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access_time September 20, 2016
The Top Ten Legendary Skateboarders of All Times
Skateboarding wouldn’t be the same today if not for a number of people who have strived hard to make a difference. With the millions of skateboarders around the world, here’s a handful who have proven to be of great relevance to the history of the sport. The order they appear is not related to the importance of their role though. We’ll let you be the judge of that!
1. Tony Hawk
- Known as the Birdman and owner of the skateboard company the Birdhouse
- Known for the first documented “900” trick
- One of the most successful and influential pioneers of modern vertical skateboarding
- Started a foundation (Tony Hawk Foundation) that helps to build skate parks in underprivileged areas
- A pro skater at the age of 14
- Made skateboarding famous with various propaganda including video games
2. Bob Burnquist
- The first skateboarder to land a "fakie 900"
- 24 Gold, 7 silver, 8 bronze medals from Summer X Games in 16 years (since 2000)
- Specializes in switch stance skateboarding, and never seen before vert tricks.
3. Steve Caballero
- Set the long-standing record for the highest air achieved on a halfpipe at 11 feet and took 10 years to get his record beaten by another skater
- Won both street and vert titles at the 1987 World Championship in Germany
- Invented the trick “Caballerial” otherwise known as fakie 360 ollie and does difficult tricks with a few of them still unnamed
- Recognized by Thrasher Magazine “Skater of the Century” in 1999
4. Rodney Mullen
- Credited of inventing more than 30 skateboard tricks with almost every trick done on flat ground these days included
- Listed by Transworld on the third place among the Most Influential Skateboarders of All times, Just behind Tony Hawk and Mark Gonzales
- Co-authored a book Entitled The Mutt: How to Skateboard and Not Kill Yourself
5. Danny Way
- Twice awarded of “ Skater of the Year” by Thrasher Magazine
- Did several extreme stunts including jumping over the Great Wall of China with an Ollie
- Had various injuries including breaking his neck and had undergone 13 operations
6. Mark Gonzales
- A top pioneer of modern street skateboarding
- Made famous the “Gonz Gap” an ollie from one wall down to another platform
- Along with Natas Kaupas , skated handrails for the first time in 1986
7. Stacy Peralta
- Member of the Zephyr Competition Team or Z-Boys
- Joined with manufacturer George Powell to form the Powell-Peralta skate gear company and sponsored the skate team Bones Brigade whose members are also legendary to these days
- Directed and produced the first skating demo videos for skaters such as Tony Hawk.
8. Eric Koston
- Has won awards for first place for 26 X Games competitions within a decade (1996-2006)
- Co-owner of mag/skatepark “The Berrics”
- Featured in 9 video games
- Sponsored by Nike with 2 shoe models named after him
9. Christian Hosoi
- Started skateboarding at about 7 years old
- Was sponsored by Powell Peralta as an amateur but he turned pro at the age of 14 with Sims Skateboards
- Invented the Christ Air and Rocket Air and known for doing huge aerials
10. Natas Kaupas
- Regarded as one of the first true professional street skateboarders
- He and Gonzales innovated many new skateboarding tricks and ideas including doing a rail slide
- Became famous for riding walls
Of course the list of skateboarding legends continues with many others like Tony Alva, Andrew Reynolds, Lance Mountain, Ed Templeton, and Chad Muska but we’ll stop at 10 for now.
