Mark Gonzales and Fucking Awesome celebrate guest board in Hollywood
by Matthew Becerra
Image of Gonz deck hung up at the FA store taken by Matthew Becerra
In a moment that felt perfectly unexpected, Fucking Awesome and Mark Gonzales came together for a guest board collaboration that sparked a wave of nostalgia and admiration.
On the night of May 2, FA’s Hollywood store was packed. A line wrapped down the block as people pulled up with decks, old mags, canvases, shirts—whatever they had for Gonz to mark up. It wasn’t just a signing, it felt like a meetup for every generation of skaters who’ve ever been hyped on Gonz.
There’s no need to explain who Gonz is. His impact on skateboarding is immeasurable — from pioneering street skating to blending art into everything he touches. Dill, the founder of Fucking Awesome, was just a kid he saw Gonz in skate mags and posters. “You quickly became the beacon for what I regarded as great skateboarding,” Dill told Gonz during a recent conversation. “I hate the word favorite, but youv’e always been my favorite skateboarder.”
That respect — that deep sense of influence, is why this collab felt so authentic. While both skaters are tied to Supreme and Adidas, they’ve always walked their own paths meeting up at points in their lives.
The board itself is classic FA: their iconic “class photo” layout, but this time with a teenage Gonz — around 16 years old — staring out from the middle. More than just a graphic, the board was pressed on a one-of-one shape designed by Gonz himself, giving it the feel of a collectible art piece rather than a mass-produced item.
The drop brought attention back to FA at a time when opinions on the brand have been mixed. For some, it’s a reminder of why the brand matters, its ability to tap into skateboarding’s weird, raw, and core.
The event kicked off at 7 p.m., with a buzzing crowd forming earlier. Inside and out, the store pulsed with excitement. Jason Dill, AVE and Gonz spent time talking with the crowd as well as each other. Gonz didn’t just sign decks — he added hand-drawn doodles, characters, and took pictures with fans.
“I was just as surprised as everyone when it came out,” Andrew Allen, pro skater for Hockey said “Mark Gonzales is one of the most influential skaters of all time, and for him to have a guest board with Fucking Awesome and obviously him and Dill being friends — so it makes sense, its a cool thing.
“I drove from a city away and sat in traffic just to be here. I couldn’t miss this—you never know when something like this is gonna happen again” Attendee J Vis Said “This isn’t just some signing. It’s Gonz. If you know, you know.”
In a world where skateboarding collabs often feel like cash grabs, this one stood out. It wasn’t forced. It was rooted in friendship, legacy, and love for the culture. Gonz, ever the artist, used the event to give a piece of himself to every skater in line — not just with his signature, but with his presence.
