In the world of skateboarding, many people have a particular person they probably looked up to as a kid, or when they just started out on the skating scene. Most of the “classic” skaters out there now have their own clothing, shoes, and gear lines, while some even have their own toys and video games. Most people associate different skaters belonging to different groups, such as the Bones Brigade, Alien Workshop, or Birdhouse.
Probably the most popular and well-known skating icon is Tony Hawk. His name and face are unmistakable. He first started skateboarding at the young age of nine, thanks to his older brother who gave him his first board, a blue fiberglass banana board. Even at a young age he began participating in skating contests. By the time Tony turned 14 he was pro, and by age 16 he was already considered to be the best skateboarder in the world. Since then, he’s had endless endorsements, commercials, appearances on television shows, and a huge number of devoted fans. Certainly even today many people associate the sport with Hawk and kids still look up to him for his skills and as a role model.
Steve Caballero is also considered by many to be a skateboarding legend. Steve picked up the sport in 1979 and already had his very own park sponsoring him. Growing up in California has led Steve to become part of a large group of elite skaters, and today he even dabbles in art projects and tours nationwide. He even invented his own skating trick called the Caballerial, and is part of the infamous Bones Brigade. One of his major sponsors today is Vans, a huge producer of shoes specially made for skaters.
Another famous pro skater is Bert Lamar. Founder of snowboard manufacturer Elevation, Lamar began on the skating scene in the early 1970’s. He also had another company for snowboards in the 1980’s. Lamar is another world-famous skater who can be seen in numerous commercials and skate videos and is considered one of the top skaters on the scene.
For over a decade, Mike Olgas has been teaching new skaters the best tips and tricks in instructional videos and in classes. He created and hosts his very own video entitled “Zero to Hero” which is one of the top-selling instructional videos available. He’s also appeared in several commercials and music videos, and has a role in the popular skateboarding movie Lords of Dogtown. Although just 23 years old, Mike has been skating for 20 years and now resides in Southern California where he teaches young people how to skate, along with important safety tips.
Andy MacDonald (also known as Andy Mac) is another skater considered to be one of the absolute best. He has eleven X Games medals under his belt, along with a Guinness World Record, and has held the title of World Cup Skateboarding Overall Champion for seven consecutive years now. He has also written a book about being a pro skateboarder. Although he prefers to skate on professional ramps, MacDonald also says he enjoys street skating just as much, and the key to everything he does is making sure he has fun.
