Jay Haizlip
Encyclopedia
Jay "Alabamy" Haizlip, born in 1963 in Gadsden, Alabama, is a professional skateboarder. Considered one of the pioneering greats in the sport of skateboarding, Haizlip now serves as Senior Pastor of The Sanctuary of Huntington Beach, reaching out to today's youth.
Jay received a skateboard for Christmas at the age of 13. It quickly became apparent that the young Haizlip was a natural. He began to make ramps, skate ditches, and pools quickly gaining respect in the fledging industry. With a few contest wins under his belt he quickly became sponsored by companies like G&S, Alva Skates, Steve Olson Skates (AKA S.O.S), and Vision. Routinely appearing in magazines like Thrasher and Skateboarding (now known as Transworld), Jay was known for his aggressive pool skating.
Sporting contemporaries such as Tony Alva
and Steve Olson
, Jay recounts many instances of "guerilla" pool sessions, when a group of skaters would sneak into a backyard, drain and skate the pool.
While living in Newport Beach in the 80's, Jay's life turned to hard drugs and that began a twelve-year streak as a junkie, leaving Jay strung out and existing from one fix to the next. A desperate Jay soon ended up back in Alabama, contemplating suicide.
In 1990, Haizlip was born-again and soon answered the call to preach. He returned to the housing projects where in years past he had scored cocaine on so many occasions with a new agenda, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Since that time, Jay has traveled all across the United States and the rest of the world speaking in churches, doing school assemblies, and city wide alternative parties. Jay's stops have included Haiti, Jamaica, England, Indonesia, Malaysia and more.
In 2003, along with fellow skaterboarders, Christian Hosoi
, Brian Sumner
, Lance Mountain
and Richard Mulder, he started The Uprising, a skateboard ministry that reaches out to youth and the skating community through assemblies and large arena festivals.
In 2008 The Uprising was documented by Steelroots, a Christian Youth Television Network, and made into a reality television show. The first season had eight episodes following the ministry around California and England.
Season 2 began airing in fall 2009.
Jay is married to Christy Haizlip and has two sons and a daughter: Newt Godfree, Baylen Haizlip, and Paris Haizlip.
Jay continues skateboarding and being a part of the current youth scene, in addition to his role as senior pastor at The Sanctuary Church.
His current sponsors include: Hosoi Skates.
Jay received a skateboard for Christmas at the age of 13. It quickly became apparent that the young Haizlip was a natural. He began to make ramps, skate ditches, and pools quickly gaining respect in the fledging industry. With a few contest wins under his belt he quickly became sponsored by companies like G&S, Alva Skates, Steve Olson Skates (AKA S.O.S), and Vision. Routinely appearing in magazines like Thrasher and Skateboarding (now known as Transworld), Jay was known for his aggressive pool skating.
Sporting contemporaries such as Tony Alva
Tony Alva
Tony Alva , is one of the original Z-Boys and is considered to be one of the most influential skateboarders of all time. He was professional skateboarding's first world champion in history, a title he won in 1977.-Career:...
and Steve Olson
Steve Olson
Steve Olson is an actor who works for Blue Water Studios. He is best known for the voiceover as Stalker in G Gundam and Jamitov Hymem in Zeta Gundam. He also played Franklin Bidan, father of Kamille Bidan. He is currently a radio instructor at SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary, Alberta.-Anime roles:*...
, Jay recounts many instances of "guerilla" pool sessions, when a group of skaters would sneak into a backyard, drain and skate the pool.
While living in Newport Beach in the 80's, Jay's life turned to hard drugs and that began a twelve-year streak as a junkie, leaving Jay strung out and existing from one fix to the next. A desperate Jay soon ended up back in Alabama, contemplating suicide.
In 1990, Haizlip was born-again and soon answered the call to preach. He returned to the housing projects where in years past he had scored cocaine on so many occasions with a new agenda, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Since that time, Jay has traveled all across the United States and the rest of the world speaking in churches, doing school assemblies, and city wide alternative parties. Jay's stops have included Haiti, Jamaica, England, Indonesia, Malaysia and more.
In 2003, along with fellow skaterboarders, Christian Hosoi
Christian Hosoi
Christian Rosha Hosoi is an American professional skateboarder. He is also known by the nicknames "Christ" and "Holmes". Hosoi is married to a former night club dancer Jenn Lee and has four sons, James Hosoi, Rhythm Hosoi , Classic Hosoi and Endless Hosoi...
, Brian Sumner
Brian Sumner
Brian Sumner is a professional skateboarder for Reliance Skateboards, Truth Soul Armor Clothing, Airspeed skate shoes, Rocket Wheels, Independent Trucks, Ninja Bearings, Furnace skate shop, Project Hardware and Fender Guitars...
, Lance Mountain
Lance Mountain
Robert Lance Mountain was one of the more popular skateboarders throughout much of the 1980s, and one of the five most legendary members of the Bones Brigade, as featured in the 1987 classic The Search For Animal Chin .Mountain was born in Pasadena, California...
and Richard Mulder, he started The Uprising, a skateboard ministry that reaches out to youth and the skating community through assemblies and large arena festivals.
In 2008 The Uprising was documented by Steelroots, a Christian Youth Television Network, and made into a reality television show. The first season had eight episodes following the ministry around California and England.
Season 2 began airing in fall 2009.
Jay is married to Christy Haizlip and has two sons and a daughter: Newt Godfree, Baylen Haizlip, and Paris Haizlip.
Jay continues skateboarding and being a part of the current youth scene, in addition to his role as senior pastor at The Sanctuary Church.
His current sponsors include: Hosoi Skates.