Bottom air at Victoria Park in ’78 photograph: Kanights
Sept. 9, 1959 – Nov. 29, 2024
The skateboarding group and the Thrasher Journal household sadly misplaced one in every of its veteran advocates lately. San Francisco’s Joe Fong was instrumental in influencing and pushing skateboarding in Northern California within the late ‘70s. He was often the man on the session shedding with probably the most fashion and talent—studying and doing his tips identical to they have been proven within the magazines. After which swiftly, there he was within the journal!
On the sting and forward of the curve for the August ’77 difficulty of Skateboard World
Earlier than we have been sufficiently old to get behind the wheel or apply for legitimate driver’s licenses, Joe would commonly drive me, Tommy and Tony Guerrero, Aaron Lasnover, Michael Brown and different buddies to skate the burgeoning skateparks within the San Jose space. Not solely did he present us entry to those skateparks every weekend, however the 45-minute commute enabled our younger and hungry minds to fulfill and skate with new buddies and achieve perception on yard swimming pools, ramps and skate spots all through the Bay Space as effectively. And lots of of those friendships have endured for many years since. Throughout that period, Joe launched me to his pal and Skateboarder Journal workers photographer Ted Terrebonne at Winchester Skatepark. Unquestionably, this meet up with Ted set me on a path that will without end change my life—skate images.
Joe, BK and Tommy, buddies without end
Joe was 5 years older than us and was so linked that it got here as no shock, however pure stoke that Joe was one of many first chosen check pilots for the then up-and-coming Impartial Truck Co. began by Fausto Vitello and Eric Swenson. We benefited with free Impartial decals, t-shirts and first-hand appears to be like at these vans as they have been ridden by our older brother Joe.
Joe sharing the stoke along with his daughter Jemma and Lizzie
Years later, Joe continued to construct upon his customized flooring enterprise and he devoted his time to being a fantastic father to his daughter Jemma and son JJ, usually sharing their development and achievements with us through the years. And as he slowed down in his skateboarding personally, he continued to assist others developing. He commonly attended skate occasions and scouted new expertise. He ran a small summer time skate camp within the East Bay for the following generations of skaters and supplied product and assist to those that wanted it. Amongst these he supported, Joe first launched Lizzie Armanto and Allysha Le to the crew at Thrasher Journal to assist them achieve recognition as they pushed their development. Years earlier than its rise in participation, Joe remained a steadfast proponent for girls in skateboarding. He genuinely liked to share good occasions and experiences and recollections with others all through his life. Joe was thoughtful and an important connector and pal to so many people on each native and international ranges. He left a profound mark on skateboarding and I’m without end grateful to have had his shut friendship in my life. Godspeed, Joe!
––Bryce Kanights
Left: Reppin’ the magazine on a frontside grind at Pacifica
Middle: Good occasions with Shrewgy
Proper: True OGs, Salba and Joe
Whereas we nonetheless had him right here, Joe paid a go to to the Plant. Fortunately, Schmitty received him within the sales space for us to listen to his voice all the time
