About Tony Hawk - Pro Skateboarder Profile, Biography and History

September 4, 2023

Tony Hawk runs his own skateboard brand, Birdhouse, and lives in California. On May 12, 1968, he was born in San Diego, California, and he quickly became a leader in the development of vertical skateboarding. In 1999, he pulled the world's first documented "900" trick to ever be completed on a skateboard.

Tony shot to fame as a professional skateboarder thanks to his skills in the vertical skating genre. From 1984 until 1996, he was undisputedly the best vert skater in the world, winning 73 titles along the way. In addition to the 900 he landed in the 1999 X Games, he invented around 100 other vertical ramp tricks.

Tony Hawk Landing the First Ever 900 at the World of X Games in San Francisco back on June 27, 1999

"Bones Brigade."

Skateboarding legend Stacy Peralta created multiple skate videos using his 1980s squad - with the aid of newly available VHS video cameras that made the production cost a lot less expensive than traditional film. The Bones Brigade. Along with Steve Caballero, Tommy Guerrero, Lance Mountain, and Mike McGill, Tony Hawk was a member of the Bones Brigade. They revolutionised skating with their unique techniques, tricks, and personalities.

Powell Peralta: Bones Brigade Video Show Skateboard Video

Powell Peralta: Future Primitive Skateboard Video

The Search for Animal Chin (1987) was one of their most famous skate videos. The Bones Brigade star in The Search for Animal Chin, a skateboarding movie from 1987. It'sgroundbreaking because it's one of the first skate films to really have a story, rather than just being a compilation of tricks and music videos. The video chronicles the efforts of the Bones Brigade to track down the lost pioneer of skateboarding, Won Tonne Animal Chin. Along the way, they visit unfamiliar locations, make new friends, and skate new areas. This movie has become a classic among skateboard fans and an important historical document for the sport. It also includes the gigantic wooden "Animal Chin Ramp" that was constructed for the film and afterwards demolished.

Powell Peralta: The Search for Animal Chin Skateboard Video

Powell Peralta: Public Domain Skateboard Video

Powell Peralta: Axe Rated Skateboard Video

Powell Peralta: Ban This Skateboard Video

Powell Peralta: Propaganda Skateboard Video

Birdhouse Skateboards

Tony Hawk co-founded the skateboard brand Birdhouse Skateboards with fellow professional skater Per Welinder in 1992. Skateboards, wheels, clothes, and accessories are all made by Birdhouse Skateboards for skaters of all skill levels. Tony Hawk, Aaron "Jaws" Homoki, Lizzie Armanto, David Loy, Clint Walker, and others are among the professional and amateur skaters who make up the company's squad. Popular among Birdhouse Skateboards' fans are the video series that feature the brand's riders, such as The End (1998), The Beginning (2007), and Saturdays (2017).

Birdhouse: Feasters Skateboard Video

Birdhouse: 'Untitled' Skateboard Video

Birdhouse: Ravers Skateboard Video

Birdhouse: The End Skateboard Video

Birdhouse: The Beginning Skateboard Video

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Video Game

The Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game series is full endorsed by Tony. The games are released by Activision. From 1999 to 2007, the series was mostly produced by Neversoft, and then from 2008 to 2015, the series was created by Robomodo. Skateboarding stunts can be performed in a wide variety of settings thanks to the series' many game modes, levels, characters, and tricks. There is a consensus that this series is among the most important and successful of its kind.

The series consists of the following main titles:

1999's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
2000's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
2001's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
2002's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
2003's Tony Hawk's Underground
2004's Tony Hawk's Underground 2
American Wasteland by Tony Hawk came out in 2005.
Tony Hawk’s Project 8 (2006)
2007's Tony Hawk's Proving Ground
Tony Hawk: Ride came out in 2009.
2010's Tony Hawk: Shred
2012's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD
2015's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 (2020)

Tony Hawk and his appearance in Movies

Tony Hawk has appeared in a number of films, both as himself and as a skater double for other actors. His filmography includes such movies as:

Thrashin' (1986) as a featured skateboarder and Josh Brolin's double.
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987) as a skateboarder.
Skateboarding in Gleaming the Cube (1989) as himself.
xXx (2002)
As a spaceman in the movie Lords of Dogtown (2005)
Helping Parents (2012) as himself

Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off, a documentary about his life and career, provides an interesting and intimate look at this skateboarding icon.

Music

Tony Hawk enjoys listening to punk music and other styles of music that have strong ties to the skateboarding subculture. Video game bands such as Goldfinger, Bad Religion, Rage Against the Machine, and The Offspring can thank him for inspiring his game soundtracks. The Rolling Stones, The Clash, and The Sex Pistols are among his favourite classic rock bands. He credits these bands with helping him develop as a skater as he listened to them as a kid at the skateparks where he learned the fundamentals which led to him become the most famous skateboarder in history..

The Skatepark Trust

Tony Hawk established The Skatepark Project to aid disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the development of quality public skateparks for kids. Originally founded in 2002 under the name Tony Hawk Foundation, the organization's name was changed to The Skatepark Project in 2020. Skateboarding programmes and events all over the world receive funding and support from the Skatepark Project through grants, advocacy, and technical assistance. The Skatepark Project sees skateparks as important venues for youth empowerment, community building, and exercise.

Podcast

Tony Hawk is more than just a legendary skateboarder; he's also a podcast fanatic. He has shared his knowledge, experiences, and anecdotes on multiple podcasts, including SmartLess, The Joe Wicks Podcast, and The Tim Ferriss Show. Hawk vs. Wolf is a podcast he co-hosts with skateboarder pal Jason Ellis. On their podcast, they discuss whatever comes to mind, whether it be skateboarding, music, or life in general. Musicians, comedians, sports, and celebrities are just some of the guests they've had on the show.