Christian Hosoi

Christian Rosha Hosoi (/hoʊˈsɔɪ/ hoh-SOY; born October 5, 1967) is an American professional skateboarder. He is also known by the nicknames "Christ" and "Holmes".

Christian Hosoi
Hosoi in 2008
Born
Christian Rosha Hosoi

(1967-10-05) October 5, 1967
Other namesChrist, Holmes
Occupation(s)CEO, skateboarder
SpouseJennifer Lee
Children4
Websitechristianhosoi.com

Early life

Hosoi was born on October 5, 1967, to a father of Japanese descent from Hawaii, and a mother of European and American descent. He grew up in Los Angeles and Hawaii.[1]

Skateboard career

Hosoi started skating at seven or eight years old with veterans such as Shogo Kubo, Tony Alva, Stacy Peralta, and Jay Adams as his idols. His father, Ivan "Pops" Hosoi became the manager of the Marina Del Rey Skatepark, and Christian quit school and spent his time there where he developed his skill.

In 1979, as an amateur, Hosoi was sponsored by Powell Peralta. He left Powell Peralta a year later when they would not allow him to turn professional and joined Dogtown Skateboards. Shortly thereafter, Dogtown went out of business. Christian turned pro at the age of 14 with Sims Skateboards. After leaving Sims, Hosoi joined Alva Skates with the idea of launching his own company through Alva. Hosoi later claimed that he "almost quit" Alva Skates following an argument over Hosoi's allegation that Alva "cheated [Hosoi] out" of the fish-tail board shape, which Hosoi claimed to have conceptualized and shown to Alva.[2]

Hosoi invented the Christ Air and Rocket Air. In 1984, he formed his own company, Hosoi Skates, first distributed through Skull Skates, then through NHS-INC.

When street skating began to emerge in the mid-to-late 1980s, Hosoi showed talent there, winning both the vert and street contests at the Lotte Cup contest in Japan in 1989.[3]

Incarceration

Hosoi's pro career began to falter as a recession hit the US in the early 1990s and as street skating began to overtake vert in media coverage. Hosoi faced bankruptcy after financial difficulties with a series of failed skateboard companies like Tuff Sk8s, Sk8 Kultur, Milk, and Focus, in addition to a growing addiction to drugs.

In 1995, Hosoi was arrested on two minor offenses, and a warrant for his arrest was issued for failing to appear in court. To avoid arrest, Hosoi stopped attending competitions and demos, including declining an invitation to the first X Games (then the Extreme Games), which was going to be marketed as a renewed rivalry between Hawk and Hosoi.

Hosoi was finally captured in January 2000 at the Honolulu airport. He was apprehended while attempting to transport nearly 1.5 lb (0.68 kg) of crystal methamphetamine from Los Angeles to Honolulu.[4][5] He was charged with trafficking with the intent to distribute. He was sentenced to ten years' incarceration, of which he served four and was released from the San Bernardino Central Detention Center in June 2004.

Personal life

Hosoi is married to former nightclub dancer Jennifer Lee and has four sons, James Hosoi, Rhythm Hosoi (from a previous relationship), Classic Hosoi and Endless Hosoi.

Christianity

Hosoi became a born-again Christian through the urging of his wife and her uncle, Pastor Christopher Swaim. He also earned his high school diploma. Hosoi continues to be open about his new-found faith, having become ordained as an associate pastor, and has resumed his skateboarding career.

Hosoi was the subject of the 2006 documentary film, Rising Son, that detailed his initial success, drug addiction, and conversion to Christianity.

Hosoi joined forces with Jay Haizlip, Brian Sumner, and others to create The Uprising, a skate-based ministry. In 2008, The Uprising was documented by Steelroots, a Christian youth television network, and made into a reality television show. The first season comprised eight episodes and followed the ministry around California and England.

Hosoi also appeared in a testimonial video on I Am Second, in which he shares the story of his faith in Jesus.

Hosoi along with co-author Chris Ahrens released his autobiography book Hosoi: My Life as a Skateboarder Junkie Inmate Pastor in 2012 that chronicles his life story and testimony of finding redemption and purpose after reading the Bible and becoming a pastor.[6][7]

Video game appearances

Hosoi is a playable character in the video games Tony Hawk's Project 8 as an unlockable and Tony Hawk: Ride.

References
  1. Hsu, Hua (June 28, 2012). "Rising Down". Grantland.
  2. Sato, Mark (1984). "Board Interview; Christian Hosoi". Board Images Ragazine; Honolulu, HI.
  3. Craft, Kevin Craft (June 8, 2005). "15 Things: Hosoi". Skateboarder Magazine. Archived from the original on June 16, 2005.
  4. Hosoi Bio
  5. Barayuga, Debra (September 11, 2001). "Noted skateboarder nets jail time for drug charges". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Archived from the original on June 13, 2009.
  6. Hamm, K. (June 8, 2012). "Hosoi: Skateboarder Junkie Inmate Pastor". ESPN. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  7. Schuller, B. (June 16, 2013). "Christian Hosoi". The Hour of Power. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  • Brooke, Michael (1999). Concrete Wave: The History Of Skateboarding. ISBN 1-894020-54-5.
  • Sports Illustrated (June 7, 2004). Skate and Destroy article by Karl Taro Greenfeld
  • "The Uprising: Christian Hosoi's Bio". Archived from the original on November 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
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