Sean Sheffey, A Soldier's Story Commentary

[@deeteeohbee6794]

Sean if you end up reading this you were a fucking hero to me growing up. Me and my whole crew were massively impacted by your skill, style and mostly your attitude. Much love to you and yours.

[@fabioleal4665]

I'd say exactly the same. greetings from Brazil.

[@BajaSurf]

@@fabioleal4665 I wanted to be like Sean ... I wanted his hair his style his tricks. Huge fan

[@GEB-yy3ud]

I'm from Melbourne, Australia and when this video came out it blew my mind. So blessed to see Sean break it down. Legendary part of skateboarding history.

[@fiore_adriano]

Legend. I met Sean last year, he was trying switch frontside 50-50 on the handrail at poods. He took a hard slam and I asked him if he was good (he said he was good). He got up and did it a couple tries later. 🔥

[@helorumtheknightsofmambrin2155]

When this came out we, over and over, watched Sheffey's part.

[@bradash.9309]

I met Sean in Leeds, UK when he was doing a promotional tour.

[@jfncho]

Washington D.C. legend. I remember seeing him skating when I first started in the late 80's and his skating and his aura made him seem unreal.

[@theskateboardfan]

Yeah he was pro to us back then. A legend in his teens. If Sheffy was in DC something amazing went down that day. There was never a light skating day for Sheffy.

[@MarkAziz33]

God bless Sheffy! One of the most iconic street skaters of all time! I remember this video like that back of my hand, I must've watched it 200 times!

[@zeljkokrajcer523]

Yes

[@krassmachine]

@@zeljkokrajcer523 real. skating, biking on the mastership, doing tricks unthinkable - legends are like this. i don´t mean the "instalegends", i mean legend.

[@O.G.-Burnside]

Sean is a true legend and inspired me since I saw him on SHUT ! Met him and took him around with the Donger in RI for a weekend skipped my Senior H.S. graduation to skate with them too ! That was a total no brainer for me and no regrets at all. I still have art Sheffey drew for me and LIFE stickers they flowed me. Much respect for Sean and all he has done for skateboarding 🔥🔥🔥🤘👊👍

[@MarkAziz33]

@@O.G.-Burnside What epic memories!

[@punaforager]

I’ve seen Sean skate in person a few different times on the east coast, and he was a man among boys. Skated with so much speed and his trucks were so loose!

[@skateoldies]

This is wonderful. So important to have these pieces of personal conversation and reflection. Thank you.

[@ronnenvallejo7444]

It makes me happy that you’re in the comments Jake.

[@elincognito2135]

Fire…Sheffy is a living legend …powerful skateboarding

[@Burger-urger]

Bro Sheffey doesn't get enough love. He gets a ton but deserves to be remembered with the Natases and Gonzes and Juliens imo.

[@ariekanibalie]

Words can't describe just how shocking this part was for us old heads back then. I didn't even see it until 95 when I really started skating, but even then this was unlike anything I'd ever seen. Amazing stuff, wouldn't mind seeing more Sheffey commentary on his early Plan B parts either.

[@hugsdontwork2283]

Couldn't agree more & finding out now that that bump to picnic table back-tail took 3 days and 150 to 300 tries makes it even crazier.

[@MASONMAXEY22]

I was 15 years old when the Life video came out. The whole video was amazing, the music everything...but when the "good the bad & the ugly" music came on and I saw Sean Sheffey. My mind was absolutely blown. The songs from that video used to play in my head, not head phones!..my actual head when i would go skate. The Song with "My mom said...you be careful out there...brush your teeth and comb your hair." Is still awesome and gives me chills. Precious memories. Thank you to all those involved in that video. SHIT IS CLASSIC.

[@princequestly2218]

One of my all time favorite skaters, his power was unmatched back then.

[@HappyBowser777]

So cool to hear all the stories from Sean!

[@bubmurphy]

This is great!I want commentary from him on his Questionable part next.That was my Sheffy introduction.

[@mc540flip]

Life was such a sick company! Great team and great era in skateboarding. Sean definitely pushed the limits of what’s possible on a board. The big backside 180 over the dirt planter was so huge! Stoked he’s still ripping!

[@billybob6845]

Heart-warming video, so proud to have witness that at the time

[@Clarke1982]

Before my time but so ahead of its time! Such a cool, humble dude.

[@Finacurk]

My Hometown Hero!! Clinton MD Represent!!

[@roberttaylor8952]

Wooaahhh 😍 Great to hear from Sean😊 That half cab to fakie?? over the table is soo good to watch ❤️

[@roberttaylor8952]

Well done Transworld 👍👍👍

[@matthewjames206]

Absolute legend. I was always amazed by Sheffey's pop in this classic part. This was awesome. More of these, please 🍻

[@ariekanibalie]

I actually never noticed the 'bump' in front of the picknick table. Pretty sure the Sheffinator could do it from flat as well, but such an amazing, ground-breaking part.

[@butterknutts5888]

@@ariekanibalie i cant imagine what takes to get those heavy boards up that high

[@gatormcklusky6274]

Great video, great Summer, great era in skateboarding!

[@ronnenvallejo7444]

Still watch it every few months. It’s like a great video album

[@jonperkins7433]

Sean is a legend!! You inspired the stuff out of me!!

[@rzadigi]

When this video and part dropped it hit me very hard. The speed, power, and strength of Sheffey had never been seen. And the spots, filming, music and slo mo make this one of the heaviest parts of all time. It was awesome to hear his insight and the influence Ternasky had on him and obviously many other skaters. They are both legends.

[@MegaAppl3]

One of my favorites growing up and watching his video parts before going skating.

[@Czr29]

Every time I could, I went to my friend's house to watch it, as he was the only one who had a video cassette at the time. Good times 😊

[@jasondashney]

9:24 that feeling of shock, followed by joy after you realize you did it clean and you're finally DONE!

[@burrowsgod]

I've still a got copy of a copy of a copy on VHS..the video cassette got so much play it's hardly watchable..such a classic video.

[@skateboarding2800]

Thank you. Great interview. Needed to be told!

[@h.c4898]

Boy. 30 years ago. Me and my skate compadres we would watch the vhs tape on repeat privately, get into the parking lot and redo what sheff's did in the video and getting them down. I'm proud I did well most of them lol. "Rubbish heaps", "hocus pocus," Life videos, "videos days" were the instas in those days. Sheff's a legend. 🙏

[@CIWise]

I'm from Brooklyn in the late 80's. Shut was everything to us back then. I mean when their decks were woodgrain with only one color screens. Sheffey was late to Shut, not as old as Coco and those guys, as I remember. I moved to San Diego summer of 89. I bought a new deck: Geek Attack (a local, pre-Zoo York company, if anyone remembers). I pasted it all over with Shut stickers. NY represent! When I got to Cali, only one older guy who was on flow from Hensley knew what it was. He asked, "How'd you get those Shut stickers?" I said I was from NY. Before Hokus Pokus came out he's the one that told me Sheffey had two tricks in it. I remember when A Soldier's Story came out and I saw the bs tailslide and lipslide. Everyone freaked out because, Older Guys, you all remember: NO ONE was doing those back then, not even on low stuff! Funny thing is, though, two years before, back in NY, I saw Sheffey, Vallely, and the whole Shut crew at the Banks one day. It was like a free demo. About 100 of us followed them when they left. We all went to the old WTC. If anyone remembers the 3-stair on the side at the bottom of the hill that used to be there: Jeff Pang got in the magazines doing a fat japan grab down them. (I think there was a Harold Hunter flick, too, at some point.) That hill was steep! Just rolling down was mega fast. But, on top of that, Sheffey was pushing, I mean, like, bringing his leg up to where his knee hit his chest and slamming it down on the concrete! And hitting the ledge beside the steps (the ledge was, maybe, two feet high) and bs tailsliding at top speed for, maybe, 5-7 feet, and then coming out landing at the bottom of the steps. In 1989! People were barely fs tailsliding for 8-10 inches on curbs! I remember realizing that I was not truly comprehending what I was seeing. (He also bs 180ed down the steps. It was only a 3-stair that dropped, maybe two-and-a-half to three feet, but he was going SF hill-bombing speed! And his bs 180's were three-and-a-half feet above the top step!) This was not just NBD, it inconceivable at the time. The proof being that TWO YEARS LATER his first real video part still dropped jaws. (And it was still NBD.) Honestly, though, I wasn't impressed with the picnic table part: I had already seen him do better in real life. But, I was proud that now the world knew. Sheffey you were (and are) a giant among men! You will always be the Boy-King!

[@jimmyryder8850]

This is one of the biggest legendary skaters ever known. Props sheff

[@blandoworthlessness]

I love the story behind the clip!

[@SMcKee-ic5oh]

I want to appreciate the fact that as I watched this video back then, all I was trying to do was learn some new tricks and do what the pros were doing. Sean on the other hand was out there vying to feed and clothe his kid and family. His motivation was "nail this trick and make this paper"...mine was nail this trick so i could be the coolest kid at the drainage ditch....

[@drinkingpoolwater]

sean is like the myth thats woven in so many careers. he knew josh kalis in grand rapids when he was young. then he helped a young jason dill in cali in the early 90s

[@WolfWould]

Life Video was one of the first I ever saw around 93. My friends gave me that and a bunch like Both H Street videos and Ban This, Questionable. And The Life Video was my favorite because of Sheffey and Donger. It was the first time I saw what I thought was stunt men on boards. Frankie Hill of course going big but for some reason it was those two who really made me want to skate. Plus I always heard Sean had Michigan connections so that was rad to me being a Dirty Mitten native.

[@wj427]

Met Sean years ago, talked to him off and on on social media and he's still one of the nicest, down to earth people out there.

[@butterknutts5888]

loving these vids!

[@rebusd]

My first sighting of Sean ever was the Thrasher calendar with him and Coco doing that planter gap double. Then his Reason for Living part dropped and I was blown away by his power given that he had been skating for less time than me. Then his Life part came out and he became even less mortal.

[@claudiakoning]

dat backside 180 over the grass gap. omg

[@tylertufty]

Legendary

[@9ntonio]

Sean Sheffey, you sir are an amazing sk8er/person!

[@notchism]

Kit R.I.P. - rad commentary from a true pioneer

[@eleh760]

I always see him riding his bike around town

[@zachdank]

Respect the Legend of Sheffy

[@slimjim1104]

Still have this vhs

[@oldrocker666]

Thirty-ish years down the line, and still Rad as Fk! Groundbreaking!

[@Ckypwnd]

Bro Sheffey, Penny, and Muska are street gods. Then now forever

[@Bastos9458]

One of the best boards I had was a sheffey girl.

[@SONOFABITCH]

That's because you were young.

[@skulleagletartat]

Shout out to whoever thought to double angle the shot on that back tail; special shout out to Sean Sheffey for doing it, though!

[@jamiebizness1]

Nice dude

[@gnardawg69]

Sean Sheffey Nine Club Yo ! ! !

[@Bpepper74]

Sick!

[@recession81]

Sheffey is the definition of a fucking gnarly power house, so much style

[@wbichan]

Amazing

[@pilotvisionmedia]

Sean is such a rad human on and off the board, a plan b legend !!

[@coolclik]

True legend.

[@christophersantiago6011]

What a BEAST.

[@keithjohnson1830]

I'm 52. You have the best late shove-its I've ever seen to this day. Style

[@ryanrowe1975]

Cool

[@stevenbaker436]

Jerabek, the bump to fence is still do-able. Was there a week ago,

[@veggieSxDBD]

What a awsome man, peace bro stay free✌🏻💚💨💨💨

[@kusc717]

Shelley is the man. And that PLanB tattoo is..wow.

[@bradleyeasterling6761]

Sean makes me wanna skate.

[@ktoescos]

THE MAN , THE MYTH ,THE LEGEND !

[@carlosbarrera2964]

Legend. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@williammoore9498]

So rad

[@3ncKe]

This was my era. Great fukn times

[@chrishendricks1160]

LEGEND

[@neuvocastezero1838]

To this day I don't know how he backsided that landscaping median. I was impressed with Jeremy Klein doing it in "Rubbish Heap", but this was a couple of feet more.

[@jamestopham7744]

Big huh

[@e.t.finger7215]

legend!!!

[@gonzolio666]

Beast!!!!

[@Jimmy-oq9zq]

I remember seeing this dude crush the Brooklyn Banks way back.. maybe 88. original Shut team maybe?

[@theredination619]

OG

[@sipeplow]

Our Rodman!

[@LavelWashington]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@tricktrapper]

dude is the oldest lookin 17 year old goddamn coulda sworn he was 26

[@christhomasen7407]

I used to sk8 the nyc banks and world trade center with him yrs ago

[@aarontownsend3390]

sheffey looking so jacked he looks more like an ex football player than a skater....

[@alpineflauge909]

solid

[@AS-hz8cv]

Great stuff and sorry to be a pedant but Sal 5050 shuvit out was not in virtual reality, that came out in late 1992.

[@sidezskateshop1556]

Ya Shef dog!!!!!

[@thewrathofbibby3381]

One of Tom Penny's favourite skaters. Say no more.

[@2010balancingact]

Sean < I have a great photo of you and Julian as a little boy at Pulaski. Trying to get this great photo to you. Transworld if you can assist , I'd be grateful. Thank you

[@ogbigwasher]

I also have a pic my mom took of Sheffey, Thiebaud and bod Boyle in Corvallis,OR at a demo in the late 80's. They were very kind to her and all of them posed for the pic. He was on SMA at the time. Sheffey was my favorite for a long time and still is one of my all time favorites.

[@TheDailyWipeout]

what`s up with his voice?

[@SONOFABITCH]

It's the sound his larynx produces.

[@series360]

Drugs

[@Pedro_Takahashi_Gunderson_Jr]

heroin addicts always sound like that. not sure if he ever did that.

[@Thomas-c3e7e]

This got me confused .....because I thought it was questionable & Hocus pocus footage! I have never heard of soldier story I must be having a stroke

[@stevehawk8369]

Yes Sheff!!!! Super loose trucks

[@nathanbellamy3308]

Im pinky. Pinky toscadero

[@ryanroose6124]

P.G. County! I’m pretty sure he’s the 1st one to Ollie a street width. Bowie! Attitude skate! I throw up the set.

[@chillygentilly7th]

What's in his nose?

[@Finacurk]

First!!!

[@SONOFABITCH]

And most gay.

[@numbaonestunna4806]

Dude looks full white now wtf

[@SONOFABITCH]

He's transitioning.

[@Pedro_Takahashi_Gunderson_Jr]

jogger fingers

[@marvj8255]

So Sheffy is white now?

[@SONOFABITCH]

How fucking dare you?

[@highonangeldust]

uhhhh……….

[@Pedro_Takahashi_Gunderson_Jr]

trying...