Keith Hufnagel Remembered
2/25/2021
Keith Hufnagel’s influence almost can’t be overstated. In his short-but-momentous life, he conquered both coasts, became an icon of the streets and opened shops on multiple continents with his eponymous HUF brand. Three letters, all caps, the name itself blends simplicity and power in a way that perfectly mirrors the way he lived. Read from his closest friends to fully appreciate Keith's everlasting impact—as seen in our January, 2021 mag.
Left: Varial flip at the Brooklyn Banks for every skater on the East Coast Photo: Wallacavage
RIght: Twin Towers X Raw Power Photo: Yelland
One time Keith and I were skating the Brooklyn Banks in early 1990. We were going to go there and then head to Midtown to meet up with a bunch of other people. Right before we were supposed to leave I snapped my board in half. I was so bummed that I‘d have to head back to Brooklyn instead of skating with all of our friends. But Keith told me straight up, “Hey, don’t sweat it. Let’s go to Benji’s. I’ll buy you a new board and we will hook up with everyone.” That small gesture of kindness and generosity showed his true character and what a great friend he was since day one. For me, that was the one true gift above the pop, speed and style that I will always remember—his generosity. Whether it be a place to crash, a few bucks for a meal, product hook ups, an edit of your footage, a sponsor introduction, or a job at his company or store, he was always there for you. That generosity is what made him an amazing human being, a great dad and somebody I was fortunate enough to call a friend for the past 30-plus years. It is the thing that he, and all of us, learned from being part of the NYC skate community in the late ’80s and early ’90s—that even though we aren’t blood related, we choose to be each other’s keeper. At the end of the day, that’s what made him a true New York skater in my eyes. Keith, I love and miss you. If it wasn’t for your generosity, friendship and bad jokes, most of us wouldn’t be where we are today. Love you, brother. I’m going to miss all the texts and laughs.