Most people know Tony Hawk as the face of skateboarding video games. However, his influence on the sport goes far deeper than just pixels. For instance, he landed the first-ever 900-degree spin on live television. Furthermore, he often goes unrecognized in public despite his massive fame. Consequently, his stories are both legendary and hilarious. Therefore, drop in and learn about the Birdman. You will definitely see skating differently.
Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk landed the 900 after ten failed attempts. Finally, he nailed the two-and-a-half revolution spin at the 1999 X Games.
He earned a nickname from his school counselor. Specifically, they called him “hyperactive” before he found an outlet in skateboarding.
Surprisingly, he became a professional skater at age fourteen. Thus, he bought his first house before he graduated high school.
His video game franchise is a billion-dollar juggernaut. In fact, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater changed the gaming industry forever.
He once skateboarded in the White House. Uniquely, he rode through the hallways during an event with President Obama.
He donated his first skateboard to the Smithsonian. Now, the National Museum of American History displays it proudly.
People constantly fail to recognize him in public. Consequently, he tweets hilarious stories about these awkward encounters frequently.
He voiced a character in The Simpsons. Specifically, he played himself in the episode “Barting Over” alongside Blink-182.
Tony Hawk started a charitable foundation. The Skatepark Project builds safe public skateparks for youth in low-income communities.
He acted as a stunt double for David Spade. In the movie Police Academy 4, he performed the skating scenes.
A fan once asked him to sign a urinal. Although it was strange, he autographed the bathroom fixture anyway.
He suffered a broken femur in 2022. However, he returned to skating incredibly fast after intense physical therapy.
He ate a pizza while skating a loop. Amazingly, he completed the full loop-the-loop while holding a slice.
His IQ is reportedly very high. In fact, tests showed he had an IQ of 144 as a child.
Finally, he invented over eighty tricks. For example, he created the Stalefish and the Madonna during his career.