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Fans are not sure if he is more gymnast, acrobat or magician. The only thing certain about Tony Hawk is that he is skateboarding’s primary icon. His physical skill and dazzling artistry have left fans in slack-jawed awe ever since he turned pro at age 14. Tony’s talents have brought a level of attention to and respect for skateboarding which, in turn, has helped to legitimize all action sports. 
Ever since his older brother Steve had given him his first Bahne fiberglass model some years before, Tony wanted to skate. Two years later, to the surprise of his father Frank, the local Little League president, Tony quit baseball at age 11 to pursue his true love. The decision proved to be fortuitous. Skateboarding eventually evolved from a favorite pastime of rebellious, tattooed teenagers to a respected action sport requiring talent, self-discipline and intense training. Today, top skaters earn six-figure incomes.
By placing 1st or 2nd at nearly every event in his career, and by inventing more than 80 tricks, Tony has earned fiercely loyal fans here as well as Europe, Australia, Japan and the world over. At 33, Tony is best known for his “900” (a mid-air 360-degree somersault done two-and-a-half times.) which existed only in theory until Tony landed it live at the Summer ’99 X-Games and then again at MTV’s Sports & Music Festival. In 2000, Tony wrote a best-selling book, “HAWK: Occupation Skateboarder” and was awarded the ESPY for Best Alternative Athlete. His idea for Tony Hawk’s Gigantic Skatepark Tour took skaters and BMX bikers to skateparks across the United States. These events quickly became the highest rated show on ESPN2. In 2001, Tony received the first ever ESPN Action Sports Achievement Award for his unparalleled achievements in skateboarding. His best-selling Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game won three Blockbuster Awards for Favorite PlayStation, Dreamcast and GameBoy Games. And, the Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards awarded Tony Best Male Athlete and Best Video Game. Tony has appeared in commercials and campaigns for such mainstream corporations as Got Milk?, GAP, Mountain Dew, Coca-Cola, AT&T and Gatorade. When not skating for thousands of screaming fans, Tony resides in California with his wife Erin and two sons, Riley and Spencer. Back to story |