Justin's Journey | J-DAY 2023 - Celebrating 10 Years of Skateboarding & Friendship

HAPPY J-DAY!!! Celebrating TEN YEARS anniversary of that fateful & life changing night on 5/21/2013 when Justin’s Journey began. We took him that evening to Sunnyvale Skatepark where he caught the visual of the locals carving & flying out of the bowls & he asked to try. He has been hooked ever since. We celebrated J-DAY today as a ‘Ohana & with friends starting at Sunnyvale where it all began, followed by a session at Lake Cunningham Skatepark. A family tradition is recreating the original pictures from 2013 & take a family photo on the 4 stair. Pictured is JMAN on Day 1 at 5 years old, followed by Day 3,650 & 15 years old. Special thanks to @leiolask8 for making the Happy J-Day sign & Thadd for coming out w/ his family when they had something else planned today.
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Through skateboarding, he has found his tribe. His identity, his friends, a sense of belonging, understanding, acceptance and love from the skatepark community. The skateboard gives him the freedom and a voice to express himself. As skatepark parents, we have had the privilege to witness 2 & now a 3rd generation of local skateboarders grow up & each progress from one decade of their life to the next. Unfortunately, we have lost some people along the way. But, while continuing to share skateboarding in the way as Jake Phelps once said; “Skate with me, not at me…” We have been able to see those in our skatepark community go on to become (grand)parents, teachers/coaches, pursued other passions, professions, degrees, achieve triumphs, experience heartache, overcome struggles, etc.
We shall continue to chronicle this journey in the hope that it may help someone down the line whether it is thru skateboarding or a connection through a shared passion. We have found our family connection thru skateboarding. May you find the same in whatever passion you share.”