Issue Date: 5/8/06
A Second Chance
By Jacob Karp
There are many differences between skateboarding and tennis.
One involves a racket, the other a board with four wheels.
Tennis players concentrate on hitting a small yellow ball over a waist high net. Skateboarders throw themselves off and over huge obstacles, hoping to land on their board and roll away.
One of the few similarities is that both require a great deal of skill and precision, as well as athleticism and dedication.
Josh Kasper possesses all of these characteristics.
Kasper, 29, has been a professional skateboarder for the past 11 years, and this spring he is also a member of the Comets' tennis team.
Although skateboarding always came first, Kasper said he has a passion for tennis.
Kasper said his skateboarding and tennis playing have always been intertwined.
Kasper began skating at age 8. When his parents divorced, Kasper used his skateboarding as a release.
"Skateboarding was like my outlet. That's all I did to get my aggression out, and my frustrations," Kasper said.
It wasn't until high school that Kasper began playing tennis. Kasper said he had friends who played tennis, and eventually he became interested and started playing with his friends.
When Kasper became a professional skateboarder in 1997, tennis took a back seat.
The skateboarding lifestyle took over, said Kasper. In the next six years Kasper produced numerous video parts and ads. Stints with companies like Blind, Osiris, and TSA took Kasper all over the world.
Despite his busy schedule, Kasper said that he still made time for tennis. When he had down time, he played with a friend who was also a skateboarder.
In 2003, the hard and fast lifestyle and pressure of skating began to wear on Kasper.
"There was so much stress and pressure of trying to be this person I was expected to be," Kasper said. "I would turn to alcohol to relax and lose my inhibitions so I could feel like myself."
Kasper said his performance began to suffer and he was dropped by his sponsors.
One involves a racket, the other a board with four wheels.
Tennis players concentrate on hitting a small yellow ball over a waist high net. Skateboarders throw themselves off and over huge obstacles, hoping to land on their board and roll away.
One of the few similarities is that both require a great deal of skill and precision, as well as athleticism and dedication.
Josh Kasper possesses all of these characteristics.
Kasper, 29, has been a professional skateboarder for the past 11 years, and this spring he is also a member of the Comets' tennis team.
Although skateboarding always came first, Kasper said he has a passion for tennis.
Kasper said his skateboarding and tennis playing have always been intertwined.
Kasper began skating at age 8. When his parents divorced, Kasper used his skateboarding as a release.
"Skateboarding was like my outlet. That's all I did to get my aggression out, and my frustrations," Kasper said.
It wasn't until high school that Kasper began playing tennis. Kasper said he had friends who played tennis, and eventually he became interested and started playing with his friends.
When Kasper became a professional skateboarder in 1997, tennis took a back seat.
The skateboarding lifestyle took over, said Kasper. In the next six years Kasper produced numerous video parts and ads. Stints with companies like Blind, Osiris, and TSA took Kasper all over the world.
Despite his busy schedule, Kasper said that he still made time for tennis. When he had down time, he played with a friend who was also a skateboarder.
In 2003, the hard and fast lifestyle and pressure of skating began to wear on Kasper.
"There was so much stress and pressure of trying to be this person I was expected to be," Kasper said. "I would turn to alcohol to relax and lose my inhibitions so I could feel like myself."
Kasper said his performance began to suffer and he was dropped by his sponsors.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Anonymous
posted 6/30/06 @ 8:40 AM PST
Have to say as a skateboarder it is great to hear about josh, i d been wondering what had happened to him. Its awesome he's gone back to college and has realised you dont have to just be one person you can do a lot at one time. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 7/05/06 @ 3:25 PM PST
since josh found jesus does that mean he will have the faith to kickflip backlip el toro.
props to doin what you want and not letting anyone else rule your life. (Continued…)
taiita's brother
posted 10/04/07 @ 9:24 PM PST
Maybe instead of finding faith, he should have headed down to the nearest library and found some books on the big bang or human evolution.
"Besides, they can't ollie 20 stairs like I can anyway. (Continued…)
Shay Scott
posted 1/11/08 @ 5:08 PM PST
Where is Josh Kasper these days?
Mark Sullivan
posted 4/27/08 @ 5:30 PM PST
im a skater. im 15. ill admit i new nothing about josh until i saw the video "the storm" by osiris.. i like to now think of my self as a mini josh kasper because like him i like to do big stairs and gaps. (Continued…)
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