People see skateboarding as a sport. But for some people, it is a work of art, a profession, or even a way of living. That is why there are people among us who are known to this world because they are the best artist of skateboarding. If you are into the skateboards industry you might have already heard about these famous skateboarders.
This list includes both men and women who have contributed to this industry. In this list we have will discuss what these skateboarders are known for? What is their contribution to the skateboard industry? All of these famous skateboarders have performed the most challenging tricks and stunts that can blow anyone’s mind and they showed the highest level of commitment to this sport that anyone has ever seen.
It was pretty hard for us to make this list as there are many famous skateboarders out there. But after a lot of research, this is the list we came up with.
10 Most Famous Skateboarders
1. Tony Hawk
- Birth Name: Anthony Frank Hawk
- Country: United States
- Born: May 12, 1968, San Diego, California
- Nickname: Birdman
- Deck: Birdhouse
Early Life
Tony Hawk has always been hyperactive, even when he was a child he was so hard on himself and pushed himself to do so many things. There have been several events when he couldn’t do what he expected from himself and he got so distraught that he hid in a ravine and had to be physically coaxed out by his parents. Turned out that Tony was gifted and had an IQ of 144.
Career
Tony Hawks is one of the most famous and also one of the most influential skateboards. In 2011, he was recognized as the second Most Influential Skateboarder by the Transworld Skateboard magazine.
There is a stunt called 900, to perform a 900 the rider has to complete Two and a half revolutions in mid-air. In 1999 Tony Hawk became the first skateboarder to land a 900 after 12 unsuccessful attempts.
He is also the owner of the famous skateboard brand Birdhouse and has launched multiple skateboard games in which the most famous is the Tony Hawk Pro Skater Video Games series.
2. Rodney Mullen
- Birth Name: John Rodney Mullen
- Country: United States
- Born: August 17, 1966, Gainesville, Florida
- Nickname: Godfather of Street Skateboarding
- Deck: Almost
Early Life
Mullen started skateboarding at the age of 10, he was introduced to skateboard by a friend. But he promised his strict father, that he would quit skateboarding after his first severe injury.
But after some time he started skateboarding in his home garage wearing pads and gear, this precaution was a part of the deal with his father. He practiced for hours every day and became a pro.
Career
In 1978, after just one year of practice skateboarding, Mullen took part in Boy’s Freestyle category at the US Open Championships and surprisingly placed fifth place in the competition.
Bruce Walker, a skateboard manufacturer saw his performance and sponsored him through Walker skateboards from 1978 to 1980.
In the same decade, he won 34 out of 35 freestyle skateboard competitions and set a record for the most successful competitive skateboard run in history.
He is also the inventor of many skateboard tricks like the kickflip, heelflip, ollie, and 360-flip. That is why he is also known as the Godfather of Street Skateboarding.
3. Bam Margera
- Birth Name: Brandon Cole Margera
- Country: United States
- Born: September 28, 1979, West Chester, Pennsylvania
- Nickname: Bam
- Deck: Element
Early Life
Margera’s grandfather nicknamed him “bam bam” at the age of three, after noticing his habit of running into walls. Which was then changed to “Bam” by his classmates. Although he was a skater, his career took off because of the MTV show and the awesome stunts he used to perform with his crew from Jackass.
Career
Margera used his popularity and used his nickname and launched his own brand “BAM”. His brand became a massive hit in the skateboarding industry.
At the beginning of his career, from 1997 to 1998, he was sponsored by Toy Machine Skateboards. But from 2001 to 2016 he became a member of the team Element a famous Skateboard brand.
In 2017 Bam Margera retired from being a professional skateboarder. But throughout his career he is was one of those skateboarders who made every trick look simple and didn’t hesitate to perform risky stunts.
4. Tony Alva
- Birth Name: Tony Alva
- Country: United States
- Born: September 2, 1957, Santa Monica, California
- Deck: Alva Skates
Early Life
Tony Alva first began surfing and skateboarding in 1968, at the age of 10. Tony Alva skated with a radical new free-form surf style, influenced by the new surf style happening in the Hawaiian Islands. His unique style influenced many others and his charismatic nature led him to become a professional and famous skateboarder.
Career
At the age of 63, Tony Alva is one of the oldest professional skateboarders in the world. He was a member of the Zephyr Competition Skateboarding Team, also known as Z-Boys. As he had a signature surfer look and style, he dominated the skateboarding world in the ’70s.
At the age of 19, he launched his own Skateboard brand, Alva Skates. It became the first skateboard company to be run by a professional skateboarder and was also the first to use the Canadian Maple in its decks.
Alva has won more contests and competitions than any other skateboarder and is now in the Skateboarding Hall of Fame.
5. Jason Lee
- Birth Name: Jason Michael Lee
- Country: United States
- Born: April 25, 1970, Santa Ana, California
- Deck: Stereo
Early Life
Jason Lee’s father was a car dealership manager, and his mother was a homemaker. Although Lee is known for the comedy sitcom ‘My Name Is Earl’, he started his career as a skateboarder and had a part in the skate video ‘Blind – Video Days’, but after that, he pursued his career as an actor.
Career
Lee was a professional skateboarder from the late 1980s to early 1990. Then in 1992, he found a company, Stereo Skateboards. With the help of his fellow skater Chris Dune, the duo revived the company in 2003, after it had been defunct for a few years.
In 2006 and 2007 he was nominated for a Golden Globe. Jason Lee had one of the most unique skateboarding styles. He also had a bag of tricks to perform.
Lee was also featured in the skateboard promotional video, Video Days, which was filmed by the skateboard company Blind Skateboards. And was stared in the famous comedy movie “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”.
6. Paul Rodriguez
- Birth Name: Paul Martin Rodriguez Jr.
- Country: United States
- Born: December 31, 1984, Tarzana, California
- Nickname: P-Rod
- Deck: Primitive
Early Life
The name P-Rod was given to him by his classmates when he was 11. Rodriguez got his first skateboard at the age of 12 as a Christmas gift, by his parents. He was immediately fascinated by the skateboarders in his new school. In a 2013 interview, he stated that he slept with skateboard products due the passion for skateboarding.
Career
Paul Rodriguez won 8 Summer X Games of which 4 of them were Gold. He is also the first skateboarder to be sponsored by Nike. He owns a private skate park in California and even owns his own skateboard company “Primitive Skateboard”.
At age 14, Rodriguez was too shy and couldn’t submit a “Sponsor Me” videotape to Netkin, so he asked his friend to submit it. Netkin was immediately inspired by Rodriguez and asked the friend to bring him to the store. Rodriguez was offered a place on the store team the first day they met.
Paul Rodriguez is one of the most influential skateboarders now and is still competing at the highest level.
7. Danny Way
- Birth Name: Danny Way
- Country: United States
- Born: April 15, 1974, Portland, Oregon
- Deck: Plan B
Early Life
Danny Way had a difficult childhood. His father Dennis Way died before his first birthday, Dennis failing to pay child support to his previous wife and for that, he was jailed, after nine days in jail, Dennis was found hanged in his cell. After that Danny’s mother married Tim O’Dea, who introduced Danny and his brother to surfing and skateboarding.
Career
Danny Way has broken several world records and has won the world’s best skateboarder award twice in a row. He is the first skateboarder to jump from a helicopter into a huge vert and jump the Great Wall of China.
Danny has taken part in the X games many times and has won 20 medals, 10 of them being Gold. He started as a professional skater in the early 90s when he got sponsored by Powell Peralta. After that, with the help of Mike Ternasky, he founded his own company Plan B.
Danny Way has served the skateboarding community more than enough and easily gets a spot among the most famous skaters of all time.
8. Leticia Bufoni
- Birth Name: Leticia Bufoni e Silva
- Country: Brazil
- Born: April 13, 1993, São Paulo
- Deck: Plan B
Early Life
Leticia Bufoni started skating at the age of just 9. She got her first skateboard from her grandmother at the age of 11. She stated:
“I grew up in the street playing sports all the time. We didn’t have computers, no smartphones. All of the kids started skating so I did too.”
She left her school because she missed so much of it and was in danger of being expelled.
Career
Leticia is just 28 and she has already broken many skateboard records and also has her name on the Guinness Book of World records. She was only 14 when she participated in the X Games. She is also a six-time X Games gold medalist.
It’s not just her pro skills that got her to the top but also her commitment to influence the women skateboarders. Leticia has become one of the most influential athletes in the world. She was ranked #1 for four consecutive years (2010-2013) in the Women’s Worldcup of skateboarding.
9. Stacy Peralta
- Birth Name: Stacy Douglas Peralta
- Country: United States
- Born: October 15, 1957, in Venice, California
- Deck: Powell Peralta
Early Life
At the age of 15, Stacy Peralta not only started skateboarding but also started competing with the Z-Boys which was his first sponsor. Stacy Peralta became the top-ranked skateboarder at just the age of 19 and before the age of 21, he had his own skateboard company.
Career
Peralta became the highest-ranked professional skateboarder at the age of 19, soon after that, he teamed up with George Powell and launched their own brand Powell Peralta which is one the most famous and successful brands till now.
With the company running smoothly, Peralta took the chance and formed the seminal Bones Brigade, a team that consisted of the best skaters of that time. Soon after that Peralta directed the first-ever Skateboard video, the Bones Brigade Video Show.
After that, he went to continue his Film making journey and has directed over 12 skateboard films and documentaries. These films revolutionized the skateboarding community and inspired many youngsters to become professional skateboarders.
10. Bucky Lasek
- Birth Name: Charles Michael Lasek
- Country: United States
- Born: December 3, 1972, Baltimore, Maryland
- Nickname: Bucky
- Deck: Green Issue
Early Life
Bucky Lasek’s real name is Charles Michael Lasek, but his mom always called him bucky which was also the nickname of his father. Bucky first stepped on a skateboard when he was 12 because his bicycle got stolen. Funny how one small event can lead to one becoming the greatest skater of all time.
Career
Bucky Lasek first started taking part in skateboard competitions near his home. After that Powell noticed his incredible skills and sponsored him in 1990. That is when he stepped into professional skateboarding and his real journey begin.
After that in 1998, he always placed in the top 10 in every competition he took part in. And finally, in 1999, he won his Gold medal in vert skateboarding at the X Games.
But that was only the beginning as Bucky didn’t stop and participated further in the X Games and won 20 medals, 10 of them being Gold. He even took part in the 2018 X Games at a post 40 years of age and still continues to create multiple video parts titled “Buck-It List”.
Some Other Famous Skateboarders
- Nyjah Huston
- Rob Dyrdek
- Mark Gonzales
- Jay Adams (R.I.P)
- Andrew Reynolds
- Bob Burnquist
Final Thoughts
And the list can go on and on as there are so many other influential and famous skateboarders out there who have contributed to the skateboard community over the past 50+ years. And I hope there are many more to come.
All these unique characters show that it is not about the money or fame it is about the dedication and commitment to your work, and what you contribute to your community and that is what matters the most.
Inspired by these awesome skaters? Then go get a Skateboard Deck for yourself and step into this amazing world of skateboarding.
Happy Skateboarding to you all!
