Portraits: Chris Russell Balances Chaos, Discipline, and Skateboarding

Originally posted on TransWorld SKATEboarding
By Brian Blakely | Last updated Sep 25, 2025 3:22 PM ET

Chris Russell has always been a force to be reckoned with. Chaos. Discipline. These words only scratch the surface when trying to sum the dude up.

Born and raised in Hermosa Beach and now holding it down in Ocean Beach, San Diego, Chris has been surrounded by surfing and skating since day one—and it shows. Hitting the road to rip and skate contests started as a family mission when he was young, but by his teenage years The Muscle was rolling solo. And we hear about all this and a whole lot more in the latest episode of Portraits. Dive in:

These days, Chris has been carving a new lane for himself, like many pro skateboarders have. Over the last five years, he’s been committed to jiujitsu, diving into discipline and learning how strength and conditioning play into a skater’s longevity.

“Skateboarding is chaotic, and it’s the best thing,” he mentions, “but I think within that—and as you get older—you want to feel a little bit more grounded and secure. The beauty about jiujitsu is that the better I am in here, the better I am on my board.” So rad.

I've always been a fan of Chris, but this video really made that admiration grow. He's in the zone right now, that's for sure. And it's super inspiring. One of SD's finest! Peep the episode, hit the streets and kick the bag! Whatever it takes.

This article first appeared on TransWorld Skateboarding and was syndicated with permission.

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