YouTube skateboarder Joa Field, known by his influencer nickname Gifted Hater, has shattered conventional norms.
Breaking new ground, Gifted Hater is making history as the first-ever YouTube skateboarder to secure a legitimate sponsorship with a core skateboard brand Sci-Fi Fantasy, with the backing of pro skate icon Jerry Hsu.
Skateboarding has always been heavily influenced by the core skate scene, where authenticity and skill are highly regarded. However, in recent times, YouTube skateboarding has emerged as a parallel universe, with a burgeoning community of content creators sharing their skateboarding journeys online.
The YouTube sensation faced criticism and disdain from corporate skateboarding fans who deemed his channel a source of hatred.
Despite the skepticism, Gifted Hater's skills and passion for skateboarding caught the eye of Jerry Hsu, a professional skateboarder revered for his innovation and unique creativity in inventing the storm flip.
Hsu recognized the untapped potential in Gifted Hater's talent. Together, they embarked on a journey that would challenge the status quo and redefine the landscape of skateboarding sponsorships.
In a new interview with Monster Children, Gifted Hater admits that he was initially concerned when Hsu discovered his videos and might not receive products anymore. Hence, the Switch God skater still accepted him as the rider for the brand.
"I was kind of concerned that he might not want to send me stuff after seeing my videos. Gifted Hater said. "But I guess he was cool with it, so that was lucky."
"Then I met Jerry in person, and the boxes he would send me went from two boards to like five boards." He said. "Getting two boards is kind of a flowy type situation, but if you have five boards in the box, you’re in."
The YouTube sensation also said that he is working on a new part for Sci-Fi Fantasy. "With Sci-Fi, we’re working on something more fullish length." He explained. "I don't know, maybe 15 or 20 minutes. And with that coming out, I'm not going to be cool if I only have three clips in it."
He added. "So I need to knuckle down a little bit and get some of that shit popping. I've got some stuff in the bank and got plans to get more."