I have a few pro skater stories but here's one.
Neckface was having a book signing in Brooklyn of his last book, Dead Skin. It took place in a small shop that was basically just a huge line of people. You enter the shop, wait in line, get to the counter to buy a book, then turn around and wait in another line returning to the front of the store, where Neckface was sitting and signing books.
I had a backpack full of roman candles and my plan was to challenge Neckface to an old fashioned duel in the street. I waited in line for at least an hour, got the the front counter, and found out the books were $200 a piece. The price was not expressed before, so it was a do-or-don't moment. I was poor as shit at the time and my priorities were elsewhere and could not justify spending $200 on a book.
Neckface was at the back of the store just wasted off his fucking ass. He had a bottle of Jack, was taking pulls and have to say, he looked like shit.
After not buying the book, I walked up near him and was about to ask him to have a firework war. But then I kinda got a grip of myself and realized that I don't think I like Neckface anymore. Dude was so fucked up, could hardly control himself and to be honest, I wasn't as crazy about his art as I had been in the past. It seemed to be turning into some kind of Sunday Newspaper Comic aesthetic with watercolors and I just wasn't digging his direction anymore.
Anyways I chickened out asking him to partake in the firework war. Honestly because I was honestly kinda grossed out by the dude. It really was a bad look, like he couldn't just hang out and interact with his fans like a normal person.
Glad he's sober now, but I still don't really like his artwork these days. I realized later that day I should have bought the book for $200 and sold it online for $400 or something.
Was a dumb day in all. Was disappointed to "meet" someone I thought would be a cool dude in real life.