Micah Mattson was a man of many talents. Photo: Facebook
Micah Mattson has passed away. The San Diego native was a skating icon, but his influence spread to surfing, music and beyond. He was 47 years old.
Mattson’s death was announced on Monday, August 31, but details as to the cause have yet to be confirmed. He was reported missing days earlier, after last being seen in the Mojave Narrows Regional Park on Friday, August 21. Jackass star Chris Pontius was among those to sound the alarm on social media. “My good friend, Micah Mattson has been reported missing,” he wrote. “If anyone out there has information on his whereabouts, please call the number on this post. Anything to help bring him home to his family and kids.”
In the ’90s, Mattson rode for Zero Skateboards, and he made his mark appearing in videos and magazines during a pivotal era for the sport. “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,” wrote Zero founder Jamie Thomas. “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.”
However, his talents extended far further, including surfing and music. He was also once a guitarist for the Encinitas indie rock band Kut U Up (which also features WSL commentator Chris Cote among its members). “He was a dad and a fun guy who liked to camp and travel and listen to Ween while playing guitar by the fire,” wrote Kut U Up drummer Brendan Raasch in an Instagram tribute. “You will only get so many stories to tell, and a large percentage of my favorites will forever have Micah in them.”
