Thrasher Magazine

Jayback from the September '83 cover

A true pillar of the Knoxville skateboarding scene has passed away. Jay Cabler was one of the reasons I started skateboarding. When I first started, I looked up to Jay and the rest of his crew so much. He was one of the founders of Knoxville's original hardcore skate shop, Sk8 Hut, which later changed its name to Pluto Sports Skateboards and is still open to this day. The vert ramp at Jay's house (The THC Ramp) was the first vert ramp I ever dropped in on..thanks to some gentle teasing from Jay and others. Years later, when I opened my indoor skatepark in Knoxville, Jay was the first to offer a hand in helping to build. In the ‘80s, he landed on the cover of Thrasher Magazine (center square). He was partially responsible for building Knoxville's first DIY skate spot on the grounds of an old restaurant on the World's Fair site called "The Unfair" and later moved it to "The Cage," an old tennis court. Jay was also a dedicated snowboarder who shredded Ober Gatlinburg on the regular.  Jay was very influential in raising funds and awareness for Knoxville's first public skatepark and worked tirelessly to keep the park well maintained through the years. He was one of the hosts of the skateboarding podcast Kickturn Party which I was honored to be a guest on a couple of years ago. Jay will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Rest, sir. ––Mike Hathcote

Kickturn Party

Jay Cabler just passed away and I want to extend my deepest condolences to his many friends across the skateboard community. He came up in a heavy Tennessee crew that included Ray Underhill (RIP), Brian ‘Batmite’ Beauchene, Lyle Donoho, Doug Walker and Britt Parrott who were collectively known as Team THC and whose exploits were chronicled in their skate zine Rolling Papers. Skating with Jay and everyone else who came out to the early Midwest backyard vert contests are some of my favorite memories. It was great to reconnect with him in recent years at Florida/Renegade Vert Series events and last fall’s Rage and Rose contest. Jay made the cover of Thrasher back in September 1983 doing his signature ‘Jayback.’ He will be missed. ––Bob Pribble

Jay immortalized in the center square, September 1983