Tony Hawk: The greatest skateboarder of all time?

Photo: Birdhouseskateboards.com

At 14, he became a pro skater, and by 16, he was regarded as one of the world's top skateboarders. Over his 17-year career, he won more than 70 competitions, including the X-Games on the vert ramp in 1995 and 1997. He was also the first skateboarder to land the “900”, which is two and a half mid-air turns!

We are, of course, talking about the uncrowned king of skateboarding, Tony Hawk, aka The Birdman.

Refused to let skateboarding die

After a life in the spotlight with a high income, skateboarding saw a decline in the early 90’s, and Tony’s income dropped significantly. While many pro riders turned to more conventional jobs, Tony Hawk refused to give up and, along with fellow pro-skateboarder Per Welinder, invested heavily in creating the brand Birdhouse Skateboards. When skateboarding revived after a few years, the Birdhouse brand was ready to roll.

Birdhouse Skateboards thrived, and the rest is history. Since then, Tony Hawk has solidified his status as an icon in skateboarding.

Take a Birdhouse for a 900-spin?

We have just received the new line of skateboards from Birdhouse. The new completes come in three different series: Stage 1, Stage 2, and the top model - Stage 3.

The Stage 3 boards feature high-quality components, such as ABEC 7 bearings, durable and hard wheels (100A), and a deck made of 7-ply Canadian maple. You might still find it challenging to perform the “900”, but with the Stage 3 board from Birdhouse, it's certainly possible. Go practice, improve, and maybe you’ll be able to perform the “900” at 48 years old, like Tony Hawk in the video below.

New line of entry-level boards

Besides Birdhouse Skateboards, Tony Hawk has also launched his own entry-level signature boards under the name Tony Hawk Skateboards.

Tony Hawk Skateboards offer the perfect beginner setup, making them an obvious choice for dads who grew up following Tony Hawk's career and now want to introduce their kids to skateboarding.

The boards come in the series 180, 360, and 540. All three series feature stunning designs and quality materials suitable for beginners. The wheels are fairly soft, making them easier to ride on rougher surfaces. The bearings are highly durable and ready to withstand a lot of use.

Check out all the new models from Tony Hawk Skateboards here.