Jake Phelps

James Kendall "Jake" Phelps (September 24, 1962 – March 14, 2019) was an American skateboarder and magazine editor. Phelps led the magazine Thrasher as editor-in-chief for 27 years.

Early life James Kendall Phelps was born in San Francisco, California, to parents Kitty and Kendall Phelps, and lived there until the age of 11. After his parents split up, he lived with his mother in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Career Phelps moved back to San Francisco in the early 1980s. He began working for Thrasher while he worked at Concrete Jungle skate shop in the Haight district.

As Thrashers editor, Phelps selected the Skater of the Year (SOTY) beginning in 1993. Phelps's final selection, the 2018 SOTY, was Tyshawn Jones.

Personal life

Music Beginning in August 2005, Phelps played lead guitar in a band, Bad Shit, with Tony Trujillo and Trujillo's wife, Ashley "Trixie" Trujillo.

Death Phelps was found dead on March 14, 2019 (aged 56). His death was announced on a Thrasher Instagram post and he was cremated with his skateboard.