Tony Hawk

Skateboarder

• Born: May 12, 1968
• Place of Birth: San Diego, California

SPORT: Skateboarding

Early Life

Anthony “Tony” Frank Hawk was born in 1968 in San Diego, California, to Frank and Nancy Hawk. His parents were both more than forty years old when he was born and had three other children who were significantly older than Tony. At the time of Tony’s birth, his two sisters, Lenore and Patricia, had already graduated from high school, and his brother, Steve, was a teenager. As a young child, Tony was extremely intelligent but not accomplished at any sport. He became frustrated by athletics, though he desired to compete.

After trying many different sports, Tony was given a blue fiberglass banana skateboard by his brother. Although he was not a great skateboarder when he first started, he was determined to learn to make his brother proud. Tony’s father also wanted him to succeed and supported him by building several half-pipes in the family’s backyard. Tony had his own ramps and half-pipes to practice on every day. As Tony outgrew his backyard ramps, he spent time at the local skate parks. He said later that the local skate parks were wonderful places to work on his skills and think about life. Tony spent most of his time after school, weekends, and summers practicing his technique and developing new tricks on his skateboards.

The Road to Excellence

At the age of twelve, Tony earned competitive sponsorship from Dogtown Skateboards. At the age of fourteen, he became a professional skateboarder. In his early years of competition, he invented some aerial skateboard tricks, including “airwalk”; “stale fish”; “gymnast plant”; “540,” in which the rider spins 540 degrees while in the air; “frontside blunt”; “720,” in which the rider spins 720 degrees while in the air; and many others. Later in his life, he accomplished the “900.” The airwalk is a grab trick in which the skater holds the front end of the skateboard while in the air and walks a step or two. Tony won many competitions early in his career. From 1982 to 1986, he won first place in competitions from California to Vancouver, British Columbia. By the age of sixteen, he was one of the best skateboarders in the world. He was doing so well in competition and earning so many endorsements that he was able to buy his own house at the age of seventeen.

The Emerging Champion

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, competitive skateboarding became less popular than it had been previously. Therefore, in 1992, Tony started a skateboard company called Birdhouse, which sold skateboards and accessories. By 1995, Tony started competing again and won numerous gold and silver medals at the X Games from 1995 through 2003. In 1998, he started a children’s skate-clothing company called Hawk Clothing. In 1999, he created the video game Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, which became a best seller. Also in 1999, he won best trick at the X Games. From 2000 to 2003, he won four gold medals in doubles and best-tricks categories at the X Games. During his career as a skateboarder, he competed in 103 competitions, winning 73 and placing second in 19.

Continuing the Story

Tony retired from skateboarding competitions at the age of thirty-one after he performed the 900 at the 1999 X Games. The 900 consists of two and one-half, 900 degree, midair spins. Tony did not stop skating, he only stopped competing. In 2002, he started the “Boom Boom HuckJam” a tour that highlighted the best skateboarders, BMX riders, and motocross riders. Later, “Boom Boom HuckJam” became a ride at Six Flags amusement parks. Also in 2002, Tony created the Tony Hawk Foundation to assist low-income communities in the development of skate parks. In 2020, the foundation was renamed The Skatepark Project. The foundation has given away $13 million to communities to build nearly 700 new skate parks. Among his numerous business ventures are the RIDE Channel, a popular YouTube channel, the autobiography Hawk: Occupation: Skateboarder (2000) by Sean Mortimer, and the documentary Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off (2022). He briefly came out of retirement for the 2021 X Games Vert Best Trick event, where he placed fourth.

Summary

Tony Hawk is married with three sons and a daughter. His boys all showed interest in skateboarding. Tony was fortunate enough to be at the forefront of an emerging sport. He put all his effort into learning the sport and developing new tricks for others to try. He proved himself through two decades of competition, and he inspired the generation of skateboarders who came after him. His love for skateboarding was exemplified through his public appearances, product endorsements, and commitment to the community. Although Tony stopped competing, his life continued to revolve around skateboarding.

Bibliography

"About." The Skatepark Project, skatepark.org/about. Accessed 20 June 2024.

Blomquist, Christopher. Skateboarding in the X Games. PowerKids, 2003.

Braun, Eric. Tony Hawk. Lerner Sports, 2004.

Davis, James. Skateboarding Is Not a Crime: Fifty Years of Street Culture. Firefly, 2004.

Gordon, Betsy, and Jane Rogers. Four Wheels and a Board: The Smithsonian History of Skateboarding. Smithsonian Books, 2022.

Hawk, Tony, and Pat Hawk. How Did I Get Here? The Ascent of an Unlikely CEO. Wiley, 2010.

Hawk, Tony, and Sean Mortimer. Hawk: Occupation, Skateboarder. ReganBooks, 2000.

Roberts, Michael. “The Birdman Versus the Flying Tomato.” Outside 32.2 (2007): 54–59.

Rose, Rachel. Tony Hawk: Skateboarding Legend. Bearport Publishing Company, 2022.