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Jerry Hsu
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Jerry Hsu (born December 17, 1981[2]) is a Taiwanese-American skateboarder, photographer and owner/operator of the skate company "Sci-Fi Fantasy".[3][4]
Key Information
Early life
[edit]As of 2007, Hsu's family home remains located in San Jose, California, United States (U.S.). Hsu's family is originally from Taiwan,[5] and his parents speak both English and Mandarin Chinese.[6] Hsu explained in 2010 that his Chinese-language fluency is akin to a "third grader."[5]
Hsu started skateboarding in the early 1990s and he explained what he was attracted by in a 2013 interview: "I remember the reason I started skating was because I saw these kids with green hair and big pants and they looked so stupid, and I wanted to be that."[7] His mother brought home a discarded concrete parking block during his early period of skateboarding and he later regarded the gesture as "very thoughtful."[8]
Professional skateboarding
[edit]1996–2001: Maple, The Storm and Tilt Mode Army
[edit]Hsu's first skateboard deck sponsor was Maple, where he was a team member alongside Marc Johnson (skateboarder),[9] who facilitated his recruitment,[7] Louie Barletta, Chad Bartie, and Chad Knight, among others.[10] After he joined Maple, Hsu appeared in a promotional video for the northern California retail outlet NC Board Shop's clothing line, called "NC Clothing,"[11] alongside other sponsored riders, such as Gershon Mosely and Pancho Moler. Released in 1996, Montage runs for a duration of 30 minutes and also indicates that Hsu was sponsored by a brand named "Sutters" at the time.[12]
The first Maple advertisement announcing Hsu's professional status with the brand was published in 1999, when he was 17 years old, and featured the tag line: "Not another brick in the wall."[13][10] Hsu appeared in the 1999 Maple video Black Cat, which also featured Johnson and Barletta.[14] Around the same period, Hsu was first sponsored by the Osiris Shoes company, which had rebranded itself after it was first launched as "Evol Casuals" during the preceding two years.[15]
Although he was not yet a professional for Osiris, Hsu appeared in the 1999 Osiris video The Storm. His video part garnered attention for a never-before-seen trick that became known as a "Storm flip”, in which the skateboarder performs a "nollie backside 180 kickflip”, and while still in midair, adds a "late front-foot kickflip" before landing on the ground (a nollie trick is executed at the front end of the skateboard).[16] In a May 2013 interview, Hsu explained that he is still asked to perform the trick on a frequent basis, but he tries not to perform Storm flips, as they are "too busy" and he feels embarrassed. Hsu also said that he enjoyed this time period with Osiris, as he was able to constantly travel, including international trips, and participate in the benefits that the company was reaping from market success.[8]
Hsu membership of the Tilt Mode Army was first revealed in 2000 with the release of the inaugural TMA video Tilt Mode!. Described as a group of skateboarder friends from the San Jose, California area, TMA's membership also consists of Johnson, Barletta, Matt Eversole, Steve Caballero, and Jose Rojo.[17]
2002–2006: enjoi and Bag Of Suck
[edit]Prior the dissolution of Maple, Hsu joined the enjoi company, which had been started by Johnson, who recruited both Barletta and Hsu, as they were all close friends at the time. Hsu explained that Johnson was primarily interested in Barletta to begin with, but Hsu was later included as part of a "package deal."[8] Regarding Hsu's recruitment, Johnson said in a 2013 interview: "We stole the fuck out of this guy."[18]
Commencement on the production of the inaugural full-length enjoi video commenced after Johnson's departure in 2003. Entitled Bag Of Suck, the video was released in 2006 and features a two-section part from Hsu as the conclusion. With a duration of just under eight minutes,[19] the first section of the part is accompanied by Cass McCombs's "Sacred Heart", while Sonic Youth's cover version of The Carpenters' song "Superstar" is used for the second section.[20] Hsu also joined the Ricta skateboard wheel team during the same year.[21]
2007–2012: Emerica, "Epicly Later'd" and Stay Gold
[edit]Following the notability and success from Bag Of Suck, Hsu underwent significant sponsorship changes, leaving WeSC clothing and Osiris for Emerica, which offered him both a shoe and apparel deal, in 2007—the tag line "GuessHsu?" was used in the promotional material.[22][23][24] Hsu revealed in a September 2012 online interview, for the RIDE Channel's "Weekend Buzz" series, that he was offered a sponsorship deal with Nike, Inc. following the end of his contract with Osiris; however, Hsu declined the offer in favor of Emerica, due to the effect of a questionnaire that he was emailed as part of the recruitment process:
I was asked if I would want to … well, I was sent, like, a email questionnaire, that was like pre-written. Like it seemed just like it was this pre-written thing, towards … like it was totally impersonal. It was, ah, like, "What do you like about Nike? What do you think you can bring to Nike? What like, ah, blah, blah, blah, blah, bah. Like I don't even know if it was, like, a serious consideration that I could ride for them, but, yeah, when I read that thing, like, this was kinda, like, if this is their deal, then I don't really, I'm not really into it.[25]
The Vice web video series "Epicly Later'd" published its "Jerry Hsu" episode in May 2007, which is hosted and created by Hsu's friend Patrick O'dell, who was previously a staff photographer at Thrasher Magazine. Hsu received attention after the episode was released, as Hsu shows O'dell his family home—including footage of his parents—and VHS footage of Hsu skateboarding at the age of 13 years, leading O'dell to use the description "child prodigy." Johnson is also interviewed by O'dell and his high regard for Hsu is obvious:
The way that Jerry [Hsu] lives his life is, like, he lives it on his own terms. He wears what he wants to wear, he sleeps when wants to sleep—he does whatever he wants to do. And, when you're in a "business" situation, they either don't like that because they can't do that, or, they don't like that because it's not marketable, or whatever. He's kind of like an "old soul" … He's the guy that's younger than you and you look up to him.[13]
Hsu released his first signature shoe with Emerica, the "Hsu" (including a lowtop variation that was released at a later stage, named the "Hsu Low"), in 2008.[26] Hsu was then sponsored by the MOB skateboard griptape brand in early 2010.[27]
Hsu followed up his first Emerica shoe with the "Hsu 2 Fusion" in 2011, which is a mid-top design that incorporates the Sole Technology invention, "STI Fusion Technology" (Sole Technology is the parent company of Emerica).[28] Hsu explained in a corresponding promotional video that he prefers the mid-top design because it provides him with ankle protection.[29]
The fourth TMA video, Bonus Round, was released in 2009 and also featured other enjoi riders, such as Caswell Berry, Nestor Judkins and Clark Hassler.[30] The following year, Hsu then appeared in his first-ever Emerica full-length video, Stay Gold, for which he skated solely in switch stance during a period in which he sustained significant injuries.[31] Stay Gold filmer Jon Miner identified Hsu's part as one of the most difficult aspects of the video's production in a 2011 interview:
There were a number of challenges, the ones that came closer to the deadline stand out the most just because of the level of stress. Jerry Hsu's constant knee/ankle injuries and what direction to take his part in was a pretty heavy one. Jerry went through hell to film that part, He got ankle surgery and two or three knee surgeries. He skated switch because he didn't have the strength in his knee to skate regular. That's how good Jerry is; he filmed an amazing part on a bad knee going the wrong way.[31]
2013–2017: Leaves Enjoi and joins Chocolate
[edit]New York La La La, a fashion video directed by Aaron Rose and featuring Hsu, was published on the Nowness website on September 25, 2013. Alongside fellow professional skateboarders Austyn Gillette and Josh Harmony, Hsu was dressed in designer garments for the short film, and a portrait of the three was photographed by L'Officiel Hommes editor André Saraiva.[32]
In September 2013, Hsu announced his departure from the enjoi brand. Hsu explained in an interview that was published on October 12, 2013, that his decision was spurred by the departure of longtime brand manager Eversole who, according to Hsu, grew tired of protecting the brand from the profit-driven demands of shareholders. Barletta will take Eversole's place as enjoi's brand manager and Hsu stated: "Louie understands what enjoi is all about, so I think they can still make something really great and I wish them the best."[33] Hsu later clarified that he received "generous" paychecks while he was with enjoi and his teammates, whom he respects "very much," were not a factor in his decision, which took a long time to make. He also revealed that the discussions about his departure mostly involved just himself and Barletta, and those conversations were "emotional and shitty" for him.[7]
On November 12, 2013, a video was published on the Crailtap YouTube channel, the official channel of the Girl Distribution Company, in which Hsu is officially revealed as the new professional for Chocolate Skateboards, a sub-brand of Girl. The video skit features Marc Johnson, Mike Carroll, Stevie Perez, Elijah Berle, and Chris Roberts.[34] Hsu explained in an interview why he wanted to join the Chocolate team: "It’s a family. When I walk into Rick [Howard]’s office and there are printouts of graphics on the floor and he’s hand picking them, I know this is where I wanna be."[7]
To commemorate Chocolate's 20th anniversary in 2014, O'dell filmed a four-part retrospective for "Epicly Later'd" and enlisted Hsu as a cohost. In the first episode, published in October 2014, O'dell filmed Hsu with Girl co-owners Carroll and Rick Howard, and also asked Hsu to explain what is important about the Chocolate brand for him:
You just feel an immediate cool, like: "Welcome!" So everyone's just like, "Welcome to the family"-type thing. And all of a sudden, you're just looking at Chocolate boards, and then you're looking at Chocolate boards with your name on it. It's like a dream come true … Your name's next to Marc Johnson, Gino Iannuci, Chico [Brenes]—your heros![35]
2017–present: Starts Sci-Fi Fantasy, leaves Chocolate and Emerica
[edit]In the summer of 2017 Jerry started a clothing company, "Sci-Fi Fantasy," selling out multiple limited releases within hours in early 2018. According to him it is his primary source of income, as he has no sponsors for skateboarding since October 2018, when Hsu stepped away from traditional skateboarding sponsors.[36]
Jerry left Chocolate Skateboards in September 2017. In March 2018 his long term shoe sponsor Emerica ended its business relationship with Hsu.[37]
Video games
[edit]Hsu is a playable character in the Skate video game franchise—Skate (2007), Skate 2 (2008) and Skate 3 (2010)—developed by the Electronic Arts (EA) and Black Box companies. Hsu was selected to film his own introduction for the first installment,[38] and then appeared in the cinematic trailers for all three games.[39][40][41]
Photography
[edit]Hsu's photography career has gradually developed since the commencement of his professional skateboarding career. Hsu contributes work to Vice magazine[42] and, in September 2010, he exhibited a body of photographic work at the Steinsland Berliner Gallery in Stockholm, Sweden under the title "Vatican Gold," alongside Ed Templeton, Kevin Long and Jonnie Craig.[43]
Hsu's photography project "Table For One" was published as a zine of the same name in January 2013. Sold by San Jose's Seeing Things Gallery, the zine documents Hsu's obsession with people who eat by themselves and a corresponding Tumblr blog, also of the same name, remains online as of November 2014. Grape Magazine described the "Table For One" as Hsu's "ode to being alone."[44][45]
The Killing Season, Hsu's first-ever photography book was released as a limited edition product (150 copies) in March 2013 by SPA,[46] a publishing company owned by Hsu's friend.[8] The book is based on a Vietnam skateboarding trip, in which a group traveled from the north to the south of the country on mopeds. A video of the trip was released on the SkateBoarder magazine website in mid-2012.[47]
The opening of Hsu's solo photographic exhibition "The Observable Universe" occurred in Los Angeles, California, U.S. on July 2, 2013. The exhibition was held at the Family Bookstore and consisted of eleven curated photographs.[48]
Emerica asked Hsu to curate a photography book for the DVD release of the 2013 video Made. Released in September 2013,[49] the 80-page book features Hsu's own photographs, as well as those he obtained from other photographers, including Templeton, Mike Burnett and Brian Gaberman.[33] Hsu then released a zine of photographs (limited to 300 copies) taken of the people who photograph him as a professional skateboarder, titled "Our Moment Together," in October 2013 through Deadbeat Club.[50]
"Rolling Through the Shadows"
[edit]Leica Camera AG, a German camera, lens and optics manufacturer,[51] initiated an interview series with skateboard journalist Mark Whiteley (former editor of SLAP magazine) in January 2013. The series was introduced through the company's blog and is entitled "Rolling Through the Shadows"—Whiteley explains in the introduction that he will interview a selection of skateboarders that "have gravitated towards Leica M equipment", including Hsu and others, such as Templeton and Arto Saari.[52] However, as of November 2014, Hsu was not yet interviewed for the series.
Awards and accolades
[edit]Hsu won the "Best Video Part" award at the 2007 Transworld Skateboarding awards, for his part in Bag Of Suck, in addition to the "Readers' Choice" award.[53][54] Transworld writer Mackenzie Eisenhour described Hsu's award-winning part in a 2009 retrospective of the first 10 recipients of the Best Video Part award: "This is what Tiltmode looks like when the gloves come off. Jerry, like Heath [Kirchart], is one of the few guys who can finesse impact-heavy skating."[55]
Professional skateboarder Jimmy Cao selected Hsu's Black Cat video part for Thrasher Magazine's "Classics" series. Cao introduced the video by saying: "I picked Jerry's part, because he's got good style, sick trick selection, and he's just fun to watch." The magazine called the part "gnarly."[56]
Personal life
[edit]Due to the physical toll of his skateboarding, Hsu identified photography as a vocation that he would like to eventually transition into. In 2013, Hsu explained that his body is "constantly thrashed" and admitted that he is "broken."[33][8] In 2011, on "Epicly Later'd," Hsu's mother expressed her opinion of Hsu's skateboarding career: "Well I'm happy for him, as I said. This is his job, not mine; it's his life, not mine, so ..."[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Jerry Hsu Top Fives". Crailtap. THE GIRL SKATEBOARD COMPANY, INC. Archived from the original on July 15, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
- ^ "Team: Jerry Hsu". Emerica. Sole Technology Inc. November 6, 2014. Archived from the original on November 3, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "WHAT WENT DOWN AT SLOW IMPACT IN ARIZONA?". Jenkem Magazine. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ "Sci-Fi Fantasy Will Be Your New Favorite Skate Brand". Highsnobiety. April 5, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ a b Ian Shulman, Chris Thiessen (September 28, 2010). "The Golden Age: Jerry Hsu Answers Your Questions". TransWorld SKATEboarding. TEN. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "Crailtap's We Shred It, You Said It, We Read It with Jerry Hsu" (Video upload). Crailtap on YouTube. Google Inc. April 15, 2013. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Ian Michna (November 2013). "JERRY HSU DISCUSSES CHOCOLATE, LEAVING ENJOI & THE INDUSTRY". Jenkem. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Jerry Hsu: The R1 Interview" (Video upload). RouteOneDirect on YouTube. Google Inc. May 23, 2013. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "Inspiring mentor relationships in action sports".
- ^ a b "Maple Skateboards – New Maple Pro Ad (1999)". Skately. Skately LLC. 2014. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "NC Board Shop". Skately. Skately LLC. 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.[dead link]
- ^ "NC Board Shop – Montage (1996)". Skately. Skately LLC. 2014. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ a b c VBSTV (2007). "Epicly Later'd – Jerry Hsu". video.ca. dailypixel Inc. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
- ^ "Maple – Black Cat". Skatevideosite.com. 2005–2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "Osiris Shoes". Skately. Skately LLC. 2014. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "Osiris Shoes – The Storm (1999)". Skately. Skately LLC. 2014. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "Tilt Mode Army – Tilt Mode! (2000)". Skately. Skately, LLC. 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.[dead link]
- ^ "On the Crail Couch with Marc Johnson and..." (Video upload). Crailtap on YouTube. Google Inc. November 13, 2013. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "Jerry Hsu – bag of suck" (Video upload). enjoi on Vimeo. Vimeo, LLC. 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "Enjoi – Bag of Suck". SkatevideoSite.com. 2005–2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
- ^ "Jerry Hsu on Ricta!" (Video upload). Strange Notes on YouTube. Google Inc. August 24, 2006. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "Emerica – Guess Hsu? Ad (2007)". Skately. Skately LLC. 2014. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "Emerica Guess Hsu?" (Video upload). ComeTogetherFilms on YouTube. Google Inc. April 23, 2007. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ Yu-Ming (May 15, 2008). "EMERICA HSU SKATE SHOE". Freshness Magazine. Complex Media. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ RIDEChannel; Erica Yary; Rob Brink (September 7, 2012). "Jerry Hsu & Louie Barletta: Out of the closet, High with fans, & Slams!" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ "JERRY HSU'S EMERICA SHOE". Skateboarder Magazine. TEN. March 29, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "Jerry Hsu on MOB GRIP" (Video upload). Mob Grip on YouTube. Google Inc. February 26, 2010. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ Christian Senrud (September 28, 2011). "STAFF PRODUCT REVIEW: EMERICA HSU 2 FUSION". Skateboarder Magazine. TEN. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "Emerica and Jerry Hsu: The new Emerica HSU 2 Fusion" (Video upload). emerica on YouTube. Google Inc. July 15, 2011. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "Tilt Mode Army – Bonus Round (2009)". Skately. Skately, LLC. 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.[dead link]
- ^ a b Chris Nieratko (May 29, 2011). "EMERICA FILMMAKER JON MINER INTERVIEW". X Games. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "New York La La La". Nowness. September 25, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ^ a b c Chris Nieratko (October 12, 2013). "A CHAT WITH JERRY HSU ON PHOTOGRAPHY AND LEAVING ENJOI". Vice. Vice Media. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ crailtap (November 12, 2013). "Chocolate Skateboards Welcomes..." (Video upload). YouTube. Google Inc. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
- ^ "Epicly Later'd: Chocolate (Part 1/4)" (Video upload). VICE on YouTube. Google Inc. October 30, 2014. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ "Jerry Hsu Talks Life After Sponsors on the Cameron Adair Podcast ⋆ SKATE NEWSWIRE" (Press release). October 7, 2018.
- ^ "Jerry Hsu Talks Life After Sponsors on the Cameron Adair Podcast ⋆ SKATE NEWSWIRE" (Press release). October 7, 2018.
- ^ "skate. Jerry Hsu" (Video upload). EA on YouTube. Google Inc. March 15, 2007. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ "Skate Game Intro" (Video upload). EA on YouTube. Google Inc. September 19, 2007. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ "Skate 3 – Intro Movie". GamerSpawn on YouTube. Google Inc. May 12, 2010. Archived from the original (Video upload) on August 1, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ "EA Skate 2 Introduction Video (SPOILERS !! ) HD" (Video upload). EASkateTV on YouTube. Google Inc. December 16, 2008. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ Vice magazine: Photo Issue Leftovers – Jerry Hsu
- ^ "Vatican Gold". GSB/GALLERY STEINSLAND BERLINER. Google, Inc. August 18, 2010. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
- ^ "2 rad zines for sale exclusively here at Seeing Things Gallery !!". Seeing Things Gallery on Tumblr. Tumblr. January 23, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2014.[dead link]
- ^ "Table For One". Grape Magazine. 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ "BOOK RELEASE: JERRY HSU: THE KILLING SEASON". Juxtapoz. High Speed Productions, Inc. March 13, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ "The Killing Season". SkateBoarder. TEN. July 23, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ Yasi Salek (July 8, 2013). "Jerry Hsu's "The Observable Universe" Photo Show". Altamont Apparel. Archived from the original on August 5, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- ^ "Emerica MADE Brandon Westgate". The Berrics. September 2013. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ "OUR MOMENT TOGETHER". Grape Magazine. October 22, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ "About Us". The Leica Camera Blog. LEICA-CAMERA.COM. January 2013. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
- ^ Mark Whiteley (January 28, 2013). "Rolling Through the Shadows" (Blog post). The Leica Camera Blog. LEICA-CAMERA.COM. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
- ^ 9th Annual TWS Awards Best Video Part: Jerry Hsu, Bag Of Suck
- ^ Greg Baerg (June 8, 2007). "Jerry Hsu Dominates The 9th Annual TransWorld SKATEboarding Awards". lat34.com. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
- ^ Mackenzie Eisenhour (August 4, 2009). "TWS 10 Best Video Parts: A Decade Of Digital Daggers". TransWorld SKATEboarding. TEN. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "Classics: Jerry Hsu "Black Cat"" (Video upload). ThrasherMagazine on YouTube. Google Inc. February 25, 2014. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
External links
[edit]Jerry Hsu
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family background and upbringing
Jerry Hsu was born on December 17, 1981, in San Jose, California, to parents who had immigrated from Taiwan.[12] As a Taiwanese-American, he grew up in the diverse suburban environment of San Jose, where his family's roots provided a cultural connection to Taiwan despite being raised in the United States.[12][4] His parents were computer engineers in Silicon Valley.[4] His mother supported his early interest in skateboarding by bringing home a discarded concrete parking block for him to practice on.[5] Hsu is known by the nickname "The Asian Elvis" within skateboarding circles, a moniker that highlighted his charismatic presence and distinctive personal style reminiscent of the iconic performer and gained prominence around the time of his 2006 video part in Enjoi's Bag of Suck.[13] This nickname became associated with him during his emerging identity in California's skate culture.[13]Introduction to skateboarding
Jerry Hsu began skateboarding in the early 1990s, specifically on December 26, 1992, at the age of 11, in the streets and local parks of San Jose, California. His first session occurred at Leland High School parking lot with a friend, where they encountered a group of local skaters, including one named Salman who performed an ollie off a speed bump, captivating Hsu immediately. He acquired his initial setup—a Santa Cruz Everslick complete skateboard—from a mail-order catalog via Cali4nia Skate Express, marking the start of his hands-on immersion in the sport.[14] Hsu's early influences stemmed from the vibrant San Jose skate scene and iconic figures from early 1990s professional skateboarding. Local skaters like Salman provided direct inspiration through their street-style maneuvers, while videos such as Welcome to Hell (1996) introduced him to pros like Elissa Steamer, whose technical prowess he admired enough to send her a fan letter with his own photos. These elements fueled his rapid engagement, blending community interactions with aspirational viewing of era-defining riders who emphasized creativity and precision in urban environments.[14] During his high school years at Leland High in the mid-1990s, Hsu honed his technical skills, developing a distinctive switch-stance approach that became a hallmark of his style. Restricted from skating with peers after school, he practiced diligently on a homemade driveway box, mastering maneuvers like switch hardflips and backside nollie flips by age 14, alongside ledge tricks such as nollie 270 to back tail. This solitary routine in San Jose built his foundation in switch-oriented technical skating, prioritizing adaptability and innovation over conventional progression.[15] As an amateur, Hsu gained local recognition in San Jose for his innovative ledge skating and complex tricks, earning notice from established figures like Marc Johnson. He produced a 25-minute "sponsor-me" video to showcase his abilities and, at age 15, joined a month-long U.S. amateur tour organized by Maple, with his parents' supportive approval allowing the opportunity. These experiences solidified his reputation within regional circles, paving the way for future advancements without yet entering professional ranks.[15][16][14]Skateboarding career
Early sponsorships and Tilt Mode Army (1996–2001)
Jerry Hsu secured his first major sponsorship with Maple Skateboards in 1996 at the age of 14, following a homemade sponsor-me video he produced as a young skater from San Jose, California.[15][16] This deal marked his entry into the professional skateboarding scene, where he initially rode as an amateur, contributing footage that showcased his emerging technical skills on local ledges and rails. By 1999, at age 17, Hsu turned professional with Maple, appearing in their video Black Cat, which highlighted his precise ledge work and early switch-stance proficiency developed during his amateur years.[17][18] Around the same time, he signed an early shoe sponsorship with Osiris, aligning with the brand's rising prominence in the late 1990s skate industry.[19] Hsu's part in Osiris's 1999 video The Storm brought him significant underground recognition, particularly for inventing the "Storm flip"—a nollie backside flip with a late flip out—that surprised the skate community with its innovative flip variation and technical difficulty.[20] Filmed amid a period of intense street skating in San Jose and beyond, this footage emphasized Hsu's creative approach to tricks, blending switch-stance elements with high-risk manuals and grinds on urban obstacles.[15] The video's release solidified his reputation as a rising talent capable of pushing trick boundaries, contributing to Osiris's team dynamic during its peak era.[19] In 1998, Hsu co-founded the Tilt Mode Army collective with fellow skaters Matt Eversole, Chris Avery, Marc Johnson, Louie Barletta, Jose Rojo, Caswell Berry, and Steve Caballero, forming a tight-knit group centered on collaborative, fun-oriented street skating out of the Tantau Empire house in San Jose.[21] This crew produced influential videos like Tilt Mode! (1998) and Man Down (2001), featuring Hsu's parts alongside skits and group antics that captured the raw energy of their sessions.[21] The Tilt Mode projects emphasized camaraderie over polished production, helping Hsu build a cult following through his consistent, hard-hitting street style that prioritized lines and environmental adaptation.[18] Hsu's early video appearances, including a 1996 montage and parts in The Storm and Tilt Mode releases, drew attention for his switch-stance foundation and relentless pursuit of complex street tricks, such as switch hardflips and nollie flips on handrails, earning him underground acclaim in the late 1990s skate scene.[15][16]Enjoi and Bag of Suck (2002–2006)
In 2002, Jerry Hsu joined Enjoi Skateboards, a company founded in 2000 by Marc Johnson and Rodney Mullen, becoming a core member of its early professional team alongside riders like Louie Barletta and Caswell Berry.[22][23] This move marked a significant step in Hsu's career, transitioning from his earlier technical style developed with Tilt Mode Army to Enjoi's more playful environment. During this period, Hsu also secured sponsorship with Ricta wheels, complementing his board and apparel endorsements.[5] Hsu played a pivotal role in shaping Enjoi's humorous and artistic brand identity, which emphasized self-deprecating humor, quirky graphics, and team camaraderie over aggressive marketing. His signature deck models, such as the "La Dee Frickin' Da" with its pixelated artwork and the "Tortilla Chip Theft & Vandalism" featuring satirical illustrations, exemplified the company's irreverent aesthetic, often incorporating playful motifs like the iconic panda logo.[24][15] These designs not only reflected Hsu's creative input but also helped establish Enjoi as a cultural outlier in skateboarding, prioritizing fun and artistic expression.[22] Hsu's breakthrough came with his standout part in Enjoi's 2006 video Bag of Suck, directed by Matt Eversole, which captured the team's tight-knit dynamic and became a landmark in skate video history for its blend of comedy and high-level skating. Filmed primarily in San Jose, California, Hsu's section highlighted his precise, switch-stance prowess through iconic tricks like a switch 180 to crooks on the Quimby ledge, switch bluntslide to overcrooks, backside nollie heelflip, and a nollie backside heelflip down the 13-stair Lincoln High School rail—efforts that required multiple trips and even a hospital visit.[15][24] As Hsu later reflected, "The enjoi team was such a tight team at the time. I feel like that’s really why the video is so good," underscoring the camaraderie that fueled the project's success.[15]Emerica, Epicly Later'd, and Stay Gold (2007–2012)
In 2007, Jerry Hsu transitioned to the Emerica skateboard team, joining a roster that included prominent riders such as Andrew Reynolds, Leo Romero, and Brandon Westgate for events like the brand's Wild Ride tour from June 21 to July 4, which spanned multiple U.S. cities to promote skateboarding on Go Skateboarding Day.[25] This sponsorship marked a shift toward more technical street skating endorsements, building on Hsu's established reputation from prior teams while emphasizing durable footwear and video production.[26] Hsu's partnership with Emerica extended to the development of his signature shoe line, beginning with the Hsu Low in 2008, a narrow vulcanized low-top model featuring lace protection, a drop-in footbed, and a super-tacky natural gum rubber outsole optimized for grip and impact absorption in street environments.[27] The shoe's design reflected Hsu's input on functionality for prolonged sessions, incorporating Emerica's G6 foam technology for enhanced cushioning without sacrificing board feel, and it became a staple for skaters seeking a balance of style and performance.[28] This endorsement solidified his role within Emerica's ecosystem, contrasting the playful, humorous aesthetics of his earlier Enjoi era with a focus on professional-grade equipment. Hsu's contributions to Emerica's media output peaked with his part in the 2010 full-length video Stay Gold, directed by Jon Miner and premiered in cities including Des Moines and Hollywood, where he showcased advanced street skating through precise, high-commitment maneuvers like switch-stance lines and gap-to-rail combinations on challenging urban ledges and stairs.[29] The video, released on September 1, 2010, highlighted Emerica's team depth and received acclaim for its raw production style, with Hsu's section emphasizing endurance and creativity in spots across California and beyond.[30] Complementing this, Hsu added MOB griptape to his active sponsorships around this time, having joined the brand in late 2006 for its durable, high-traction adhesive that supported his technical setups during tours and filming.[31] In 2011, Hsu featured in an episode of VICE's Epicly Later'd series, hosted by Patrick O'Dell, where he reflected on his career trajectory, displaying personal skate videos from his youth and discussing the evolution of his style amid global travels and team dynamics.[32] The retrospective episode provided insight into Hsu's mindset during his Emerica years, touching on the balance between innovation in tricks and the physical toll of professional skating, while underscoring his growth from amateur contests to video prominence.[33]Chocolate and team transitions (2013–2017)
In September 2013, Jerry Hsu parted ways with Enjoi after more than a decade with the brand, following the departure of key figure Matt Eversole, who had served as brand manager and helped preserve Enjoi's distinctive creative identity.[34][23] Hsu cited internal shifts toward profit-driven decisions by higher management, which he felt eroded the company's core skateboarding ethos, as a primary reason for his exit.[23] By November 2013, Hsu joined Chocolate Skateboards, drawn to its collaborative, family-oriented environment under founders Mike Carroll and Rick Howard, and the presence of longtime friend and mentor Marc Johnson on the team.[23][35] Hsu's integration into Chocolate emphasized a balance between his veteran experience and the squad's younger energy, allowing him to contribute to the brand's street-focused, innovative style.[23] In 2014, to mark Chocolate's 20th anniversary, Hsu co-hosted a four-part retrospective series for VICE's Epicly Later'd alongside Patrick O'Dell, visiting San Francisco to interview team members like Chico Brenes and Marc Johnson, and reflecting on the brand's evolution.[36] This event highlighted Hsu's role in bridging Chocolate's history with its ongoing team dynamics.[36] During this period, Hsu appeared in several Chocolate tour videos that captured the team's collaborative spirit, including a welcome clip released upon his joining, featuring technical street skating in San Francisco.[37] Key highlights included footage from the 2015 Going Dumb Up the 101 U.S. tour, where he skated alongside teammates like Stevie Perez and Rick Howard during demos in cities such as San Jose, and the 2016 Chocolate team trip to Miami, showcasing lines at local spots with riders including Elijah Berle and Raven Tershy.[38][39] Additionally, the joint Chocolate and Emerica Stay Flared tour in 2015 produced shared video content emphasizing group demos and street sessions, underscoring Hsu's continued output amid team travels.[18] As the skateboarding industry faced economic pressures and shifting sponsorship models in the mid-2010s, Hsu experienced a gradual reduction in his pro commitments, focusing more selectively on projects while maintaining his Emerica shoe sponsorship, which had been a cornerstone since his earlier career highlights like the Stay Gold video.[18] By 2017, these transitions marked the end of his primary team affiliations, paving the way for greater independence in skating.[23]Independent skating and recent projects (2018–present)
Following his departure from Chocolate in late 2017, Jerry Hsu was unexpectedly let go by Emerica in early 2018, prompting a shift away from traditional sponsorships.[40][8] This marked the end of his long-standing ties to major skate brands, allowing him to pursue skating on his own terms without the pressures of pro obligations or video part deadlines. By mid-2018, Hsu had fully embraced independence, skating selectively for personal fulfillment and creative control rather than commercial commitments.[8] Hsu's independent era has featured sporadic but impactful guest appearances and event participations. In February 2023, he joined the Sci-Fi Fantasy team at the inaugural Slow Impact skate event in Tempe, Arizona, where he engaged in panels discussing skate culture and interacted with attendees while contributing to the on-site skating activities.[41] This low-key involvement highlighted his veteran status and preference for community-driven experiences over high-profile tours. His skating during this period emphasized technical switch-stance tricks in urban environments, often shared through social media clips rather than full productions. In 2025, Hsu's ongoing dedication to skating gained widespread recognition with his appearance on the September cover of Thrasher Magazine, featuring a darkslide, alongside the "Hsu of Meat" article that chronicled his decades of injuries, including multiple concussions, knee surgeries, and a torn urethra from his teenage years.[42] The piece underscored his resilience, detailing treatments like stem cell injections to sustain his career despite chronic issues such as worn knee cartilage and a pinched sciatic nerve. Later that year, Hsu delivered a standout part in Sci-Fi Fantasy's debut full-length video Endless Beauty, released on August 22, which blended haunting visuals with transcendent skating from him and the team, filmed primarily in California streets.[43] These contributions exemplified his independent approach, prioritizing artistic expression over sponsorship-driven output. This freedom has paralleled his transition to business ownership, enabling integrated creative pursuits across skating and apparel.[8]Media appearances
Video games
Jerry Hsu is featured as a playable professional skater in Electronic Arts' Skate video game series, reflecting his prominence in the skateboarding scene during the late 2000s.[44] His character first appeared in Skate (2007) for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, where players can control him to perform tricks in the game's realistic physics-based environment.[45] This inclusion highlighted his technical style, gaining traction from his influential Bag of Suck video part.[15] Hsu returned as a playable character in Skate 2 (2009), expanding the series' open-world skating in a fictional San Francisco setting, and in Skate 3 (2010), which introduced co-op modes and team-building mechanics in the port city of Port Carverton.[46][47] In all three titles, his in-game model incorporates representations of his signature switch-stance maneuvers, such as switch heelflips and tre flips, accurately mimicking his real-life proficiency in these technical tricks.[48] Additionally, his custom gear draws from his actual setups, including Enjoi decks, Emerica shoes, and Ricta wheels, as tied to his sponsors at the time.[49] Hsu has not appeared as a playable character in any Skate games released after 2010.[50]Documentaries and interviews
Jerry Hsu first gained significant media exposure through the skateboarding documentary series Epicly Later'd, produced by VICE, where he was the subject of a dedicated episode exploring his early career, personal skate videos, and travels.[32] Originally aired in 2007 as part of the show's early seasons, the installment featured Hsu showcasing his home footage and discussing his prodigious start in skateboarding, including tricks attempted as a teenager.[51] In 2014, to mark Chocolate Skateboards' 20th anniversary, Hsu co-hosted a four-part retrospective episode of Epicly Later'd alongside creator Patrick O'Dell, visiting San Francisco to interview team riders like Chico Brenes and Marc Johnson about the brand's history and impact on street skating.[36] In 2025, Hsu appeared on several podcasts reflecting on his career evolution. On The Nine Club With Chris Roberts in July, he discussed balancing skateboarding with his photography and business endeavors, including a recent Thrasher Magazine cover for a darkslide trick and the premiere of Sci-Fi Fantasy's video Endless Beauty.[52] Later that August, in an episode of Living Proof Radio, Hsu opened up about transitioning away from full-time professional skating toward creative projects like his apparel brand, emphasizing the personal fulfillment found in these shifts.[53] Additionally, Hsu contributed to Thrasher content by breaking down his darkslide cover trick in a short video interview, detailing the setup and execution at dusk.[54] Earlier, in 2023, Hsu participated in discussions surrounding the inaugural Slow Impact skate event in Tempe, Arizona, a gathering focused on community building and incremental skate culture impacts. Jenkem Magazine covered the event, highlighting Hsu's involvement in panel talks on skateboarding's sensory and social dimensions alongside figures like Ted Barrow and Akwasí Owusu.[41][55] Despite his prominence in skate media, Hsu has not been the subject of any full-length personal documentaries dedicated solely to his life and career.Photography career
Early contributions and exhibitions
Jerry Hsu began exploring photography in the early 2000s, paralleling the height of his professional skateboarding career, when he started using point-and-shoot cameras to document the raw, unfiltered moments of daily life and skate sessions. Influenced by the desire to capture the world around him beyond just filming tricks, Hsu's initial work emphasized spontaneous street photography, often taken during tours and downtime from skating. This period marked the foundation of his visual style, blending humor, absurdity, and the grit of subcultural experiences.[56][57][13] Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Hsu's photographs gained recognition through contributions to prominent skate and culture magazines, including multiple features in Vice Magazine's issues and photo annuals, where his images highlighted the eccentricities of urban environments and skate culture. Similarly, he provided photographic content to Thrasher Magazine, integrating his shots into articles and profiles that captured the intensity and camaraderie of skateboarding scenes. These publications served as key platforms for Hsu to refine his documentary approach, prioritizing candid, ironic vignettes over polished compositions.[56][58] Hsu's early exhibitions in 2010 represented a pivotal step in transitioning his magazine work to gallery settings. He contributed to the group show "Vatican Gold" at Steinsland Berliner Gallery in Stockholm, Sweden, displaying collages and photographs alongside artists like Ed Templeton and Kevin Long, which explored themes of found imagery and personal ephemera. That same year, Hsu participated in the "Now I Remember" exhibition at New Image Art gallery in Los Angeles, a group presentation of cell phone photography that underscored his evolving use of accessible tools to seize fleeting, humorous observations. These shows highlighted his ability to merge skate-inspired narratives with broader artistic expression.[59][60][61][62] In 2013, Hsu published by Total Luxury Spa his early zine "The Killing Season," a limited-edition collection of 150 copies documenting a three-week motorcycle journey through Vietnam with friends, featuring photographs that captured the trip's mishaps, landscapes, and interpersonal dynamics. This project exemplified his hands-on approach to dissemination, bridging his photographic practice with skateboarding's nomadic ethos and setting the stage for future self-published works.[56][63][64]Books and zines
Jerry Hsu's photography career includes several published books and self-produced zines that highlight his distinctive style of capturing humorous, lo-fi images of everyday absurdities intertwined with skate culture. His first major photography book, The Killing Season, released in 2013 by Total Luxury Spa in a limited edition of 150 copies, documents a three-week motorcycle journey through Vietnam, featuring photographs of skate sessions in urban environments alongside cultural observations.[64] The book emphasizes raw, on-the-road imagery that blends adventure with the spontaneity of street skating.[65] In 2019, Hsu published The Beautiful Flower Is the World through Anthology Editions, a hardcover collection of over 200 cell phone photographs originally shared on his NAZI GOLD blog since 2009, showcasing ironic and absurd moments from daily life, often infused with skateboarding's playful ethos.[66] This work expanded on his earlier self-published zines, compiling lo-fi snapshots that critique modern ironies through witty, unpolished visuals.[67] A second hardcover edition followed in 2024, enhancing the original with additional images and improved production quality, while maintaining the thematic focus on chaotic, humorous vignettes.[68] Hsu has also produced numerous self-published zines, often handmade and distributed in limited runs, which serve as experimental extensions of his photographic practice. Notable examples include Embarrassing Intimacy (circa 2020), a 16-page laserjet-printed staple-bound zine featuring intimate, awkward personal moments captured on phone cameras, and Our Moment Together (2016), which compiles posed photographs with young skateboard fans to explore fleeting interactions in skate culture.[69][70] Other zines, such as Throwing Rocks (2013, published by 8-Ball Community) and The Disease of Wanting to Be Accepted (2020, self-published), delve into themes of social absurdity and self-reflection through concise, photocopied formats.[71][72] These works, produced independently or in small collaborations, underscore Hsu's commitment to accessible, DIY publishing that prioritizes conceptual humor over polished presentation.[73] Building on this foundation, Hsu released Lonley City in 2025 via Friend Editions, a 366-page softcover compiling iPhone photographs of urban isolation and quirky encounters, further evolving his lo-fi aesthetic to capture the melancholic absurdities of contemporary city life.[74] His early contributions to Vice magazine, where he regularly supplied ironic cell phone images for photo features starting in the early 2010s, laid the groundwork for these publications by honing his eye for cultural satire.[75]Recent works and style
In the 2020s, Jerry Hsu has maintained an active presence on Instagram under the handle @internetfamous, where he regularly shares digital photography capturing everyday absurdities and fleeting moments.[76] His posts from 2025 include images of urban scenes, such as street-level vignettes in Los Angeles and beyond, alongside personal snapshots featuring pets like kittens, emphasizing intimate, unpolished glimpses into daily life.[77] This ongoing digital output represents a shift toward more immediate, smartphone-based sharing, contrasting with his earlier film work while continuing to highlight the beauty in mundane chaos.[78] In 2025, Hsu participated in the group exhibition "Breathless in Glowing Air" at 10 14 gallery in London (August–September 2025), curated by Jesse Feinman, showcasing works from 62 photographers exploring intimate and emotional resonances.[79] Later that year, he contributed to the "One of One" group exhibition at ABRI MARS gallery in New York (September 5–October 25, 2025), featuring unique photographs, accompanied by a limited-edition companion zine designed by Aaron Stern, which he signed at the gallery on October 1, 2025.[80][81][82] In October 2025, Hsu delivered a talk titled "Beauty in the Margins" at AIGA Portland's Design Month event, where he discussed his approach to discovering artistic value in overlooked and peripheral moments.[83] The conversation focused on strategies for sustaining creative inspiration amid an overstimulated visual landscape, drawing from his experiences navigating urban environments to isolate subtle, often humorous details that others might ignore.[84] Hsu's photographic style in recent years has evolved to emphasize humorous, context-driven low-resolution images that blend a spectrum of emotions, from lighthearted irony to quiet melancholy, without relying on high-fidelity production.[78] This approach prioritizes situational narrative over technical perfection, using the inherent limitations of digital tools to avoid visual overload and foster deeper viewer engagement with the subject's inherent storytelling.[4] A May 2025 feature on Substack's "The Other Side of the Barrier" illuminated his inspirational process, describing how he drives to unfamiliar areas, parks, and wanders on foot to seek out amusing or peculiar scenarios that spark spontaneous captures.[78] This methodical yet intuitive exploration echoes thematic undercurrents from his prior book projects, such as finding poetry in the overlooked, but adapts them to the ephemerality of social media dissemination.[78]Business ventures
Founding Sci-Fi Fantasy
In 2017, Jerry Hsu founded Sci-Fi Fantasy shortly after departing from Chocolate Skateboards in November of that year, marking a shift toward independent creative control in his skateboarding endeavors.[40] The brand emerged as a personal art project rather than a conventional business venture, allowing Hsu to explore his interests without the constraints of traditional sponsorships.[1] Hsu envisioned Sci-Fi Fantasy as a modern rendering of his ideal skate brand, fusing sci-fi and fantasy themes with minimalist streetwear aesthetics influenced by his Silicon Valley upbringing and a passion for genres like Philip K. Dick's works and Star Wars.[4] This concept emphasized clean, corporate-parodying graphic design infused with humor and fantastical elements, setting it apart from mainstream skate companies by prioritizing rarity, limited drops, and subtle nostalgia over mass production.[4][85] The initial team assembly was modest, beginning with Hsu as the sole proprietor and creative director, collaborating closely with his wife on foundational elements like the logo and typography.[4] Hsu soon expanded the roster by recruiting like-minded professionals he admired for their unique styles, starting with Ryan Lay as the brand's first pro skater in the early years, followed by additions such as Arin Lester, Corey Glick, and others who embodied an underdog ethos.[85][1] Early products focused on apparel, starting with a small run of 24 hats produced for a modest $300 investment that Hsu gave away to friends and promoted via Instagram, leading to quick demand and subsequent sales that established the brand's direct-to-consumer model.[4] These items featured humorous, fantastical graphics that captured the sci-fi essence, such as quirky motifs blending retro-futurism with everyday absurdity; skateboard decks followed in subsequent releases, expanding the lineup while maintaining the brand's signature visual style.[4][85] By early 2018, multiple limited apparel drops had sold out within hours, underscoring Hsu's growing independence from external sponsors.[86]Brand development and products
Following its launch, Sci-Fi Fantasy experienced significant growth after 2018, expanding beyond initial skateboard decks into apparel and accessories such as hoodies, t-shirts, hats, and beanies that blended retro-futuristic aesthetics with skate culture.[87][88] In 2024, the brand further diversified by partnering with Spitfire Wheels to release urethane wheels, including models like the 'Sapphire' in 90D durometer for cruising and pro-specific designs under Hsu's name.[89] This expansion coincided with the development of a robust team roster, which by 2025 included riders such as Ryan Lay, Corey Glick, Arin Lester, Joa Fields (aka Gifted Hater), Akwasi Owusu, Max Garson, Zak Anders, and Gabbe Eliassen, alongside Hsu as the central figure.[85][90] The team's composition emphasized creative talent, enabling collaborative video parts and product graphics that maintained the brand's independent ethos.[91] In 2025, Sci-Fi Fantasy marked key milestones with targeted releases that underscored its commitment to innovative skate media and hardware. In June, the brand collaborated with Palace Skateboards on a Summer '25 capsule featuring apparel and skate products that blended both brands' aesthetics.[92] August saw the debut of a new board series featuring distinctive, non-traditional graphics, including the Jerry Hsu Prosthetic Memory Deck in 8.25-inch size, crafted from 7-ply maple by BBS Manufacturing and paired with Pepper grip tape.[93] This was complemented by the premiere of the brand's first full-length video, Endless Beauty, on August 22, which premiered at events in Los Angeles and Vancouver before wider release; the project starred the full team and included a prominent part from Hsu, edited by Matt King and directed by Luke Murphy and Angel Rodriguez.[43][94] Hsu's segment earned him the cover of Thrasher magazine's September 2025 issue, photographed by Kyle Seidler at locations like the Brooklyn Banks.[95] The brand's products have been distributed through a network of independent stockists worldwide, including skate shops like Garage Skateshop, Slam City Skates, Skatedeluxe, and Cardiff Skateboard Club, ensuring accessibility while preserving limited-drop exclusivity.[96][97] Collaborations, such as the 2024 Spitfire Wheels collection, highlighted Sci-Fi Fantasy's focus on non-conformist designs that reject mainstream trends in favor of minimalist, surreal, and forward-thinking visuals inspired by Hsu's photographic eye for the unconventional.[89][93] These elements, from leaking-eye motifs on apparel to prosthetic-themed boards, position the brand as a cultural outlier in skateboarding.[98] Hsu has discussed maintaining a balance between Sci-Fi Fantasy's operations and his photography career in 2025 interviews, noting how the brand's demands allow him to integrate visual storytelling without overshadowing his artistic pursuits.[99] This equilibrium supports ongoing releases while fostering Hsu's role as art director, where his photography subtly informs the brand's graphic nonconformity.[8]Awards and accolades
Jerry Hsu has received several awards and accolades throughout his skateboarding career.- In 2007, Hsu won the "Best Video Part" award at the Transworld Skateboarding Awards for his part in Enjoi's Bag of Suck.[5][100]
- He also received the Readers' Choice award at the 9th Annual Transworld Skateboarding Awards.[101]
- In 2008, Hsu was nominated for Transworld's Skate of the Year.[102]
- Hsu has appeared on the cover of Thrasher Magazine multiple times, including the December 2016 issue for a darkslide on a handrail, and the September 2025 issue for a darkslide at dusk featured in Sci-Fi Fantasy's Endless Beauty video.[103][7]
