GettyEven those who aren’t part of the skateboarding scene know the name Tony Hawk, it’s synonymous with the scene as well as the Sony PlayStation.
Just like Michael Jordan, Hawk’s name is not only an identity but it has become a brand – in fact, many have dubbed him ‘the Michael Jordan of Skateboarding’.
But this is where the comparisons end, even if you’re not into basketball you’d instantly recognise his ‘Airness’, you could spot his chrome dome, hoop earring and cocky grin from a mile off. Hawk, however, is quite a generic looking individual.
GettyIf you happen to be a fan of his please don’t take it as negative criticism or a slight – I’m just saying the reason why Hawk has his iconic status is due to his skills. Honestly, if you saw him walking (or skating) down the streets you’d think he was just a normal middle-aged man going to his local Whole Foods.
Considering he’s one year off of the big 5-0, you’d think he’d be retiring his decks and displaying them on a wall like a someone currently in a mid-life crisis trying to recapture their lost youth. But no, Hawk is still on a Kick, Push vibe with his four-wheel money maker.
You can’t blame anyone though for being shocked a 49-year-old man is still skateboarding though. In fact, Hawk recalled a recent encounter on a plane with an air stewardess was bemused the legendary skateboarder still enjoyed the shred and grind, SB Nation reports.
Get this, she didn’t know he was – ‘THE TONY HAWK’. You know, the guy from all those video games? 16 to be precise.
GettyHawk posted his version of the awkward conversation, which took place at New York LaGuardia Airport, on Twitter, writing:
Woman on plane retrieving her luggage in the overhead:
Who’s skateboard is this? It’s blocking my bag
me: that’s mine, you can pass it here
her: It’s yours? You ride it?
me: yesher: Are you any good at it?
me: sometimes
her: cackles maniacally, exits plane
Woman on plane retrieving her luggage in the overhead:
"Who's skateboard is this? It's blocking my bag"
me: that's mine, you can pass it here
her: "It's yours? You ride it?
me: yes
her: "Are you any good at it?"
me: sometimes
her: cackles maniacally, exits plane— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) April 16, 2018
It was probably the moment Hawk had a Lethal Weapon/Roger Murtaugh moment where thought to himself ‘Am I getting too old for this s*** stuff?’. Or maybe he got a kick out of blowing her mind that a man his age was still into skateboarding.
Hopefully, the moment didn’t put Hawk off ever skating again. No matter his age he’s an important figure in the skateboarding community. Skateboarders come and go, but Tony Hawk is eternal.
Part of this longevity was his foresight to capitalise on his legacy and reputation in skateboarding by lending his name to the iconic Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, which started out on PlayStation. For many, it was their first entry into the world of skateboarding.
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The game was so iconic and influential, last year a documentary about the much loved (and maligned) series, titled Pretending I’m Superman, went into production. Producer Ralph D’Amato, who was actually a producer on the Pro Skater series at Neversoft for many years, had set up an IndieGoGo fundraiser page for the doc.
D’Amato’s documentary aims to tell the story of how the Pro Skater games came to be, and how they changed the face of gaming (Pro Skater 2 is still the second best video game of all time on Metacritic).
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