Keith Hufnagel

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Professional skateboarder Keith Hufnagel has died, aged 46, following a two-year battle with brain cancer.

He was the founder of the skate and streetwear brand HUF Worldwide and helped shape the East Coast skating scene in the 1990s. He was a streetwear visionary, opening his first HUF shop in 2002.

In an official statement on Instagram, HUF Worldwide said: “Keith was not only the ‘HUF’nagel in HUF, he was the heart and soul of this brand. He built and brought together a community of people like no one else could. “Keith paved the way for all of us — as a respected professional skateboarder, shop owner, brand founder, footwear and apparel designer, creative director, and industry leader. He showed us how to do it, and how to do it right. “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.

“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 love him for it.”