Christ Air to ROCKET

Christian Rosha Hosoi (born October 5, 1967) is an American professional skateboarder. He is also known by the nicknames "Christ" and "Holmes".Hosoi, was the most popular skateboarder for the better part of the 1980s. Hosoi is married to Jennifer Lee and has three sons, Rhythm Hosoi (from a previous relationship),Classic Hosoi and Endless Hosoi. He is currently living in Huntington Beach, California.

Hosoi started skating at five years old with veterans such as Shogo Kubo, Tony Alva, Stacy Peralta, and Jay Adams as his idols. His father, Ivan "Pops" Hosoi became the manager of the Marina Del Ray Skatepark, and Christian quit school and spent his time there where he quickly developed his emerging talent. In 1979, as an amateur, Hosoi was sponsored by Powell Peralta. He left Powell Peralta a year later when they wouldn't allow him to turn professional and joined Dogtown Skateboards. After Dogtown went out of business shortly thereafter, he turned pro at the age of 14 with Sims Skateboards.

Christian Hosoi emerged as one of the top competitors of vertical riding alongside such pros as Steve Caballero, Mike McGill, Lester Kasai, and Mark "Gator" Rogowski with an eventual rivalry developing with Tony Hawk with contrasting styles in both skateboarding and lifestyles—Hosoi, known for his flair and graceful style, and Hawk raising the bar with his technical ability and difficult tricks. Hosoi invented the Christ Air and Rocket Air, and was renowned for pulling huge aerials; at one point he was the world record holder. Vertical skateboarding grew in spectator popularity with prize money to match. This, combined with major endorsements with Converse, Swatch, and Jimmy'Z, as well as receiving a pro model wheel, the OJ II Hosoi Rocket through Santa Cruz Speed Wheels, earning Hosoi more money than he'd ever dreamed of. In 1984 he formed his own company, Hosoi Skates, first distributed through Skull Skates, then through NHS-INC. The board proved to be so popular that it was counterfeited. When street skating began to emerge in the mid-to-late 80s, Hosoi proved a threat as well, winning both the vert and street contests at the Lotte Cup contest in Japan in 1989


 Placed in top 5 in 1980 Van's/Offshore Amateur State Finals (California) in boys 11-13 division


1st in 1985 NSA Summer Series #5 (Vancouver, BC): pro vert

1st in 1985 NSA

2nd in 1986 Expo 86 (Vancouver, BC): vert

1st in 1987 Thrasher Savannah Slamma I, street

1st in 1988 Vision Skate Escape: vert

2nd in 1988 Ohio Skateout: street

1st in 1988 Ramp Riot Bells beach(Australia): vert

1st in 1988 Titus World Cup (Germany): vert

2nd in 1988 Titus World Cup (Germany): street

2nd in 1988 Vision Bluegrass Aggression Session: vert

1st in 1989 NSA Savannah Slamma III: Arena Street Style

2nd in 1989 NSA Gotcha Grind: vert

1st in 1989 Japan Slam Jam (Japan): vert

3rd in 1990 Disco in Frisco: street

3rd in 1990 NSA All Pro Mini Ramp Jam Hawaiian Style: mini ramp

1st in 2008 the 10th Annual Tim Brauch Memorial Contest Grandmasters Event

1st in 2008 Etnies GVR Skull Bowl - Masters (Lake Forest, CA)

Overall Best ‘80s in 2008 The “All ‘80s All Day Vert Challenge”

the 1st annual Team event at the 2009 Ultimate Boarder.

2nd in 2009 Pro-tec Pool Party-Master's division

TransWorld Legend Award 11th 2009

1st in 2009 the X Games 15 Skateboard Park Legends contest

2nd in 2009 the 11th Annual Tim Brauch Memorial Contest Grandmasters Event