Biography
Tony Hawk is one of skateboarding's greatest pioneers and has helped elevate the sport to a new level.
He took up skateboarding at nine and started entering competitions two years later. His bold and creative moves instantly stood out with his parents supporting his hobby. Later, they established the California Amateur Skateboard League and the National Skateboard Association to give the sport more legitimacy. At 14, he signed with the Powell Peralta professional team and gained fame for his performances in the popular Bones Brigade videos.
By the time he was 16, the Californian was considered one of the top skateboarders in the world. He excelled in "vert" (vertical) skating and dominated skateboarding competitions during the 1980s and 1990s. He was named the top vert skater for 12 successive years from 1984-96, winning 73 titles. Hawk also invented dozens of moves, including the ollie-to-Indy, the gymnast plant, the frontside 540-rodeo flip, and the Saran wrap. In 1999, he performed a 900 twist at the X Games, the first-ever in skateboarding.
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