Phil Shao, Kit Ericsson, Jeff Klindt, Keenan Milton, Harold Hunter, Shane Cross, Van Wastell… what do they all have in common? They’re all skateboard greats who have passed on. The thing is though, no one in the skateboard industry wants to confront the problem(s) which lead directly or indirectly to their deaths: the partying.

I’m going to get a lot of @#$@ for posting this, but it’s high time someone looks at the problem because it’s costing us our friends, our heros, and our families. When Shane Cross died, I thought to myself, here we go again. Stupid party antics, late in the evening, while drinking (or whatever). I was mad he died. I was also mad at Blitz for not taking responsibilty in using his death as an avenue to get a message across. What message? That the partying has got to stop, or at least be toned down. WTF? I mean, why was he on the back of a motorcycle with Ali Boulala anyway? Why did they crash into a building? The same skateboarders with the dexterity and balance to kickflip boardslide a handrail can’t manuever a motorcycle properly? They were drinking and partying. Ever heard of a Darwin Award? Look it up.

What about the “oh so mysterious” death of everyone’s favorite Keenan Milton? I mean, he WAS my favorite. Found in a swimming pool? Alone? Why was he alone? What was he doing that evening? Why should I care? He was a favorite of mine, that’s why.

When they die, we mourn. Their sponsors mourn. We create sites for them. RIP we say. Maybe they can’t Rest in Peace until we tell their story. Ever think about that? Maybe they can’t RIP until we stop it from happening to others? Maybe they want us to tell as many people as we can, to NOT PARTY like they did?! Ever think about that?

Kit Ericsson. Remember him? Sonic skateboards. Bay Area skateboarder. He fell down a flight of stairs. DOA. Again, how are these skateboarders falling down stairs, crashing into buildings, crashing their cars (Phil Shao), drowning in swimming pools? ALCOHOL no doubt plays a HUGE ROLE.

I remember seeing Steve Berra at some sort of MTV award ceremony wearing a KEENAN FOREVER t-shirt shortly after Keenan passed. That’s an effective way to keep Keenan’s life remembered, but, I sorta wish he could have said something like – Keenan didn’t have to die – he didn’t have to party the way he did etc. Whatever. Something like that. But nothing. No one at Girl ever made any public statements about it. Never. And I can understand that. You want them to die with dignity. But you can still encourage everyone to not make the same poor decisions that they did.

I mean, how many more greats are we going to have to loose? Seriously. Why do I have to post something like this in order to get the message out? I mean, why can’t FLIP put out something that says something to the effect of: “Ali and Shane were partying and made some poor decisions that night. Please don’t make the same poor decisions they did….” They don’t have the balls, that’s why. Maybe it’s bad for skateboarding.

Is it bad for skateboarding? To make cliche statements like “don’t drink and drive”? At the very least, stay with the person you’re partying with. Keenan wouldn’t have died if someone was always with him that night.

I’m honoring them all in this post believe it or not. They want me too. The greats. Our heroes. They want us to get this message out. It’s not meant to guilt anyone, it’s just meant to open up some eyes in the industry. Do your part. Remember them AND TELL THEIR STORY.

-eric b.

Stereo’s own Danny Renaud fell out of a 9 story building. He’s lucky to be alive. He’s in intensive care with a broken tibula and fiblua in both legs, a ruptured kidney, and a punctured lung. Doctors also removed 2/3 of his pancreas and his spleen. Drinking, yes.

Ali Boulala/Flip haven’t really given us an update on his status. As of Sunday the 24th of June, Ali has been staying in his new apartment just around the corner from the hospital. He will be cared for by his girlfriend and will have doctor visits throughout the week. He will still be reporting to the hospital for physiotherapy three times a week. Ali is walking completely unassisted and was last seen at Ikea in Melbourne purchasing Swedish meatballs. (source: wikipedia) UPDATE: Ali Boulala is currently serving a jail sentence for his recklessness that evening.