards me. I can tell from a distance the guy is extra juicy, bringing his leg up super high when he pushes, even stalling his push sometimes, hands doing interesting things, big ass black hoody on over some swagged out denim with that wierd ex-con looking rubber band trick that turns baggy pants into joggers, all tucked into some hightop dunks. It's not until he's about 10 feet away that I realize he's my then favorite skater, Brent Atchley. I give him my best Heath nod and maybe a timid wave as he passed, but I swear the dude just shook his head at me in disgust and kept high pushing. Maybe let out a "phhh" kinda noise. This is prime long hair Brent Atchley, when he was still on Element but Nike SB wasn't even a thing really.. hard to see a dude you look up to in the wild and they just diss you because they're so full of themselves / whatever.. I think I took a break from skating for a year or two after that, not necessarily because of this encounter but sub-conciously realizing your hero is a scrub could have had something to do with it.. Meanwhile Brent faded into a Penny-esque obscurity, and by the time I started skating again the dude had re-emerged full Urban Outfitters, with the poofy Cody Mac haircut and still somehow saggin skin tight white jeans, neon Element Footwear slip ons and push broom mustache w/ short shorts. His high push and pigeon toe stance looks forced as fuck now. Poor dude comes off more confused and insecure now then I was right after he dissed me, karma a bitch sometimes..