I'm going to tell a story with this post so if your attention span allows, prepare to read and scroll a little bit more than you are accustomed to.
I am not exactly sure which session it was that I actually met Mark for the first time. To try to spark a memory I went back through some old Southskate.com clips and found this gem... (I wish the quality was better) :-(
This clip has a fun vibe and I remember this day clearly. We heard that some APK kids decided to hold their own DIY game of skate contest at Piedmont Middle School in Apopka, Florida so Randy and I came to film it. Every one pitched in some cash, and in the end it was Nick Bush who won the purse, just in time for Apopka's finest to show up and rain on our flip trick parade.
The skate scene in Orlando and Central Florida was special back in these days... I don't want to sound too much like an old timer, but honestly if you ask some of the kids (now adults) that were around in these days they will likely tell you the same. There were DIY events like this going down, there were full length videos coming out every few months, tons of kids had cameras and editing software was available and easy to use, all the shops had stacked teams, parks were open for business and holding regular events and KIDS WERE RIPPING!!!
Mark Stevens was one of the rippers for sure. But Mark was different from the others.
It's no secret that skateboard scenes, especially the best and most thriving ones, tend to be somewhat "cliquey". Our excellent Central Florida scene in the mid 00's was no different. I mean, you have a sub-cult consisting of mostly adolescent males so it is not surprising... am I right?
Mark was above the vibes and the cliques. It just wasn't possible for him to think that way or to treat anyone any way but warm and friendly. He was everyone's friend so everyone could say they had a good friend who ripped the spot or the park or anything. He just wanted everyone to have fun and skate and he always tried to do amazing things on his skateboard. Every time he stepped on it.
His heart was bigger than his tre flip and his smile was more powerful than his pop. He left an impression on my life that will never leave me. And I know for a fact that MANY people can say the same thing.
Thanks for making us all better skaters and people, Mark. Your legend will never die.
We love you.
Shout out to Jesse Owens and Just Chill Lifestyle for this edit of the 2018 #SkateforMark Memorial Contest. I truly hope this event lives on and the skate scene continues to benefit from Mark's love and life impact. On this day, we all #SkateforMark
