My brother and I headed up to the neighbors house with our skateboards to attempt to ollie from one driveway to another back when I was about 12 years old. Separating the two driveways was a downward sloping grass patch that was about five feet in width. My brother and I timidly attempted to ollie the gap with very little speed.
Tony, who happened to live in the same neighborhood, joined us on our skateboards. He started about 30 feet further up from where my brother and I were starting on our neighbors steep downhill driveway. Tony got going so fast on his skateboard for his first attempt. He ollied nice and high and with the speed he had collected, he had no problem clearing the gap. In fact, he went a little too big.
My brother and I rolled on the ground laughing as Tony's skateboard trucks snapped in half under his weight. He went flying forward and rolled all the way across the driveway. At that age, it was common to cry especially after a brutal crash such as we had just witnessed, yet Tony got up and headed back to his house to find a second pair of trucks for his skateboard so he could keep skating.
Tony was such a funny and genuine guy in addition to being a great skier. I will miss you Tony. RIP
