Keith Hufnagel, a professional skateboarder and the founder of the skate and streetwear brand Huf, died Thursday due to brain cancer at the age of 46.
In a statement, the brand said the cause was brain cancer, which he had battled for more than two years.
In an Instagram post, Huf wrote about Hufnagel, “Though he beat the odds and fought back much longer than his diagnosis permitted, he ultimately and unfortunately lost the fight. He was the heart and soul of this brand. He built and brought together a community of people like no one else could.”
“Keith loved skateboarding and the culture around it. He did things his way and did them for the right reasons. He inspired so many of us across the globe,” it continued. “But above anything else, Keith loved and supported the people around him. He would do anything for his friends, family, and children. He passionately wanted to see others succeed. And we all loved him for it.”
Peers and fans commented on the post, expressing their condolences.
Benny Gold of the eponymous streetwear brand commented, “I love you”.
Rapper Lil House Phone wrote his condolences. Pro surfer Craig Anderson and Guillermo Andrade of L.A. streetwear store 424 outpoured their condolences. Rapper Guapdad 4000 simply wrote “Legend.”
Hufnagel is survived by his wife and two children.
Obey brand wrote, “Keith did so much for his friends, family, skateboarding and so many others that may have never been given a chance. A true inspiration for what our industry needs and for what the world needs. Rest In Peace.”
Magazine Transworld Skate wrote, “Keith was the embodiment of raw East Coast power. His pop, style, and speed influenced the 90s generation and beyond. His skate career had no end in sight. He was a global icon. As a veteran on Real and with his own brand HUF, he mentored some of the greatest skaters of our time. Keith, you will be a part of skateboarding forever.”
Hufnagel founded Huf in the early 2000s, after more than a decade of pro skating. The brand was his own skate shop and boutique. He opened it in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. He was one of the first professional skaters to launch his own brand. Most of his brand’s retail stores are now in Japan, L.A., New York, and Dallas.
