LOVELETTERS TO SKATEBOARDING — Unleash the East – Part 1

For the latest Loveletters, Jeff Grosso and Vans have embarked on highlighting the Asian contribution to skateboarding. They start in the ‘70s and ‘80s by shining a spotlight on Christian Hosoi, Lester Kasai, Shogo Kubo and other legends of the era. There’s clearly a long legacy. One of the more interesting points occurs at the 9:03 mark when Lester breaks down the origin of the benihana.

“A benihana is a fakie ollie tail grab, take your back foot off. It’s a fakie thruster without putting your foot down.”

Kasai goes on to explain that the more common one is actually called a benibonga. Who would of knew that everyone has been calling that by the wrong name for decades.

TYS | Christian Hosoi