Skateboard History

Top 10 Skateboarders of the Decade (2000-2010)

Tony Hawk

Picture
·         Tony Hawk has been the best known skateboarder for the last 10 years, but Hawk retired from competing in 1999. 

·         Over the last 10 years, the Tony Hawk video game collection (12 games!) has moved mountains in promoting skateboarding, and has dominated the skateboarding video game market. 

·         Also in 1999, Tony Hawk became the first skater to pull off a 900, the holy grail of vert skateboarding. Over the last 10 years, many have tried to beat it, but no one has yet.

Rodeny Mullen

Picture
·         Really became famous through Globe skaterboarding video. His technical street skills showed that he was a level above everyone else, and he has stayed there for the last 10 years. 

·         Also been heavily involved in the research and development side of skateboarding - through his company Almost, as well as Globe and Tensor Trucks, Rodney has been influential in the design side of skateboarding over the last decade.

Danny Way

Picture
·         Has dominated the stunts and spectacle side of skateboarding for last 10 years. 

·         In the year 2000, Danny had his first knee surgery. He would have 6 more thought the last 10 years, including having his ACL replaced three times. 

·         Claimed the world's record for Highest Freefall, Longest Jump and Highest Air.

·          In 2005, he took the distance record while jumping over the Great Wall of China. First man to do so with no engine propulsion. 

Paul Rodriguez Jr, also known as P-Rod

Picture
·         In 2004 Rodriguez became the first pro skater sponsored by Nike

·         Also makes many films, and helps other skaters produce videos. Has won 2 awards.             

Ryan Sheckler

Picture
·         Provokes strong reactions in skaters. Some love him, and some absolutely hate him. 

·         In 2004 Ryan Sheckler became the youngest pro skater to take gold in the X Games.

·         A lot of skaters resent him for being a good boy and having a clear record, but the truth is that a lot of the positive attitude we skaters have enjoyed over the last decade is thanks to Ryan Sheckler! 


Bob Burnquist

Picture
 ·         Started off the winning TransWorld's Best Vert awards for three years in a row.

·         Then he spent the rest of the decade winning medal after medal in skateboard vert contests like the X Games. 

·         Easily one of the world's best vert skaters, and he has proven that in the contest arena over and over again, and he's still competing. 

·         Started foundation to help save the world, by ecological awerness through his popularity.

Daewon Song

Picture
·         Daewon Song is a genius technical street skater.

·         Known from his series of videos that he came out with Rodeny Mullen VS Daewon Song, Rounds 1, 2 and 3. Demonstrating there is amazing talent who wont be seen in the X Games.

·         For pushing the limits of what technical street skateboarding can do, and for reminding the world that contests aren't the heart of skateboarding, Daewon Song is one of the top skaters of the decade. 

Elissa Steamer

Picture
·         Dominating women of women's street skateboarding for the last 10 years. 

·         In 1999, Steamer won the women's street contest at the Slam City Jam - this was the first female-only contest held at a World Cup Skateboarding event. 

·         Steamer was the first female to have a pro model skateboard, the first to have a pro model skateboarding shoe (etnies), and the first and only female skater in any of the Tony Hawk video games!

Jamie Thomas

Picture
·         Not only present in this list for his skating, but for his dominating role in skateboard industry.

·         Jamie Thomas was well known for his Leap of Faith in 1997 (a 20 foot drop), but it has been over the last 10 years that he has really taken over.

·          He owns Black Box Distribution (parent company of Zero, Mystery, Fallen, and $lave), and has brought a lot of his Christian gothic imagery to his designs, while not shoving his faith down people's throats. As well as showing that one can a skate company with morals and ethics.

Rob Dyrdek

Picture


·         Largely popular for taking part in 2003 in The DC Video

·          This video was a revolutionary skateboarding video, in that you could tell that money had been spent making it. It was in The DC Video that people first saw the fun mocking of Rob and Big, his body guard. People liked it, and Rob used that to catapult his career into show business. 

·         Catapultaded by his show business he now is one of the worlds most famous skaters.