Tony Hawk

This article is about the skateboarder. For the British comedian and author, see Tony Hawks

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Tony Hawk (born May 12, 1968 in Carlsbad, California) is often regarded as the best-known skateboarder today. He is sometimes compared with Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky for his dominance of competition. Among the areas he dominates in the sport is the vert ramp.

Related Topics:
May 12 - 1968 - Carlsbad, California - Skateboarder - Michael Jordan - Wayne Gretzky - Vert ramp

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Tony Hawk was a prodigy early on, turning pro at the age of 14 (at that time all you needed to do to turn pro was enter in a pro contest as opposed to today's standard of requiring a skateboard company to turn you pro). He pioneered modern vertical skateboarding.

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He owned his own halfpipe made by his dad when he lived in his first house with his first wife, Cindy, and his first son, Riley. Tony Hawk is related to Henry Hudson, discoverer of the Hudson River. The original name for his son was Hudson Riley Hawk, but since this coincided with the release of the movie Hudson Hawk, they decided to start calling him Riley. His house was considered a complete playland.

Related Topics:
Henry Hudson - Hudson Hawk

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Tony Hawk became pro as a member of Powell Peralta's Bones Brigade. He also had his own pro model shoe produced by Airwalk.

Related Topics:
Bones Brigade - Airwalk

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In 1999, the video game publisher Activision released Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, which became the first game in one of the most successful line of video games. The game has since spawned six popular sequels, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, Tony Hawk's Underground and Tony Hawk's Underground 2, Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix, and Tony Hawk's American Wasteland.

Related Topics:
1999 - Activision - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 - Tony Hawk's Underground - Tony Hawk's Underground 2 - Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix - Tony Hawk's American Wasteland

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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 Cyberchase, Rocket Power, The Simpsons, Max Steel, Sifl and Olly, and ', and also in movies such as ', The New Guy, Max Keeble's Big Move and Dogtown and Z-Boys, and has appeared as an actor in movies such as Gleaming the Cube and Police Academy 4. He has hosted a documentary, Video Game Invasion, which aired on GSN. Hawk also appeared on Punk'd where he was tricked into believing that his son lit an M-80 inside a bathroom, injuring one actress.

Related Topics:
Apple Computer - Domino's Pizza - Cameo - Cyberchase - Rocket Power - The Simpsons - Max Steel - Sifl and Olly - The New Guy - Max Keeble's Big Move - Dogtown and Z-Boys - Gleaming the Cube - Police Academy 4 - Documentary - GSN - Punk'd - M-80

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As of 2004, Tony has accomplished numerous historic tricks and has won 80 competitions. He landed the first 900 degree spin at the 1999 X Games after 11 failed attempts, winning the Best Trick competition by a large margin in the process. He is sometimes referred to as "Birdman".

Related Topics:
As of 2004 - X Games

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Hawk currently resides in his hometown of Carlsbad, California.

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