As we previously reported, OG professional skateboarder Micah Jan Mattson went missing after he was last seen in Victorville.
After a search for him, Micah was found, but sadly, he had passed away.
Zero Skateboards founder Jamie Thomas shared the news with a heartfelt tribute, remembering the friendship they formed after Thomas moved from San Diego to Encinitas in January 1997.
Thomas lived directly across the street from Micah, and the two quickly became close friends. They spent much of that year playing pool, skating together, and talking about their love of music.
Thomas also recalled filming Micah around Encinitas at spots he had dreamed of skating since he was a kid.
Micah eventually became part of Zero Skateboards, but a series of injuries and other difficult circumstances affected his ability to film for Misled Youth. He ended up appearing in only a few tricks throughout the video.
As the years went on, music became a bigger part of Micah’s life, and the friends eventually became less involved in each other’s daily lives. They continued to keep in touch, and Thomas said their friendship always felt natural whenever they crossed paths.
Thomas described Micah as a sweetheart and shared how grateful he was for the time they spent together.
“I’m grateful for every moment we shared, and he will be dearly missed. His friends and family are in our prayers.”
Zero Posted:
"In January 1997, I moved from San Diego to Encinitas, and the house I rented was directly across the street from @micahjan.
Even though we had just met, we hung out almost every day for the year I lived there—playing pool and sharing our love for skateboarding and music.
Micah was a sweetheart, and it was awesome to film him around Encinitas at spots he’d been skating and dreaming about since he was a kid. He got on ZERO, and shortly after faced a string of injuries and trials that kept him from filming for Misled Youth, leaving him with only a few tricks in the montages.
Eventually, music became his main focus and we grew apart, but we always kept in touch. Every time we saw each other, we picked up right where we left off.
I’m grateful for every moment we shared, and he will be dearly missed. His friends and family are in our prayers.
-JT"
Madness Skateboards head honcho Bill Weiss also paid tribute to Micah following his passing, remembering how quickly they connected when they first met through skateboarding.
Weiss recalled meeting Micah and immediately finding themselves laughing together. He also remembered taking a skate filming trip across the county with Kenny Hughes, Billy Pepper, and Richard Angelides. The group called themselves the Cajun Dogs.
“We were laughing the whole time. I feel so lucky to have had Micah join us on that adventure. I was such a fan of his creative, stylish and raw approach to skateboarding,” Weiss wrote.
He also remembered how every time they caught up, they would pick up right where they left off, with the same jokes and smiles.
“My heart goes out to his family and friends during this very difficult time. R.I.P. Micah Mattson.”
Weiss Posted:
"Rarely do you meet someone and instantly feel completely connected. Within minutes of first meeting Micah through skateboarding we were laughing about stupid shit immediately and it just went from there. We drove across the county for a skate filming trip with Kenny Hughes, Billy Pepper and Richard Angelides. Our crew for the trip was the Cajun Dogs.
We were laughing the whole time. I feel so lucky to have had Micah join us on that adventure. I was such a fan of his creative , stylish and raw approach to skateboarding.
Anytime we caught up it was right back to the last joke and all smiles.
My heart goes out to his family and friends during this very difficult time
R.I.P. Micah Mattson"
Micah’s passing has brought an outpouring of memories from people who knew him through skateboarding and beyond.
The ShreddER team sends our condolences to Micah’s family, friends, and loved ones. RIP!