“This is an inspirational story for anyone chasing their dreams. Daniel shows that there is rarely a straight line to success, but the journey makes it all worthwhile if you’re willing to put in the work.”
Tony Hawk
For the Love of Skateboarding is a journey through the history of skateboarding and Daniel Mansson’s dream of one day becoming a skateboard photographer and making it in Los Angeles.
Upon his arrival in Hollywood, hungry to leave a mark, a list of the greatest is scribbled down: Tony Hawk, Tony Alva, Tom Penny… The list keeps growing. Was it possible? Could they be found? Could the wild idea, a dream, become reality? A one-of-a-kind photo book with portraits of the best?
“Some will give up, others push through. Sometimes pain shows us our limits, other times, it teaches us how to make something great. This book is a journey into the core of skateboarding.”
Lance Mountain
“A beautiful reminder of the life-changing events one can experience when they chase their dreams.”
Ray Barbee
“California, Los Angeles and the history of skateboarding seen through the vibrant eyes of a young photographer.”
J. Grant Brittain
“An epic journey through the eyes of a skateboarder.”
Steve Caballero
“A story about skateboarding and how it can prepare you for anything if you’re willing to fight for it.”
Donny Barley
“One man’s love for skateboarding.”
Steve Olson
Daniel's efforts have culminated in a super cool book of portraits showing some of the most recognizable faces in skateboarding. Check it out. -Mark Whiteley, Slap Magazine 2007
Faces of Skateboarding 2005
Reprint 2026
The first skater I met was Chris Cahill, one of the original Z-Boys. I’d been surfing at Venice Beach and he asked me about the waves. I said, “I don’t know about the waves; I’m from Sweden.” Then he asked what I was doing in California. I told him and he hooked me up with one of his buddies, Skip Engblom.
That initial encounter eventually led to the book Faces of skateboarding. It opened up an opportunity to witness a Dave Hackett pool session where not one turn was wasted. It unlocked the door to Jim Greco’s Hollywood apartment, where the style was truly his, head to toe.
It opened up the most beautiful opportunity of all for me: to portray the performers, the personalities of skateboarding. The artists.
Daniel Mansson is an award-winning photographer whose work exists in a world where the poetic, cinematic, and existential blend. His photo book, Faces of Skateboarding (2005), was distributed by Tony Hawk’s distribution company, Blitz, and featured in media outlets worldwide. The book launched his career as a storyteller in the world of photography, leading him to become a longtime contributor to the Economist Magazine “1843” and to work with magazines such as Vanity Fair and The New York Times Style magazine. Daniel has been awarded multiple working grants from the Swedish Authors’ Fund.