Frankie Hill
Growing up skating in the late 80's to early 90's the professional skate landscape didn't seem as over saturated. It seemed being a professional meant a lot more back then, the pro's were larger then life icons that more often then not...being on the East Coast...you only got to see them in magazines and the awaited video releases. If you were lucky maybe a shop would have a demo that would bring some of these on the road pro's through your town.
I never got the chance to see Frankie Hill skate in real life. But I did watch his Powell video parts over and over in an almost religious fashion. In skateboarding there is always some one laying the foundations for some one else to take it to the next level. Frankie was one of the first to start throwing himself down huge gaps, stair sets, rails, etc. Inspiring many and creating a whole new level of where modern street skating was headed.
Somewhere in the early 90's Frankie Hill dropped of the scene somewhat unnoticed to myself. So many new brands and skaters were popping up I really overlooked one of my favorite skaters disappearance from the professional ranks.
Word was he had done so much damage to his knee's he had left skateboarding to pursue a more solid career path. But now over 10 years later Frankie is back! Watching this little video retrospective is both visually informative on one of skateboardings shinning stars that seemed to burn out to fast. Also it is inspiring...Inspiring to see someone who is over 35 come back to an activity that was considered only for the 25 and under crowd only 10 short years ago.
To see Frankie come back and attack like a true street warrior sends a bolt of lightning through my body and activates the charge in my mind that reminds me of a truth I always knew...you must always Keep on Pushin' Thru!
Thanks Frankie!
Peace.