To say that Russ Howell possesses physical grace is a bit like saying you know that Nureyev, he sure could dance. With a powerful frame that may remind today’s sports fans of Rafa Nadal’s, Howell burned as hot, beautiful and balanced as the sun in iconic mid-70’s Southern California, riding a skateboard to national fame. What did he do? First place California State Skateboard Championships: 1975. First place US National Skateboard Championships: 1975. First place World Invitational Skateboarding Championships: 1976. He wrote three books on how to do it. He did commercials, made a few movies (one with Ruth Buzzy!). Johnny Carson had him on the show. And he had the mustache of mustaches. If a man embodied his time and place, and if a time and place ever found perfect representation in a single man, Russ Howell and So Cal in the 70s was that combination.
Howell long held the Guinness Book World Record for longest handstand on a skateboard. And still owns the imagination-defying record for most consecutive 360 degree spins on a board at 163. (Think about that for a second.) His website (get ready) is as busy and old school as he is, but not as strong. Still, he’s able to say there what he believes in most: Share Love in All Things and Live Well.
–bio subject suggested by Dan Gesmer