TWS Legend Award: Jay Adams - TransWorld SKATEboarding

This year’s Legend Award goes to Jay Adams-easily one of the most influential, if not the most influential skateboarder ever-who passed away this past August at the age of 53 while on a surf trip to Mexico. In the simplest sense, Jay Adams took what had up until the early ’70s been a clean-cut Jan and Dean-hyped beach hobby performed in sweater vests, and turned skateboarding into a full-blown counterculture dressed in Vans and blue jeans. He was the original bad-boy seed who ultimately transformed the skateboard from a toy on par with the Hula-Hoop into a weapon of self-expression on par with the electric guitar.
Jay changed the primary source of inspiration from gymnastics-based pirouettes and headstands to low-to-the-ground, quick cutting turns and the hands-on-the-ground, aggressive surf style of Larry Bertlemann. Along with Tony Alva and the Z-Boys, as chronicled in Stacy Peralta’s acclaimed 2001 documentary, Dogtown and the Z-Boys, Jay Adams would also be among the first to bring skateboarding to vertical terrains in the backyard pools of Venice, West LA, and Santa Monica; one of the first to catch air above the lip; and-long before Bobby Valdez officially invented the invert in the late ’70s-the first person to attempt handplants in pools with his “fly-away.”
In the words of Stacy Peralta, “He was literally skateboarding incarnate, and the genius of it was he wasn’t the best at anything, he just was it. I’ve said before that he was the original virus that got so many people hooked on skateboarding. Now the original spore is gone, but that virus lives on in so many others. Jay’s passing reminds all of us and reaffirms that we’re connected. We’re all rolling down the sidewalk together.”
More than anything, Jay Adams all but invented the “100% Skateboarder” attitude-style, spontaneity, and aggression. He made skateboarding something worth fighting for. He was the original middle finger to mainstream society, and we have basically all been living out his mold in the now 40 years since. Part troublemaker, part saint, and part prophet-Jay continued his love affair with surfing and skateboarding up until his very last day. Gone but never to be forgotten, Jay Adams will forever be synonymous with skateboarding, but more importantly, he will forever be responsible for creating skateboarders. RIP Jay.-Mackenzie Eisenhour

[@madbug1965]

I grew up Skateboarder magazine in the 70's but I never saw the Dogtown skaters actually skate until KZbin. Back in the 70's you just had their photos and your imagination.

[@davidzen7971]

All the falling down 😂

[@joeyrandell1476]

The Dogtown boyz influenced my skateboarding so much I could never explain, but Jay was my inspiration to push it to the limit. I'd see him in the magazines and I'd work on what he was doing and try to do it more. He was a legend. He was the spark.

[@jamesmbs1]

Wow, that's the first time I heard Tonk Hawk say the F word.

[@surreptitiouswritings]

When talking about Jay and skateboarding, he had to be real.

[@whokilledbiggiee]

Thought the same thing.

[@pazvato]

Like the music in the background (The late, great Magic Sam) Jay was one of a kind. I had the pleasure to see him skate a couple of times back in the day. He was a true original.

[@perrytomczyk]

R.I.P. Jay Adams.

[@jimjam8949]

I don't think skaters under age of about 50 realise the state of the boards they were skating pools in! Just amazing!

[@GeeZeeX3]

Jay-Boy Adams.. My idol. Skate in Peace my brotha.. Holy crap.. I've never heard Tony Hawk cuss before.. It was weird..lol !!

[@linsayspence7070]

Everlasting memories Jay , from the Leeds crew , England R.I.P.⭐

[@whoisneezy]

R.I.P. One of the original Z-Boys. The original seed.

[@ajreynolds5077]

💯🖤 R.I.P JAY BOY HE WAS ABSOLUTELY SEXY I ADORED JAY ADAMS. GODFATHER OF SKATING HE IS THE ONE I FOLLOW

[@BManDaGamer]

A true legend and pioneer of skateboarding. You will be missed Jay.

[@adam7975]

Meh, was a piece of shit who murdered someone in the 80s

[@GeeZeeX3]

2nd that emotion.. Jay was definitely one of the Godfathers of modern skateboarding.

[@xpez9694]

@3:59 really this picture says it all! mid 70s aerial off a driveway with a grab...pre-ollie, pre vert skating, pre every modern trick !! amazing!

[@cosinguspalpatine4449]

Any one studying Stoicism or just wanting to give less fucks about what others say, do, think, can learn a lot from learning about Jay Adams as a young man.

[@cosinguspalpatine4449]

@Yang Mojo ?

[@joelchiefbody7969]

Jay Adams Mr.surfing and skateboarding. Glad he did it for us

[@auldsk8r]

I agree 100%! Jay( and the other Z Boys) inspired my skating back in the 70's and still inspire my skating ( and infrequent surfing) today. He was a true soul skater/surfer.

[@paulrevere2928]

Jay Adams 1st Skateboarder Magazine cover December 1976 shot bunny hopping out of a bowl @ Carlsbad the first skateboard park, my first skateboard magazine. I still have it today. That image is permanently imprinted on. my mind as part of the birth of modern skateboarding, Jay exploding the boundaries of what was possible into what is possible. He was my favorite skateboarder then and always will be. Ripping in heaven, the as Stacy Peralta said Jay Adams the original seed!

[@michaelgpartridge2384]

When life just gets me down, I dredge up some old Jay Adams and things get a little better. I feel like Divinity, whatever it is, shows itself in Jay’s skating. Lots of people succeed in making you want to be like them… Jay made you want to BE him. RIP you beautiful bastard.

[@Zinksk8er]

r.i.p and still rip

[@finarollerz]

A legend! Someone that people still talk about and hold in reverence decades later.

[@angelvalle9963]

💪

[@8KILLSTEP]

I LOVE HOW HE FALLS SKATER OF TODAY KNOW SHIT OF THIS

[@jaytheboatguy]

Jay was the first ever skate rat...🤘🏻💀🤘🏻

[@krtlkid]

We surf and skate everyday.We get to do what we want, when we want.

[@alexpaktjeterug]

Keep shredding heaven! RIP Jay Adams

[@skatendestroy3524]

Cameras cameras cameras made jay famous LARRY BERTLEMAN was the origanal influence of ALL modern skating the WHOLE worldwide surfing and skating way before photo shoots and magazine coverage

[@matthewcross1069]

God bless Jay Adams.... Wherever it may be.

[@craigweaver5671]

Love Lance's laugh 2:31. Always a kid at heart. Rocking the earbrows even.

[@trollem69]

Dude had Style. Can't learn that.

[@venomclown1134]

His style and attitude is what inspired me to skate in the first place

[@andrenagarcia3941]

RIL JAY THE ORIGINAL SEED

[@uffu2490]

Never skate for fame. Find a pool, shitty DIY or curb and SKATE. Go out and have fun 🙏🏻

[@eldarius237]

I'm surprised how accurately Jay was depicted in the Lords of Dogtown, well as far as I can tell by these videos

[@Misserbi]

I remember two things if we are discussing TransWorld. One, a body double. I mean feeling how a shorter stature feels. And, two -- the power of the sun. That one is uplifting and you almost want to dedicate the rest of your life outside. That was my experience.

[@zboykakaroto1324]

R.I.P my boy =(

[@philcamp9663]

Surfers only skateboarded in Jay's time now skateboarding has skaters that skate not just surfers.

[@goonsquadronofficial6567]

R.I.P Jay Boy 🤙

[@Rahkelgonz]

Rest in power jayboy 🖤🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@christianvazquez3219]

Rip Jay boy thanks for the inspiration.

[@SlickRick4EVER]

The Genesis of the Ethos of Skateboarding = Jay Adams.

[@weenking6767]

Thanks Jay.

[@awwbarbie]

I love you Jay! Rest easy my dude

[@evanricheson1630]

Out of all of the Z-boys he was my favorite

[@peacebwithu97]

I wonder if he was one of Rodney Mullen's influences.

[@djanthony9759]

Jay Boy!

[@newgenskater1]

rip

[@daniel3klund]

Rip brother

[@James-ql9wy]

can't believe its been 6 years! :(

[@lynnblakey3039]

Gf%g

[@giannetto1000]

Irreplaceable.

[@alexreddick.jr.8886]

RI Fukn P Legend. LuvU!

[@Trapatonii]

Rest in peace

[@angelvalle9963]

Rip j you made you're mark 💪

[@Dang-x6j]

Anyone know the blues song at the end?

[@jcash1809]

Sup Jay. I am TomHill cannabis born in Inglewood and dad slung H to v13 on main n rose out of a hat shop. My life is a mess too. But we got heart and you get up with me anytime you feeling they ain't got your back brother.

[@russfrancis4220]

Anxiously awaiting the next skateboarder mag with all the cool pics of dogtown! 1976, oh yeah!!

[@kryptichands968]

RIP punk and skating

[@WilliamThee4th]

It's the Energy and Creativity... Anything can be a trick and anything can be turned Skatable with the right eyes, heart & mind

[@angelvalle9963]

Soul skater 💪

[@ymardtsimba6349]

This is so accurate.

[@stuffguy6664]

Original Thrashers

[@lihaney666]

🤘🏼🔥

[@rodkirsop4291]

Absolute legend

[@javierperez-us5ge]

Ride in peace jay boy !

[@JJ-el6qx]

What was Lance saying? Is it that Jay was the one that was starting the low to the ground surf style skating ? What did he mean by "they were emulating surfers we were emulating them emulating surfers"

[@neighbor9672]

I want to get my knees up to my face but I don't even know if my body will do it. I wish I had that style!!!

[@shanebeckett3557]

R.I.P. Jay, one of a kind.

[@TweakMusic1]

R I P Jay Adams

[@Christian-vy9fs]

Over rated

[@Bravo-Too-Much]

Who’s more unbearable, Jay Adams or Duane Peters?

[@Braintier]

I’m watching Lord of Dogtown, and thought of Jay.

[@ONE.MILLION.MEGA.HERTZ.]

Style For Days Jay.

[@GoodaaMann]

We miss you jay! SIP (Skate In Paradise)

[@sk1teboarding]

RIP

[@benchrist9418]

RIP

[@dopemopey]

SOMEBODY POST UP THOSE TUNES. I NEED THEM NOW.

[@dopemopey]

I tried Shazaming, but the interviews made it impossible to distinguish any of them. 😞

[@GJones-ui7uy]

R.I.P JAY BOY REST IN PARIDISE ❤️❤️

[@nicholasbiddle7893]

1:46 looks exactly like Emile Hirsch

[@mitchealjohnson999]

R.I.P My Hero Jay Adams

[@Aaron-pw6cx]

Sad to see the first people to ever rip on a skateboard go

[@thuglifetv2018]

💯💯💯💯💯

[@thekill7761]

The lagend skate rip

[@jamesburkjr2803]

Fuck man. I had no idea that he passed away. He was my all time favorite skater

[@jamesburkjr2803]

R.I.P. Jay Boy Adams

[@Maxo52]

🔥🔥🔥

[@shaundunbar5119]

TH knows ………..RIp JAY BOY

[@harrybrewer7769]

Rip and happy birthday big man ❤

[@patrickjohnson7401]

Legendary

[@marcot5386]

Amen

[@thekill7761]

Dogtown

[@mattryan2536]

🤙👽♠️

[@jesss5139]

Sick

[@johnbejar827]

R.i.p

[@teospeed85]

Forever jay boy 🖤

[@markdinkel9006]

Would've gelled with Jay. I was a major nonconformist like him even though we probably would've gotten into trouble. Just kiddin. Maybe .

[@lucasamaral9982]

Rip 2016,dont 2014!!!!!!!!

[@blaykgilson5779]

R.I.P JAY ADAMS

[@Bravo-Too-Much]

So glad the surf style skating died and skateboarding became its own thing with no real semblance of surfing anymore because that style suckssssss.

[@ezryder_]

Bad bait

[@ALPHAMAGASLAP]

I'm a 49 year old Metal head from Connecticut and people like Jay made me who I am. God bless you my western brother!!

[@C0D3R33D]

Rest in peace J boy

[@fuckboi_killa]

F