There will never be another skateboarder like Tony Hawk.
While, some day, one may match him for skill — nobody can touch his legacy. Through the video games that bore his name, Tony Hawk will remain synonymous with skateboarding for the rest of eternity.
The legendary skateboarder turns 50 today, so many of his fans on social media have been reliving what was arguably Hawk’s finest ever achievement — if not the finest achievement in the history of skateboarding.
Back in 1999, while competing at the X-Games, Hawk had attempted to land a 900 no fewer than 10 times and failed every time. Even so, one announcer at the game said “We make up the rules as we go along. Let’s give him another try,” and Hawk tried it for the 11th time.
On that fateful turn, Hawk became the first ever pro-skateboarder to land a documented 900. The 900 is so-named because it involves a 900-degree spin, two-and-a-half full body revolutions, while the skater is airborne. In case you’re wondering whether that looks as awesome as it sounds, see for yourself:
Once everybody realises that Hawk has done it, they invade the ramp to celebrate.
Hawk won “Best Trick” at the X-Games that year despite completing the trick outside of regulation time. The next year, he returned and did it within regulation time. Hawk was continuing to pull off 900s as recently as two years ago, 17 years after his original achievement, but he has since said that he probably won’t do them anymore.
He’s probably earned the right to sit down after all that spinning, to be fair.
