..By RON D’ORAZIO Special to AllAroundPhilly.com

Dozens of people — young and old — swarmed upon Margera and his friend, Chris "Raab Himself" Raab, outside Fairman’s skate shop in West Chester.

Margera, a professional skateboard star, was the main attraction for a X-Games kickoff party Aug. 3 inside and outside of Fairman’s.

This summer marks the second year that Philadelphia hosts the X-Games.

Margera, who just returned from the Tony Hawk Tour and doing voice-overs for a video game, and Raab signed autographs on posters, stickers and other skating paraphernalia in a Fairman’s tent outside the store.

Margera even broke some of his fans’ skateboards at their request and in front of a camera.

"Because whoever is filming gets the exchange of a broken board for playing in a video," Margera said. "If there is no camera, they just want me to do it."

Fellow "Jackass" member Rake Yohn and "Haggard" star Jenn Rivell were also on hand to greet the legions of fans who came out in the hot afternoon sun.

One skateboarding fan, 13-year-old Mike Gusman, was in the Philadelphia area on vacation and decided to stop by to see Margera and Co.

Gusman is a Highland, Indiana native. Originally, Gusman just wanted to check out the skate shop, but he said that he called Fairman’s and found out Margera was coming.

"I just wanted to come and meet him," Gusman said. 

Next to the Fairman’s was an X-Games tent and stand to host Y-100 radio station. Both tents handed out various shirts, stickers and posters.

But all eyes were on BAM and Raab.

The skateboard-riding actors have gained notoriety over the past two years with their MTV show "Jackass" and the CKY skating videos. Currently three CKY videos are featured- mostly in skate shops like Fairman’s.

A fourth one, "CKY: Latest and Greatest" is scheduled to hit stores by late summer or early fall. It will premiere at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia on Aug. 17.

Margera’s first feature-length film, "Haggard," will premiere at West Chester University’s Swope Hall on Aug. 19.

"We wanted to do a movie in film," Margera said. "All the other stuff was done by a digital camera. It (Haggard) was something different.

"I directed Haggard. It was $400,000 out of my pocket, but it was worth every penny."

According to Margera, 22, the movie is based on the trials and tribulations of his friend, skater Ryan Dunn.

And the popular half-hour "Jackass" is set to be released into theaters on Oct. 18. Margera joins Johnny Knoxville, Dunn and Brandon DiCamillo in a flick about the troublesome pranksters. Margera expects the movie to be a hit.

"I don’t want to put it (Haggard) out before "Jackass," said Margera of his marketing opportunities.

Raab, a 22-year-old West Chester native, is a recreational skater who attended West Chester East High School and CFS, the School at Church Farm.

A friend of Margera’s, Raab stars in the CKY videos and will be in the upcoming "Jackass" movie.

"I just got back from the screening of  ‘Jackass’ the movie," Raab said. "BAM just came over a picked me up. There’s a bunch of stuff at Fairman’s."

An estimated 650 people showed up to Fairman’s to see their skating heroes. The amount of people provided store owner Dave Fairman with a good deal of business.

Fairman has sponsored Margera for the past 14 years and wanted Margera to do him a favor by signing autographs.

"We are excited about X-Games," Fairman said. "They decided to identify themselves with us. We have sponsored ‘BAM’ since he was nine. It’s a great way to celebrate our 25th anniversary."

The summer is set up to be big for Fairman’s as it will sponsor the CKY video premiere and West Chester University’s opening of "Haggard."

During X-Games week in Philadelphia, skater Bob Burnquist is scheduled to make an appearance at Fairman’s.

"He (Margera) wants to have the local crowd and his X-Games friends see it before he sells it (to movie producers)," Fairman said.
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