Skateboarding requires lots of skill and takes many lots of practice to be able to ride with the best of them. However, one guy who is a huge inspiration to all skateboarders is Coco Atama, who taught himself how to skateboard simply by playing computer games.
The 22-year-old lost his vision at just ten months old after being diagnosed with Leber’s Congenital Amauros, which is a rare eye disease that has eventually led to his blindness, the Daily Mail reported.
However, that has not stopped the Californian from pursuing his favourite hobbies, and by the time he was seven, he had his own skateboard and was determined to use it.
Speaking with the news provider, Coco said: “When I got my first skateboard, skating would become like therapy and my own escape from the world.”
Bullied at school by other kids, he turned to skateboarding as a release, adding: “No matter how bad school was, I used to just skate around the sidewalk outside my house or at the park and life would be okay again.”
For the last 15 years, Coco has taught himself how to skateboard by playing the video game Tony Hawk Pro-Skater. His senses of touch and hearing have become essential in helping to develop his tricks, and he is now a sponsored skateboarder.
He is one of the most popular skaters in his area of Burbank, and shows off his skills by posting video clips on his Instagram profile @BlindThrasher.
If you have been inspired by Coco’s story and want to head out on your board today, make sure you look the part by getting your hands on a skate wear hoodie here.
