Freddie began skateboarding at 14, on a plexiglass board made by his dad. Early spots included pipes in Anaheim and Flower Street. He honed his skills at Upland’s Pipeline and Concrete Wave, Big-O.
His early skate crew on Flower Street included John Ernst, Eddie Meek, Mark Bailey, and Kent Douglas. At Concrete Wave, he skated with Skip and Martin Disney, and Mike and Steve Hirsch. The “Big O” became his home park, where he sessioned with a long list of notable skaters including the Hirsch brothers, Jim Gray, Janice Behrmann, Neil Blender, and Duane Peters.
Working at the “Big O,” eventually becoming a manager, was a pivotal experience. He joined Variflex in late 1979, encouraged by Gil Losi and Steve Hirsch, after performing well in contests. Before Variflex, he rode Powerflex gear and received items from local shops and pro skaters.
Learning new tricks, skating with heroes, and touring the U.S. with Variflex in 1980 and 1981 were major motivators. His biggest stoke came from the lifelong friendships forged through skateboarding.
~J. Greenwood (source material – a great interview with Freddie Da Sota from Coping Block Magazine)
