Ever since childhood Jay Adams has been addicted to the pull of gravity. Being crossbred by the lowriders, beatniks and surfers in Venice California, Jay began surfing so long ago that he can’t recall the first time. Skateboarding quickly followed and he soon became one of the leaders of the prestigious Z-boys.

Popularity and fame came early, but satisfaction was still a long ways off. According to fellow Z-boy Stacy Peralta, “He wasn’t the type of kid who could keep quiet; he wasn’t the type of kid who could keep still. He always had to have something going on.” Moving into the mid ‘70s, Adams became one of the first skaters to create what now seems like the natural link between punk rock and skateboarding.

When everyone else was cashing in on fame and going commercial, Jay moved on, to Hawaii, where he found respect for his surfing among the best surfers in the world, on Oahu’s North Shore. Just when it seemed that nothing could stop him, he got a taste of heroin.

Fueled by the anger of numerous deaths in the family, Jay ran fast and hard, breaking down every barrier as a surfer and a skater. These multiple tragedies also led him further into a growing addiction. “At the time of my mother and brother’s death, I wanted to shoot everyone; instead, I shot myself,” he said, making reference to his initial use of the needle to inject heroin.

When drug use finally became all-consuming, Adams fell into some basic junkie mistakes, landing in prison on several occasions for possession, sales and violence.

Arrested in November of 2005 on parole violation, Adams served several years in an Oregon prison. During the first months of his incarceration, Adams’ wife, Alisha gave birth to their daughter, appropriately named Venice. He also has a 13-year old son, Seven, by a previous relationship.

Currently serving time in an Orange County rehabilitation facility, Jay spends most days working at the Hurley Skatepark in Costa Mesa, California, and evenings working on his Christian faith and his sobriety. At this writing, he has been clean and sober for several years, crediting God with his victory over drugs and alcohol. “When I went to prison, I finally opened my Bible and began reading it. That’s made all the difference for me,” said Adams in a recent interview.

Stay tuned for more updates and this story's release in January of 2009

— Chris Ahrens

Check out our earlier interview with Jay Adams and Christian Hosoi