Comprehensive information and links about Tony Hawk

Tony Hawk This article is about the skateboarder. For the British comedian and author, see Tony Hawks. For the game series, see Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (born May 12, 1968 in Carlsbad, CATony Hawk is widely regarded as the most famous skateboarder of all time, and is considered the pioneer of modern vertical skateboarding. Hawk is sometimes referred to as the "Birdman". He graduated from Torrey Pines High School near Del Mar in San Diego.

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History

Introduced to boarding by his brother, Hawk showed himself a prodigy, turning pro at the age of 16 as a member of Powell Peralta's Bones Brigade. He was also one of the first skateboarders to have a pro model shoe, produced by Airwalk. The first being Natas Kaupas with a shoe on Etnies, the second being Steve Caballero with a shoe on Vans, and then Tony's.

Accomplishments

As of 2004, Tony has won 92 competitions and invented numerous historic tricks. In 1985, he landed the first "720" (a 720 degree, or 2 full revolution spin), and in 1999, he became the first skater in the world to successfully complete the "900" - a 900 degree, 2.5 revolution spin, which some considered to be the 'holy grail' of skateboarding. It occurred at the 1999 X Games after 11 failed attempts, and easily won the Best Trick competition by a large margin in the process.

Hawk owned his own halfpipe, constructed by his father, on the property he shared with his first wife, Cindy, and their son, Riley Hawk. Hawk is decended from Henry Hudson, discoverer of the Hudson River. Although, his son's full name is Hudson Riley Hawk, since his birth coincided with the release of the movie , they decided to start calling him Riley. The Hawks's home was considered a complete playland. Riley (born December 6, 1992) performed skateboarding stunts for the movie "Max Keeble's Big Move."

Hawk divorced Cindy in 1993 and married his second wife, Erin Lee, on September 28, 1996; they had 2 sons and divorced in 2004. Hawk married his girlfriend, Lhotse Merriam, on January 12, 2006 on the island of Fiji. This is his third marriage. Lhotse is Vice President of the International Free Skiers Association and a photographer.

Hawk has become a household name, and has starred in commercials for a variety of companies, including Apple Computer and Domino's Pizza. He has also cameoed in television shows such as where he was tricked into believing that his son shot an M-16 inside a bathroom, injuring one actress. Hawk also appeared in movies such as