Kurtis Colamonico, a former professional skateboarder known for influencing a new generation of skaters in Long Beach through his business Skate Kids, died Sunday, his family announced. The cause of his death was not immediately revealed. He was 38.<\/p>\n
“It’s tough obviously,” Kurtis’ father, Tim Colamonico said in an interview with the Post. “It’s really tough … but we’ll get through it, we’re a strong family.”<\/p>\n
Kurtis was born on Aug. 11, 1984, at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His father says that by the time Kurtis was a toddler, he was already exhibiting signs that he was meant for greatness.<\/p>\n
“He was a go-getter right off the bat,” Tim said. “He was doing wheelies on a tricycle at 3 years old and surfing.”<\/p>\n
But skateboarding was his escape, his father said. Kurtis grew up shredding some of the Long Beach and Orange County skate parks<\/a> as a kid\u00a0before his big breakthrough in the 2000s allowed him to travel the world with his friends making demos and competing in contests doing what he loved.<\/p>\n