‘Let’s hope heaven is a half pipe’: Skateboarding legend Jake Phelps mourned
Jake Phelps, the esteemed editor of the skateboarding magazine Thrasher and an iconic legend in the skating subculture, has died.
He was 56. No cause or location of death has been released.
Phelps’ death was confirmed on Instagram by Thrasher’s publisher, Tony Vitello, who wrote:
“Jake Phelps was 100% skateboarder, but that label sells him way too short, because beyond his enormous influence in our world, he was truly an individual beyond this world. When loved ones pass we sometimes mythologize about their full lives rich in friendships and experiences. Sometimes we need to talk ourselves into believing it all. It makes us feel better, and helps us cope with the loss. Well, in the case of Jake, the task becomes wrapping your head around just how many lives one person could possibly live. He really did see it all, do it all, and that incredible brain of his could relish every last detail.”
Clark Phelps, Jake’s uncle, said on a Facebook post Thursday evening that his nephew “died suddenly and easy today.”
According to Billboard.com, “Phelps was born in California on Sept. 25, 1962, and served as editor-in-chief of Thrasher for 26 years … leveraging his lifelong passion for skateboarding into a gig at the San Francisco-based sport’s bible, never giving up his love of riding. His middle-finger spirit was summed up by the mantra printed on his business cards: ‘Skate or Die.'”
According to a report on SFGate.com, Phelps was regularly seen cruising around hilly San Francisco on his skateboard. A bad spill in 2017 near Dolores Park that left Phelps with a serious head injury did not dissuade him from continuing his rebellious skating routines. It was not immediately clear whether that fall had anything to do with Phelps’ death.
Meanwhile online, fellow skaters joined with musicians, sports figures and other admirers on Friday to honor Phelps.
Oh damn Jake Phelps died???!!! Wooow, i don’t even skate & I know this is devestaing. Got to chop it up w him in Utah once. Man….rip & god bless his soul.
— Questlove (In E flat) (@questlove) March 15, 2019
"He was truly an individual beyond this world."https://t.co/YL83QJB3TR
— HYPEBEAST (@HYPEBEAST) March 15, 2019
Thrasher editor Jake Phelps has died at the age of 56. https://t.co/iOfveQaMvL
— Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) March 15, 2019
Rest In Power Jake Phelps pic.twitter.com/fndPJL1QO3
— P A U L (@_APaulcalypse_) March 15, 2019
Just heard about the passing of @thrashermag ‘s Editor in chief & the all around Legend of a Man, Jake Phelps. It’s a huge loss for skateboarding. Damn man. pic.twitter.com/L6A6139345
— Ani Quinn (@quinnessential) March 15, 2019
Thrasher just posted something that really makes it seem like Jake Phelps died and I’m praying to god it isn’t true
— TOO TALL JONES (@andrew_jones92) March 15, 2019
RIP to a skateboarding legend. Jake Phelps was a real one. His enthusiasm is irreplaceable. pic.twitter.com/becciUDPXG
— ken. (@LowerFaith) March 15, 2019
Jake Phelps has died. A few years ago @willystaley wrote one of my very favorite profiles, about him. He’ll be missed. https://t.co/35G1imTyFp
— Bradford Pearson (@BradfordPearson) March 15, 2019