Arguably more infamous than famous, Jason “J2” Rasmus was perhaps the first rider to parlay his overall persona into a professional career that could aptly be described as legendary. Whether on the hill or off, what J2 – or “Tooz” as he was colloquially known by his peers – lacked in talent, he more than made up for in wit, commitment and charisma. When the early ’90s skate style movement made handy cams more important than score sheets, J2 complimented his bag of tricks with a street wise and casual image that provided a counterpoint to the day-glo spin to win establishment. Tooz also distinguished himself from the rest of the burgeoning Summit County new school movement by focusing on switch stance tricks which served as a harbinger of a pragmatism that would be a hallmark of his entire riding career.
As he transitioned away from the pro grind, Tooz emerged as somewhat of a renaissance player continuing to contribute to our sports culture as a photographer – which isn’t surprising since he was the grandson of esteemed American photojournalist W. Eugene Smith. All the while, Tooz held a place within snowboarding’s conscience as one of the few riders who could call it like he saw it without being caustic or having an agenda. Although he maintained a joie de vivre that was fueled by plenty of vices, J2 was always beloved by his family and friends.
Now the idyllic facade of snowboarding, a pastime rooted in escapism, takes on a darker hue as the imminent passing of Jason “J2” Rasmus has become a reality. Having spent several years fighting cancer, on May 26th, 2019 the battle was lost for Tooz as he passed away in Salt Lake City surrounded by family and friends laughing, joking and pontificating right to the end.
No comments:
Post a Comment