Tony Hawk Research Paper

Would you like to be a billionaire skateboarder? Tony Hawk is and has been since he was about a teenager. This paper is all about him, such as his skating career, his business fame, and his life as a regular citizen.
Tony Hawk was born May 12, 1968. When Tony Hawk was young, he had many skateboarding injuries. According to Matt Scheff, “Tony was often covered in bruises and scrapes. He fell so hard he lost teeth four different times” (11). At nine years old Hawks brother gave him a skateboard that had been used before. “Tony Hawk was age nine when his older brother gave him a blue fiberglass skateboard, chipped, and scratched from years of use” ( britannica). Tony also experienced lots of fame throughout his life. Before Hawk was twenty, “He won virtually every skateboarding competition, he entered, and before he was twenty, he was considered to be number one skateboarder in the world” (britannica). Also like any other teenager Tony got into a lot of trouble, “ He was very bright, with an IQ of 144, but he was also frustrated and unfocused, and would frequently fly into rages" (britannica).
Like a professional he would mess up on many of his tricks. Matt Scheff points out that “Hawk has endured many

on-the-job hazards, including a broken elbow, cracked ribs, more sprain and scrapes then he can count, and multiple lost teeth” (website). But when the tricks come to perfection, they look gnarly. “At age 12, he was winning amateur contests throughout California, at age 14 he turned pro, and at age 16 he was widely regarded as the best competitive skateboarder in the world” (website). He encountered the X games in 1997 with his friend. “Tony and Andy Macdonald teamed up in 1997 to win the first X games vert doubles event” (18).Tony Hawk is a very friendly person who wants kids to enjoy skating with his Boom Bam project. “ Since it’s inception the foundation has given assistance to more than 125 skateparks across the country” (website).
The turning point in Tony Hawk’s life was when he went pro and became very popular..

“On the other hand, he has become a living legend, all from riding on a board with wheels” (website). Also Tony was being popular before he was even a 21 year old. “ As a 17-year old high school senior, Tony’s annual income surpassed that of his teachers, mostly as a result of royalties from his primary sponsor, Powell Peralta skateboarder” (website). But then the living legend retired in 1999. “ Tony was bigger than ever after landing his 900 at the X games in 1999. Then he surprised everyone by retiring” (21). But after he finished riding skateboards, he then became popular again in the business world. “Instead, Hawk decided to throw himself into a business venture”

(britannica).
Later in his life Tony Hawk went through three divorces. According to go gale group, “Wealthy skateboarding legend Tony Hawk dumped his third wife, for his best friend and business partner Mat Goodman’s wife “(website). But he also teamed up with a video game company that made the first Tony Hawk skateboard videogame. “In 1999, Tony teamed up with Activision to create a skateboarding video game” (Schaff 25). Tony Hawk, still after he retired, he continued to still get involved with the sport he liked; “Tony never gave up on the sport he loved” (britannica). “Hawk  went on to lead his name to a slew of products including toys, shoes, clothing, and dvds.” (britannica). Tony Hawk is worth studying because he is one of the best skateboarders ever before. “ Tony Hawk is the best, most famous skateboarder, like, ever” (britannica).
Tony Hawk’s brother made him a unique skater. A lesson we can learn from studying his life is he never gives up. In conclusion Tony Hawk, was a very good skateboarder and is still helping others who want to get into the skating life.