Skateboarding
Skateboarding
7 things you didn't know about skate legend Jamie Foy
A two-time Skater of the Year and world-renowned handrail hero with some the greatest video parts of the modern era to his name, Jamie Foy is true legend of the game. Get to know him better here.
It's fair to say that Jamie Foy has had a big year or so. Last seen tearing up South America on the Red Bull Drop In Tour and dropping no less than three incredible video parts – New Balance’s Intervals, Spitfire's Charred Remains and Honeymoon for Dickies – that helped the Florida native to being named Thrasher Magazine's Skater of the Year for the second time.
After becoming just the fourth person to win skateboarding's biggest accolade twice, Foy is back with his latest video edit, Aftermath, where he gets straight down to business on rails that would give mere mortals altitude sickness. Check it out below and then read on get to know him better.
01
Jamie Foy started skating aged one
Practice makes perfect really does apply to Jamie Foy because, unbelievably, he started skating at the tender age of one, when he saw a skateboard, immediately crawled onto it and pushed himself off. By the age of three, he was already able to Ollie and Kickflips were mastered by seven after a long period of trying to get it nailed. It's safe to say that Foy now has Kickflips and a whole lot more
Without two kinks, a Boardslide would almost be too easy for Foy
© Anthony Acosta/Red Bull Content Pool
02
He's a food fan
As Skater of the Year, Foy has reached the top of the food pyramid, so to speak. His 'Big Boy Foy' board graphic from sponsor Deathwish, which portrays him with a pile of food on a plate and is one of his favourite graphics, reflects this. His favourite meal? Steak with mashed potatoes and a warm brownie with ice cream for dessert.
03
His mum's a biker and his biggest fan
It's not unusual for mums to think that their children are the greatest, Jamie Foy's mum is also his biggest fan whose support is on another level. In the intro to his The Flat Earth' part, she comes riding up on her Harley, brings her son his board and then pulls him along so that he has enough speed for a trick. A biker mum who supports skateboarding in this way doesn't come along every day.
53 min
The Flat Earth
Ty Evans’s film delivers the gnarliest skateboarding from top rippers of 2017, including Jamie Foy and more.
I try to learn from my mistakes. If I've tried something and it hasn't worked, I change my approach until I get it right
04
He once nailed an infamous Cologne rail first try
When Foy visited Cologne, Germany, during the Red Bull Drop In Tour in 2022, he decided hadn't worked off enough energy during the day and wanted to explore the city while the rest of the team sat comfortably at dinner. By chance, he happened to pass the famous rail at Deutz railway station, which has painfully defeated several challengers. Foy had his board with him, so popped into a Frontside Feeble grind for a relatively relaxed first try that he nailed – just like the Frontside Crooked grind he got the first-time on the infamous El Toro rail with. It was classic Foy on his very own level.
05
He once flew to Germany just to ride a rail he saw on Instagram
Foy once spotted an incredible down-straight-up rail in the German city of Essen through a rollerblading account (where he searches for new rails because they ride bigger spots), which was ridden by a guy in soap shoes. So, last summer, when he was at a contest in Paris and had a few days off until he had to travel to the next contest, he used the time to fly to Germany and look for the rail. "I booked a flight, got a hire car and went to Germany alone for three days to look for the rail," he recalled.
I booked a flight, got a hire car and went to Germany alone for three days to look for the rail.
When he realised that he was going get the rail, Foy called in the filmers and photographer for the New Balance video Intervals and rode the Backside 50-50, that ended up on the cover of Thrasher and was the icing on the cake for his second SOTY title.
06
He rode his biggest rail dressed as Chad Muska
That rail in Essen is unique in skateboarding, but it's not the biggest rail Foy's ever skated - that honour went to a giant he rode at King of the Road 2017 whilst disguised as - and under the eyes of - rail legend Chad Muska. The rail in the picture below is still an massive 13 steps short of equalling that King of the Road rail, which tells you all you need to know about just how big it truly was.
Japanese spots are special - Foy with Feeble Grind around the bend
© Anthony Acosta/Red Bull Content Pool
07
A childhood slam made it onto MTV
Before Foy was living legend with a huge trick list, he first attracted attention with a slam. On Rob Dyrdek's mid-noughties MTV show Ridiculousness, he was seen as a kid trying to launch himself out of a kicker in the driveway and slamming badly on his back. This earned the then 14-year-old Foy $350. His skateboarding income has increased somewhat since then and despite the huge spots he skates, he's displayed incredible consistency has meant that he's been relatively spared from huge slams and allowed him to build up the incredible highlights reel he has.
