In 2011, Hawk was still able to land the trick and posted a video on his Twitter account stating, 'I'm 43 and I did a 900 today.' On June 27, 2016, at age 48, Hawk performed what he claimed would be his final 900. After completing the trick, Hawk said 'This is the best day of my life.' Following this feat, Hawk decided to retire from professional competition that same year, but he continued to perform at the annual X Games until 2003, when he retired from professional competition for good. On June 27, 1999, Hawk became the first skateboarder to land a ' 900', a trick involving the completion of two-and-a-half mid-air revolutions on a skateboard, in which he was successful on his twelfth attempt. Hawk skating in 1987 (Wassenaar, the Netherlands) He listed Steve Caballero and Christian Hosoi as his influences at the time. Hawk attended three high schools and graduated from Torrey Pines High School in 1986. He was officially the National Skateboard Association world champion for 12 consecutive years. By age 16, Hawk was sponsored by Powell Peralta, Tracker, Sundek, Vans, and SIO. He became a professional skateboarder at age 14. Hawk's skills developed, and he made his television debut on Captain Kangaroo as 'Skateboard Johnny' in 1981. His parents supported his skateboarding because it served as an outlet for his excessive energy. Hawk attended Jean Farb Middle School from 1980 to 1981. The results were that Tony was 'gifted', as he was tested with an IQ of 144, so school advisers recommended placing him in advanced classes. His frustration with himself was so harsh that his parents had him psychologically evaluated at school.

Īs a child, Hawk was described as ' hyperactive', and his mother stated that he was 'so hard on himself and expected himself to do so many things.' One time, Hawk struck out in baseball and was so distraught that he hid in a ravine and had to be 'physically coaxed out' by his father. He has two older sisters, Pat and Lenore, and an older brother, Steve. Tony Hawk was born on May 12, 1968, in San Diego, California, to Nancy (1924–2019) and Frank Peter Rupert Hawk, and was raised in San Diego. Hawk has been involved in various philanthropic activities throughout his career, and is the founder of the Tony Hawk Foundation (now named The Skatepark Project), which helps to build skateparks in underprivileged areas around the world. He retired from competing professionally in 2003 and is regarded as one of the most influential skateboarders of all time. He also licensed a skateboarding video game series named after him published by Activision that same year. A pioneer of modern vertical skateboarding, Hawk completed the first documented ' 900' skateboarding trick in 1999. Anthony Frank Hawk (born May 12, 1968), nicknamed Birdman, is an American professional skateboarder, entrepreneur, and the owner of the skateboard company Birdhouse.

Tony hawk first 900