Legendary skateboarder Shogo Kubo dies; photo by Bret Haller, via Flickr
Skateboarding pioneer Shogo Kubo, whose Zephyr crew was profiled in the award-winning documentary “Dogtown and Z-Boys,” died Tuesday while paddleboarding in Hawaii.
TMZ reports that witnesses on the beach spotted Kubo experiencing problems while paddling off Hawaii Kai. The Star Advertiser reports that Kubo was found unresponsive by another surfer.
Emergency crews tried unsuccessfully to revive the 54-year-old.
Police did not suspect foul play, and an autopsy will be performed to try to determine the cause of death.
Kubo, a married father, was one of the original members of the Zephyr team, formed in 1975 in Venice, California. Other members included Jim Muir, Jay Adams, Tony Alva, Bob Biniak, Chris Cahill, Paul Constantineau, Peggy Oki, Stacy Peralta, Nathan Pratt, Wentzle Ruml IV, and Allen Sarlo.
“All that I can say is that with reverence my heart is heavy in the loss of Shogo, a brother with a big heart,” Oki told ESPN.com.
The Z-boys ushered in an exciting new era, using high-powered moves borrowed from surfing, practiced in empty swimming pools and on steep walls, long before skate parks were invented.
Kubo was a standout member of Zephyr, often called the “King of Style.”
“Dogtown and Z-Boys” was directed by Peralta and narrated by Sean Penn. It was later made into a movie, “Lords of Dogtown,” starring Heath Ledger.
The Star Advertiser, citing a 2002 story following the release of “Dogtown and Z-Boys,” quoted Kubo as saying, “We were aggressive and confident and stood out because we were so different, like beach bums.”
Kubo was a longtime resident of Hawaii Kai, and was paddling at a surf spot called “Seconds” when he began experiencing problems.
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