Rodney Mullen
He's the skateboarding legend who invented most of your favorite skate tricks and is a character in Tony Hawk's Underground. Kidzworld looks at pro skateboarder, Rodney Mullen.
Rodney Mullen's First Skate
John Rodney Mullen was born in Gainseville, Florida on August 17th, 1966. He wanted to skateboard, almost as soon as he could walk, but his dad (a doctor) wouldn't let him because he was scared Mullen would get hurt and fall in with the "wrong crowd." When Rodney Mullen was 10, his dad finally agreed to let him have a skateboard, on two conditions; The first time he was caught skateboarding without pads, or the first time he was injured, he would have to quit. Rodney Mullen managed to avoid any early injuries and became sponsored by the Inland Surf Shop nine months after he started skating. Mullen won the first freestyle contest he entered in 1977 and at the age of 13, he turned professional with the legendary Powell-Peralta skateboard company.
Rodney Mullen Rules
Rodney Mullen kept winning freestyle skateboard contests, but his dad still wanted him to give up skateboarding and move on to something else. But when skateboard magazines kept calling Mullen and companies started sending him money, his dad said he could keep skating. After 10 years skating freestyle and winning dozens of competitions,
Rodney Mullen began developing new street tricks and making skateboard videos. He also started World Industries Skateboards with Steve Rocco in 1992.
Rodney Mullen Revolutionizes Skating
Rodney Mullen has invented hundreds of skateboard tricks and has revolutionized the world of skateboarding. The tricks Rodney Mullen introduced to the world include the kickflip, the heelflip, casper slides and the 540 shuvit. Mullen still skateboards at least 2 hours every day and is always inventing new tricks. From tricks to videos, to designing skateboards, Rodney Mullen has done it all.
Rodney Mullen - Did U Know?
Rodney Mullen has two nicknames: the King and the Mutt.
Rodney Mullen is married. He and his wife, Traci, have two pet cats.
Rodney Mullen is a bit of a science nerd. He says if he wasn't a pro skateboarder, he would be a nuclear physicist.
When Rodney Mullen was a kid, his dad told Rodney that he "would be like the short kid across the street who played basketball day and night: No matter how hard he tried at skateboarding, he'd never be any good." Obviously, his dad's unsupportive attitude didn't stop Mullen from becoming a skateboarding legend.
Tony Hawk
BASIC INFO:
Birthdate: May 12, 1968
Birth place: San Diego, California
Parent's names: Frank and Nancy Hawk
Sibling's names: Lenore, Patricia & Steve
Children's names: Riley, Spencer, Keegan and Kadence
Tony Hawk was age 9 when his older brother gave him a blue fiberglass skateboard, chipped and scratched from years of use. The first time Tony stepped on it and rolled down an alley behind the family’s house in San Diego, there was no epiphany, no revelation … no foreshadowing whatsoever that he would go on to become the most famous skateboarder of all time. He reached the end driveway, looked back at his brother and shouted, “How do I turn?”
Eventually, of course, Tony learned to do more than merely turn. Practicing at the now-defunct Oasis Skatepark, the undersized prodigy soon began to attract attention by performing maneuvers well beyond his years. At age 12 he was winning amateur contests throughout California, at 14 he turned pro, and at 16 he was widely regarded as the best competitive skateboarder in the world. By the time he was 25, he’d competed in 103 pro contests, winning 73 of them and placing second in 19—a record that will almost certainly never be matched. He was crowned vertical skating’s world champion 12 years in a row.
As a 17-year old high school senior, Tony’s annual income surpassed that of his teachers, mostly as a result of royalties from his primary sponsor, Powell Peralta skateboards. He was able to buy his first home before he graduated. Through the late ‘80s, he traveled the world, skating demos and contests. Then, in 1991, the sport of skateboarding died a quiet but sudden death. Tony’s income shrank drastically; times were so lean that he survived on a $5-a-day Taco Bell allowance.
But while many of his peers moved on to other, more traditional pursuits, Tony never gave up on the sport he loved. The next few years flew by in a blur of financial uncertainty. Confident that skating would rebound, Tony refinanced his first house and with a friend launched his own skateboard company, Birdhouse Projects. The first few years were rough: Birdhouse wasn’t making money, and Tony’s future was sketchy.
But, almost as abruptly as it died, skating’s popularity surged skyward, and the Hawk became the Phoenix. Birdhouse grew into one of the biggest and best-known skate companies in the world, and Tony signed a wide range of endorsement deals. In 1998, he and his family started a children’s skate clothing company called Hawk Clothing. A year later, skating rocketed to unprecedented heights, from which it has yet to descend. Tony’s career came with it; in fact, he provided much of the fuel.
In 1999 Tony teamed up with Activision to create the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game franchise. The Tony Hawk video game series became one of the most popular game franchises in history and continues to this day. His life would never be the same. In a stroke of good timing, at the X Games that year, Tony also became the first skateboarder to ever land a 900, a maneuver that had eluded (and occasionally hobbled) him for 10 years . It was one of skating’s most gripping moments, playing out in front of a collection of his peers and fans, and on national TV. That exposure, along with his successful video game, helped establish Tony’s mainstream celebrity
Soon after the 1999 X games, Tony retired from competition, although he continues to put on demos and exhibitions all over the world. His Boom Boom HuckJam Tour featured some of the top skateboarders, BMXers and freestyle motocross riders in a giant tour that played in large arenas and theme parks across the country. Tony’s action sports exhibitions and shows continue to pack venues worldwide.
Tony has won numerous awards, including Make-A-Wish’s Favorite Male Athlete, Teen Choice Awards' Choice Male Athlete and Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards’ Favorite Male Athlete, beating out such sports icons as Shaquille O’Neal, Tiger Woods, and Kobe Bryant. From video games to skateboards to online media to clothing to world tours, Tony has dominated the action-sports market with his laid-back style. He is the most recognized action-sports figure in the world and, according to some marketing surveys, one of the most recognizable athlete of any kind in the United States.
Tony regularly appears on television and in films, and hosts a weekly show on Sirius XM. His autobiography, HAWK—Occupation: Skateboarder was a New York Times bestseller and is currently available in paperback. In 2010 Wiley Publishing released How Did I Get Here? The Ascent of an Unlikely CEO.
As his income reached a level he never could have imagined, Tony made an effort to give back to the subculture that has given him so much. His Tony Hawk Foundation has donated more than $3.2 million to more than 450 skatepark projects throughout the United States. The foundation helps finance public skateparks in low-income areas, providing a safe place to skate and helping young skaters from Marathon, Florida, to Sitka, Alaska, build their self-confidence. Skateparks that received financial assistance from the Tony Hawk Foundation currently serve more than 3 million young Americans annually.
Ryan Sheckler
Name: Ryan Sheckler
Discipline: Skateboarding
Date of Birth: December 30, 1989
Hometown: San Clemente, California
Ask any skateboarder on the planet who Ryan Sheckler is and you're sure to get an out-of-this-world answer. A child prodigy turned professional skateboarder, world-renowned athlete, teenage heartthrob, business owner, charity founder and TV star has made his name synonymous with skateboarding. What this 19-year-old has already accomplished as a teenager, most could only dream of accomplishing in a lifetime.
Ryan’s amazing skills in the park and on the street have won the respect of pros old enough to be his father, while his big green eyes have attracted the adulation of girls too young to get a driver’s license. He’s a phenom in every sense of the word. Yet, the SoCal teen is focused like a laser beam on his future. “Shecks” wants to go down in the record books as one of the greatest skaters who ever lived—and he’s traveling the globe to make it happen.
BURSTING ONTO THE SCENE
Ryan Allen Sheckler (aka “Shecky,” aka “Shecks”) was born in La Palma, Calif., in 1989. He started rolling on a skateboard in his driveway at 18 months, and by the time he was 4, he could do ollies. At 7, he got a mini-ramp in the backyard and began skating every day.
Once his incredible talents began to take form, so began the travels of Ryan and his intrepid mom, Gretchen. Between 1999 and 2002, Ryan took multiple podiums on the Vans Warped Tour. He was runner-up and winner at the U.S. Open of Skateboarding (in front of a hometown San Clemente crowd), chalked up another California Amateur Skateboard League State Championship, and gave runner-up performances in the Gravity Games Amateur Challenge and the Best Trick Contest—against pros—at the Jockey Core Tour. All that in addition to strong finishes at the Globe World Cup, the Tampa Am, and the Slam City Jam.
Then in 2003 he turned pro and busted out a season they’ll be talking about for years.
The 13-year-old’s plethora of accomplishments that year included second place at the Scandinavian Open, first place at the Slam City Jam, first place overall for the Vans Triple Crown Street competition, a gold medal at the Gravity Games, and, yes, that astonishing win in Street at the 2003 Summer X Games—where he was the only skater to land every trick he attempted.
From there, it was officially on. In 2005, Ryan was named the Action Sports Tour’s Athlete of the Year and overall Street Champion by the World Cup of Skateboarding. A year later, he was named both Skateboarder and Athlete of the Year at the Arby’s Action Sports Awards as well as the 2006 Action Sports Tour overall Park Champion. In 2007, Ryan made history by becoming the first skateboarder ever to win an AST Championship three years in a row; in 2008 he once again took home an X Games gold medal and first place at Thrasher magazine’s Bust or Bail contest, a win he cites as one of his greatest to date. All this, and we haven’t made one mention of his talents off the course.
STREET CRED
It’s no secret that Ryan dominates the contest world, but his talents also hold up in the streets. After dropping two doubt-crushing video parts in Almost’s Round Three and Oakley’s Our Life, Ryan had the skateboard media salivating over his skills and a cover boy was born. At 17, he made the cover of the May 2007 issue of The Skateboard Mag. One year later, Ryan worthily graced their cover again and the same spot on Transworld SKATEboarding magazine, where he was interviewed for a second time.
Now one of the leading members on the Plan B skate team, Ryan recently dropped a heavy hammer of tricks in their promo video Superfuture, letting his skating once again speak loudly and clearly for itself. Although he’s earned the respect of even the most diehard street skaters, Ryan still has yet to fulfill his ultimate goal: Thrasher’s Skater of the Year. Many say it’s only a matter of time.
AN INTERNATIONAL STAR GIVING BACK
Between the media coverage and the contest winnings, Shecky’s popularity fuse had just been lit. But when his reality show, The Life of Ryan, premiered on MTV in 2007, his fame exploded into international stardom. Now in its third season, Ryan-mania is more contagious than ever. Whether he’s entering a contest or attending an industry event, a barrage of screaming girls—and signs reading, “I Love Ryan”—always follows.
Even with many successes under his belt, Ryan still keeps a humble remembrance of the road he traveled to get there and who helped him along the way. He recently launched the Sheckler Foundation, a charity organization that aims to enrich the lives of children and fund programs that aid the health of action sports athletes. And in a gesture of personal charity, Ryan put up his own Ranger Rover for auction this year to benefit the Children's Cancer Research Fund. The deed raised almost $200,000 dollars.
With all his achievements in and outside of skateboarding, when—or how—will Sheckler know that he’s achieved his ultimate goal of being one of the greatest skaters ever? "I want to make a huge contribution to skateboarding," he says after thinking for a moment. "The only way I will know that I have achieved legendary status is when my peers say I have. There is no other way."
Bam Margera
BAM BIO
Bam first broke onto the national scene as a 13 year old pro-skater known for his creative street style and wild antics. As a teenager he created the CKY video series, which featured skating, pranks and stunts, all filmed in his hometown of West Chester, Pennsylvania. The combination of Bam’s unique on-screen personality and the tremendous grassroots success of the CKY video series became the platform for the hit MTV show “Jackass”, “Jackass, The Movie” and the later MTV “Viva La Bam” series.
In addition to Bam’s television and film projects, he continues to be heavily involved in the music industry through his work directing music videos, his show “Radio Bam” on Sirius Satellite Radio and his “Viva La Bands” CD/DVD series and tour. Over a very short period of time, Bam has proven himself as a top-tier athlete and innovator in the film, television and music industries.
Did you know that…
Voted the most influential/powerful person under 30 by Stuff Magazine (August 2006, Power Issue)
Last year, Bam’s “Q” rating (a measure of one's public reconcilability) was in the top 20 of all athletes (rated by 18-45 year old males).
He was voted “Favorite athlete turned TV Star” in a 2005 Teen People Poll.
Bam hosts “Bam Radio,” a top-rated weekly show on Sirius Satellite Radio (Faction, Channel 28). His show features new music, the VLB crew and insights into the crazy world of Bam.
He created and produced "Viva La Bands“, a musical DVD and CD compilation series. This has now become a nationwide festival type tour set to debut in the summer of 2006. Check out the "Viva La Bands" webpage for more info about the CD and tour.
Bam is the founder and owner of his own music label called "Filthy Note."
Bam is creator and star of the CKY video series, which has sold over one million DVD and VHS copies worldwide. Actually, footage from this series was used in the initial "Jackass" episodes.
He is co-creator and co-star of MTV’s “Jackass” and “Jackass, The Movie”, which has grossed over $100 million in ticket sales internationally.
Bam created, produced, directed and stared in the hit MTV show "Viva La Bam”, which ran for five seasons. The VLB DVD’s are the fastest selling DVD‘s in MTV history. Keep tuned, as Bam is creating a new animated series for MTV to debut in the summer of 2006.
Bam is the main character in Activision’s ‘Tony Hawk’s Underground’ video game series, which is the best selling sports video game of all time. That's allot of games.
He holds the record for attendance at a personal appearance he made at the Mall of America. That would be in the ballpark of 30,000 screaming fans.
Bam is sponsored by leaders in the skate boarding industry; companies like Element, Destructo, Fairmans and Electric. Check out the store, these are Bam's selected favorites.
Bam merchandise is the best selling of any other signature series in action sports.
He has been on the cover or featured in top publications like Rolling Stone, People, Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Mag, Complex, Revolver and more.
Chris Cole
PEOPLE HANDLE SUCCESS IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS...
People handle success in many different ways. Some crack under the weight of newly heightened expectations. Some put it on cruise control and coast along from past achievements in a fulfilled state of satisfaction. It is a rare individual who rides the momentum of success towards bigger and better things in life. Professional skateboarder Chris Cole, through his continual domination of competitions, has clearly earned himself the top spot amongst the elite of skateboarding. Through it all, Chris has been grounded with the realization that life is all about deep-seated relationships fostered through respect and compassion. As his profile ascended, he furthered his desire to perpetually self evaluate and improve all facets of life. His forthright interactions with those in and out of the industry made a direct and positive impact on the image and character of skateboarding. It was an image that at times took hits for being overrun with punk kids running amuck and creating havoc on public property. As the spotlight's glow on Chris began to brighten, so did the viability and credibility of skateboarding as a whole. It was rapidly becoming the fastest growing sport in America. Chris wanted the world to see that skateboarding breeds individuals that are athletic, creative, and driven. Rather than succumbing to the trappings of the "live fast and die young" mentality, Chris adopted his own credo of "live rad and die proud". It is a concise and powerful statement that has guided him personally and throughout his professional career. A career that was first set into motion at the ripe old age of 14.
At a time in life when most kids are figuring out what video game to play next, Chris had made the determination that he would forgo college and make his way in life by skateboarding full-time. Chris was raised in Levittown, PA outside of Philadelphia. He holds the Northeast corridor and the makeup of the people residing there near and dear to his heart. He likens their notorious rudeness to a hardened exterior shell. Once penetrated, the shell makes way for deeper and much more meaningful connections. While in the Philadelphia area, Chris entered into local and regional skateboarding contests starting in his pre-teen years. He won them early and he won them often. He quickly established himself as an elite talent and landed corporate sponsorships by the age of 16. From there, it was like a jet fueled propulsion with only momentary stops to collect a trophy or receive an award. Chris credits the development of his riding style to his willingness to shred and skate all physical obstacles that present themselves in the realm of street skating. He never wanted to be limited to just being great on ledges or handrails. He wanted to crush gaps, ramps, and anything and everything there was to conquer. It was this approach to street skating that garnered him a string of accolades, yet to cease or slow from being bestowed upon him. He has received honors from the industry and direct praise from the fans like Transworld Skateboarding’s "Readers Choice Award". He has the rarified distinction of being only one of two skaters twice named Thrasher Magazine’s “Skater of the Year” (2005 & 2009). The Dew Tour, Maloof Money Cup, and Battle of the Berrics 2 are just a partial listing of contests he wrapped up for victory. There was also the back-to-back gold medals he won in consecutive years at the X Games, ESPN's elite action sports event. The multitude of victories and mounting press coverage of Chris swung the door of opportunity wide open for him. He became a featured rider in the smash hit video games "Skate" and "Skate 2" while also making numerous appearances in videos such as "Bam Margera: CKY2K". In early 2011, Chris was brought into Zero Skateboards as an official shareholder. Chris, who has been a long time Zero team rider, will now have an active role in the future direction of the brand. Chris also announced another major piece of news in 2011, as DC Shoes signed Chris to their elite skate team. Chris and DC are already busy at work together developing signature footwear. While the physical expressions that Chris was able to display on a board clearly played a major role in all these triumphs, he attributes the success to something much simpler than that - Fun. If Chris is not having fun, then he is not winning contests. The foundation of his career advancement has been the passion and pure joy he has in his soul for skateboarding. It is a wholehearted desire for riding and competing that words on a page fall short of describing. It is the kind of infatuation that can make a 14-year-old boy be acutely aware that instead of college, his future belongs thrashing through history.
Chris indeed has made his mark on the history of skateboarding. The countless victories and abundance of awards prove it. Even though Chris is grateful for all he has attained throughout his career, he believes that leaving a legacy has nothing to do with hardware or bountiful prize purses. Chris' ultimate rewards are the special moments spent riding with his young son Wyatt, for a true legacy is all about the deep-seated relationships with a lasting bond throughout eternity
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2010 - Winner of Maloof Money Cup in Costa Mesa, California ($100,000.00 Prize Money)
2010 - Winner of Maloof Money Cup in Queens, New York ($100,000.00 Prize Money)
2010 - Third pro model shoe "The Hi-Volt"(Fallen)
2009 - Thrasher Skater of the Year (2nd time, 2nd person to do this after Danny Way)
2009 - Won Battle at The Berrics 2
2009 - Achieved Battle Commander for TheBerrics.com
2009 - Winner of Dew Tour
2009 - Readers Choice Award from Transworld Skateboarding
2009 - Winner of Maloof Money Cup ($100,000.00 Prize Money)
2009 - Winner of Back to the Berg
2008 - Winner of és Game of Skate
2008 - Chris and Team Regular winning Etnies Goofy vs Regular
2008 - 3rd place in Maloof Money Cup
2007 - Winner of és Game of Skate
2007 - Gold in X Games, Street
2006 - Gold in X Games, Street
2006 - 2nd place in és Game of Skate
2006 - Chris and Zero team winning Thrasher King of The Road(three times in a row)
2005 - Received 'Skater Of The Year' from Transworld Skateboarding and Thrasher Magazine
2005 - Featured in final part in Zero video "New Blood"
2005 - Chris and Zero team winning Thrasher King of The Road
2005 - First signature shoe "The Trooper" (Fallen)
2005 - 16 page spread in Skateboard Mag (June)
2005 - Gold in Gravity Games, Street
2004 - First place in Street Best Trick, Tampa Pro (also took 4th in Street)
2004 - Chris and Zero team winning Thrasher King of The Road
2002 - Transworld's VideoRadio
Paul Rodriguez/P-Rod
Paul Rodriguez Basic Bio Information:
Name: Paul Rodriguez
Nickname: P-Rod
Gender: Male
Hometown: Chatsworth, California
Date of Birth: December 31, 1984
Family: Single
Occupation: Pro Skater
Began Skating: 1996
Began Competing: 1996
Turned Pro: 2002
Favored Discipline: Street / Park
Stance: Goofy
#1 Sponsor: Nike
Paul Rodriguez Skateboarding Style and Strengths:
Paul Rodriguez looks as relaxed and comfortable on a skateboard as anyone could. He's consistent and almost never falls. On top of that, he's able to bust out with some incredible tricks. Paul Rodriguez is one of those rare gifted skaters who is obviously born to ride.
Paul Rodriguez Favorite / Signature Skateboarding Tricks:
Paul Rodriguez skates anything he can find. in an interview with EXPN, P-Rod said it's not so much what he can do, but where he likes to do it. "My favorite things to skate are ledges, rails, stairs, pretty much anything you can skate.
Paul Rodriguez Skateboarding Career Highlights:
2002 - Trans World Skateboarding Rookie of the Year
2003 - appeared in the movie Grind
2004 - became first pro skater sponsored by Nike (Nike P-Rod)
2004 - won gold in X Games (Street) 2005 - won first in FTC Flatground (Street Best Trick)
2005 - took third in Dew Tour (Park)
2005 - won gold in X Games (Street)
Paul Rodriguez Personal History:
P-Rod's father is the famous comedian Paul Rodriguez. At the age of 12, Paul's dad bought him his first skateboard for $30 (his dad stated last year that it was one of the best investments he's ever made!). Paul got his first sponsor at age 14, and was a pro skater at 16. He's happy with his life, and feels like he's already achieved his dream. Paul is an outspoken Christian, and has a tattoo of Jesus on his arm, and says, "God's not waiting for me to be perfect..."
Paul Rodriguez Interesting Fact:
Paul Rodriguez has a pet chihuahua named Uma.
Paul Rodriguez Quote:
"My goal, my dream has already come true. Every kid's dream is to become a pro skater, you know? Not only have I become a pro skater, but to me personally, I ride for the best sponsors there are. That's even more than I ever expected... I didn't skate to please everyone else. I started skating because I love to skate. you gotta watch out because there will come a point where you'll forget that." (Skateboarder Mag, Sep. 2004)
Danny Way
Danny Way Basic Bio Information:
Name: Danny Way
Gender: Male
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 180 lbs
Hometown: San Diego, California
Date of Birth: April 15th, 1974 in Portland, Oregon
Family: sons Ryden and Tavin Way and daughter Rumi Way
Occupation: Professional Skateboarder
Started Skating: 1978
Started Competing: 1984
Turned Pro: 1989
Favored Discipline: Vert / Mega Ramp
#1 Sponsor: DC
Stance: Regular
Setup: Plan B 81/4 x 35 1/2 board (extra thick 7 ply), extra stiff trucks
Danny Way Skateboarding Style and Strengths:
Danny Way is continually pushing himself and his skateboarding to the next level. A daredevil and showman's spirit drive him. Danny Way is also perfectly at peace with the cost of pushing himself in this way, understanding that there will be yet another injury to work through, another rehabilitation. Danny Way is aggressive, calculated, inventive, and knows what he needs to do and is willing to do it.
Danny Way Favorite / Signature Skateboarding Tricks:
More than favorite tricks, Danny Way seems to always want to change up the environment, and try something all together new. To the X Games interviewers he said, "I go through phases. I get bored and like to keep progressing with new and different terrain."
Danny Way Skateboarding Career Highlights:
1991 - won Thrasher Skater of the Year
1995 - won gold at X Games High Air (not Big Air)
1995 - broke his neck surfing
2000 - first of 7 knee surgeries. Danny's ACL has been replaced 3 times
2003-2004 - won Trans World Skateboarding Best Vert Skater (both years)
2004 - won Thrasher Skater of the Year (first skater to win this award twice)
2004-2005 - won gold at Big Air competition at X Games (both years)
2005 - jumped Great Wall of China (first non-motorized jump of wall in history)
Danny Way Personal History:
Danny Way's father died when Danny was 8 months old. He went through a rough childhood with his mother working hard as a single parent. His mother re-married, and Danny Way gives credit to his step dad for his introduction to skating. Danny also played football and baseball, but quit for skateboarding. At age 15, Danny Way went through what he calls a "destructive era". He now loves to fish, as a way to get away from the world. He plays guitar, skates, and rides motorcycles with his boys.
Danny Way Interesting Fact:
Danny Way's brother Damon was one of the original two founders of DC Shoe Co USA (Damon was partnered with Ken Block). Danny Way teamed up with DC Shoes right at the company's start, and his was the first signature shoe that DC made.
Danny Way Quote:
"That's what we're operating on today!" Danny Way said this as he pulled off his sock and put his bruised, bloated, fractured ankle on the table in the press room at X Games 11, right after winning gold on the mega ramp. Danny originally fractured his ankle a few weeks prior, when jumping the Ju Yu Gong Gate, of the Great Wall of China.
Rob Dyrdek
Robert Stanley "Rob" Dyrdek (born June 28, 1974) is an American professional skateboarder, actor, entrepreneur, producer, philanthropist, and reality TV star. He is best known for his roles in the reality shows Rob and Big and Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory.
Personal life
Rob Dyrdek was born in Kettering, Ohio to Gene and Patty Dyrdek. Dyrdek was involved in sports as a child and began skateboarding at the age of 11 when he received his first skateboard from professional skater Neil Blender – known for being the pioneer of bringing art to the skate world. He says of his early interest in the sport "I was a pretty driven young man. I was so focused on becoming a pro skateboarder. I would sit in school and think about all the tricks I was going to do, then I’d get out of school and skate until they made me come inside." At the age of 12, Rob acquired sponsorship from the same company Blender rode for and began his skateboarding career. A few years later, Dyrdek and Blender quit their board sponsor and and created Alien Workshop – Rob’s current board company.
At the age of 16, Dyrdek decided to forgo his senior year of high school and instead moved to Southern California to pursue his professional skate career. Soon after moving, Dyrdek began to ride for Droors Clothing, now known as DC Shoes – where he also began his exploring entrepreneurship through shoe design and launching various short-lived companies including a Hip-Hop record label and a skate shop.
Dyrdek has one sister, Denise, and his cousins Christopher "Drama" Pfaff and Scott "Big Cat" Pfaff (Drama's older brother) are featured in Rob and Big and Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory. He also has two bulldogs named Meaty and Beefy.
Career
Television
Dyrdek first starred in an MTV reality series, entitled Rob & Big (aired November 2006 to April 2008), with his best friend and bodyguard Christopher "Big Black" Boykin as well as his cousin, Chris "Drama" Pfaff. After three seasons, Boykin's long time girlfriend had a baby and caused him to leave the show. In February 2009 Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory, featuring Dyrdek, Pfaff, and his Dyrdek Enterprise staff, was first aired. The "Fantasy Factory" is a converted warehouse where Dyrdek runs his many entrepreneurial ventures. It also features a large indoor skate plaza, Rob's personal office with "bat cave" parking garage, a foam pit, and numerous basketball hoops in various places around the inside of the factory. He also built a "hands of God" music studio for his cousin "Drama" Pfaff inside the factory. During the course of the first season, he also opened his first SafeSpot SkateSpot with the sponsorship of Carl's Jr. During the grand-opening, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa rode with Dyrdek on the world's largest skateboard. Dyrdek was also featured in the video games skate. and Skate 2, along with "Big Black". During the days of Rob & Big, they were featured in an episode where they were actually going to the EA building to shoot for the game. In Skate 2, the player is able to purchase an early version of the Fantasy Factory on the Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store as an add-on, allowing the player to skate within the factory premises. He made a movie entitled "Street Dreams" in 2009.
World records
Dyrdek set 21 separate Guinness World Records for skateboarding as part of his former show Rob & Big. Big Black also set two eating records for the show; most bananas peeled and eaten and most powdered donuts eaten in a set period of time. Since Dyrdek set those 21 world records, several have since been broken. In Fantasy Factory, Dyrdek also set the record for the largest skateboard after he found the current record holders undeserving of the record. Although, according to the GBWR website it is listed as the Longest Skateboard in the world. Dyrdek's personal bests, some of which have been broken since he recorded them, are:
Consecutive front-side ollies: 46 (2007, WR)
Ollie big spins: 12 (2007, WR)
Consecutive nollie kickflips: 73 (2007, WR)
360-degree kickflips in one minute: 12 (2007, WR)
Heel flips in one minute: 15 (2007, WR)
Consecutive ollies: 215 (2007)
Nollie kickflips in one minute: 22 (2007, WR)
Longest stationary manual: 49 seconds (2007, WR)
Switch frontside kickflips in one minute: 9 (2007, WR)
Longest 50-50 rail grind: 100 feet 5.75 inches (30.62 m) (2007, WR)
Longest board slide: 100 feet 5.75 inches (30.62 m) (2007, WR)
Highest skateboard ramp jump into water: 10 feet 8 inches (3.29 m) (2007, WR)
Chris Haslam
Chris Haslam (born December 19, 1980 in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada)is a Canadian professional skateboarder.
Biography
Haslam was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada in 1980. He lived in St. Catherines and London, Ontario, attending Parkview Elementary school. When he was 11 he moved with his parents to Singapore. They returned to Canada for a year in 1996, living in Komoka, and Haslam attended St. Thomas Aquanas Catholic Secondary School in London, Ontario.
He started skating at the age of 13 while living in Singapore, and turned pro in 2004, after the release of the Almost: Round Three video.[citation needed] He is goofy footed.
Around 2003 he joined Almost Skateboards along with fellow pro skaters Daewon Song, Rodney Mullen and Cooper Wilt.
His current sponsors are Almost Skateboards, Independent Trucks (skateboard trucks and clothing), Momentum Wheel Co., Sitka clothing, Bones bearings, Vestal watches, DaKine, CTI[clarification needed] and Globe Shoes.
Haslam gained attention and popularity after the Almost: Round Three video, and won the Reader's Choice in the 7th Annual Transworld Skateboarding Awards in 2005. In August 2006 he was voted the winner of the Vs 411VM competition.This was a competition where the public voted on tricks performed by professional skateboarders.
In 2006 Haslam and Daewon Song featured in Almost Skateboards' video Cheese and Crackers, showcasing the pair skating a miniramp. It also features Haslam and his team-mate Cooper Wilt skating an offroad skateboard.
In April 2007, Haslam had a video part in Momentum Wheels' debut video, Un Momentum (por favor). He was also the star of Globe Shoes's United By Fate Part 2 mini video in August 2007, and is a playable character in EA's skateboarding video game series skate. for PS3 and XBOX360.
While in Tasmania, Australia on a tour with Almost, he was featured in an article in the Sunday Tasmanian newspaper, with the headline "World's Most Unlikely Hero".
In 2008, Chris joined the metal band Kobra Triangle, playing the bass guitar, which has since broken up.
Mike Vallely
Mike Vallely ( June 29, 1970), also known as Mike V, is a professional skateboarder. Mike is also a musician, actor, television personality, stuntman, professional wrestler and FHL hockey player.
Early life
Mike Vallely was born in Edison, New Jersey[1] to Art and Mary Vallely. Mike has an older brother, Joe, and a younger sister, Amy. Growing up Mike played little league baseball, but in 1984 at age 14 Vallely discovered skateboarding and punk rock music.
After getting into punk rock music, Vallely began to borrow a skateboard from a friend and thus began a life of dedication to skateboarding. On Christmas of 1984, Vallely's parents got him a Sims brand Jeff Phillip pro model skateboard. Besides street skating Mike also began vert skating and often skated at Tom Groholski's ramp and The Barn Ramp, both located in New Jersey. He also skated The Brooklyn Banks, a famed skate spot under New York's Brooklyn Bridge.
In 1986, Mike moved with his family to Virginia Beach, Virginia for a short time and while living there befriended some local skaters. Skating with a local team called "Subculture" in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach, Vallely tested his skills on the streets in local contests, as well as on neighborhood quarter pipes and launch ramps. In the spring of '86 the Virginia Beach Skate park, Mount Trashmore hosted a professional vert skateboard contest. Vallely and his friend began skating in the car park adjacent to the vert ramp during practice, and drew the attention of professional skateboarder Neil Blender, from atop the ramp. Lance Mountain and Stacy Peralta, both of Powell Peralta and Bones Brigade were impressed with Vallely. Seeing Vallely skate on a busted up board, Lance gave him a brand new skateboard. And following the impromptu demo, Peralta offered Vallely an amateur sponsorship deal with Powell Peralta Skateboards.
Skateboarding
Thrasher Magazine took photos of Vallely performing his tricks in the handplant circle, one of which eventually made its way onto the cover of Thrasher's August 1986 issue. It was also at this time that Vallely's new sponsor had him on an airplane for the first time to fly to California to compete at the Oceanside "Street Attack" contest in July in Oceanside, California. Vallely won the amateur division which got him a full page spread in Transworld Skateboarding's September issue. Also in 1986, Mike was filmed for a part in the third and now classic Powell Peralta video "The Search For Animal Chin".
In 1987, The Search for Animal Chin was released and Vallely turned pro at a vert contest in Toronto, Canada on May 31.
In 1988, Powell Peralta released his first pro model skateboard. After an attempt to release Vallely's pro model with graphics of a large bug, it was later changed to the now well-known "elephant" graphics. Vallely stated that the idea for the graphics came to him after watching a National Geographic television special about elephants. The graphics on Mike's "Elephant" board were drawn by legendary skateboard artist V. Courtland Johnson.
In 1989, Vallely quit Powell Peralta. At the time Powell Peralta was the biggest skateboarding brand in the world which sponsored the best and most talented skaters. After quitting, Vallely helped form the small skater run company called World Industries with Steve Rocco, Jesse Martinez and Rodney Mullen. While riding for World Industries he helped create a newly shaped skateboard deck, which eventually became the industry standard. The model included rounding both the tail and nose, rather than rounded nose and straight edged tail.
Valelly would be a part of World Industries until early 1991, when differences with Steve Rocco over his use of company advertising for political purposes became irreconcilable. Vallely then rode for New Deal Skateboards until January 1992, before starting the short lived TV Skateboards with friend Ed Templeton.
In late 1992 Vallely suffered a health scare, and TV Skateboards was going broke, but Vallely credited the birth of his daughter with giving him a new perspective and ability to move forward. He returned to riding for Powell Skateboards in 1993, and his second period riding for the company would last until 1997.
Vallely then briefly rode for Transit Skateboards, before joining Black Label Skateboards in 1998, riding for the company until 2003.
From 2003–2010 Valelly rode for Element Skateboards, before quitting to start his own company called By The Sword with fellow skateboarder Jason Filipow. The company was short lived though, as late in 2010 Valelly joined the roster of Powell Peralta Skateboards for a third time along with airwalk footwear and bones bearings.
In mid 2011, Vallely joined Iron Fist Clothing. Vallely noticed Tork Trux innovative assembly method and joined them as their first Pro Team Rider.
Motion Photography
