Local skater goes pro

MOSES LAKE - When Josh Mohs was a young child he had aspirations of becoming a garbage man.

"The youngest memory of wanting to be something was a garbage man," he said. "Back in the day when they dumped it by hand."

Those aspirations have faded and new hopes and dreams have grown in their stead.

Mohs owns the Mosaik Board Shop in Moses Lake and recently became a professional skateboarder with his own sponsored skateboard.

His first board was released Sept. 10 by ATM Skateboards.

Skateboarding has been a mainstay in Mohs' life since he took up the sport when he was 11 years old.

"I started skating back in 1991," he said. "I was just going into junior high in Othello."

While Mohs was growing up, he saw high school kids skating and was in awe.

"I saw some older kids skateboarding and I was pretty amazed," he said. "It was something I thought I would like to get into."

Since Mohs first began skateboarding, he has remained dedicated to the sport he loves.

"I have been skating for 17 years," he said. "It takes commitment."

Mohs has traveled the country skating, but has always returned home to the Columbia Basin.

It is difficult for skateboarders to become professionals outside of California, Mohs said.

"Coming from the Northwest and finally going pro is an accomplishment," he said. "The industry is based out of Southern California. You want to document your skills. You want to take a collection of your tricks and send it out to sponsors. Being from the Northwest that may be the only way to get recognized."

Mohs started becoming noticed after performing well at tournaments a few years ago, he said.

"I went to the Sound and the Fury contest in 2001," he said. "I actually won that contest which helped out quite a bit. From there people kind of knew who I was. I sent out my videos and things started happening."

When Mohs became a professional he was shocked.

"It's kind of a dream come true," he said. "It was always something you wished you could do. I'm pretty modest. I thought if it happened, it happened."

While Mohs still runs his skateboard shop in Moses Lake, he said his life has changed since his board was released.

"Since I've gone pro it's been a little more hectic," he said. "I have been going out to Seattle every weekend for the past month. I've been trying to meet up with photographers and film."

Mohs' board was released Sept. 10 and features 1970s-style artwork.

"When I got the board and I saw it, (I knew) it doesn't get any more official than that," he said. "I was like a kid on Christmas morning. I was happy and excited all at the same time."

Growing up Mohs idolized skateboarders such as Jamie Thomas and Eric Koston.

"I was at a Make-A-Wish event last December in Houston," he said. "Jamie Thomas actually came up to me and talked to me. He was complimenting me on my skateboarding. That coming from him then was almost like getting a board now."

Mohs has three children and said all of them skateboard. Mohs' 11-year-old son has been skating for 9 years and Mohs said he teaches him to enjoy the sport.

"I tell him to skate as much as you can," he said. "Don't take it too serious at such a young age and have fun."