Key Moments
Tony Hawk inspiring us for 72 minutes straight
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Key Moments
Tony Hawk's iconic Pro Skater video game series was almost a Bruce Willis shooter and earned him $4.5 million from a single check, changing his financial trajectory dramatically.
Key Insights
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 immediately entered the top ten best-selling games, with the first three titles also remaining in the top ten simultaneously, leading to a $4.5 million royalty check for Hawk.
Tony Hawk's Foundation has contributed to the building of nearly 1,000 skate parks globally since its inception in 2002.
In his early professional years, Tony Hawk earned around $1500/month from a shoe sponsor, which was then reduced to $300/month, forcing him to take odd jobs and struggle to make mortgage payments.
The Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game was initially conceived as a Bruce Willis shooter before Hawk's involvement, and Activision had low expectations for it, with their biggest prior success being Pitfall! in the mid-80s.
Tony Hawk attributes his perseverance to his mother's description of him as 'very determined' and his intrinsic motivation to learn new tricks rather than just win competitions.
Despite his success, Tony Hawk admits that as he approaches 60, warming up his hips takes significantly longer, and he has to be more cautious about injury to be able to lift his grandchildren later in the day.
The surprising financial windfall from a video game
The conversation highlights the immense success of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game franchise. The fourth installment immediately hit the top ten best-selling games, with the first three titles also remaining in the top ten concurrently. This unprecedented success led to a pivotal moment for Tony Hawk: he received a $4.5 million check, a substantial sum that significantly altered his financial landscape and validated the game's impact. Hawk expressed that he never pursued skating for money, yet this financial success provided a sense of relief, ensuring his family wouldn't face hardship. The game's success also elevated his personal brand, leading to larger endorsement deals and red carpet invitations, a level of fame he hadn't anticipated but ultimately embraced, recognizing its positive influence on children and the broader appreciation for skateboarding.
Building a legacy through skate park foundations
Beyond his individual achievements, Tony Hawk has made a significant impact on the skateboarding community through his foundation. Since 2002, his work has contributed to the construction of nearly 1,000 skate parks worldwide. Hawk likens the tangible impact of building a skate park to other forms of giving, where one can see the direct result of the investment. He explains that the initiative began organically with his siblings, identifying promising projects facing opposition and providing support. Initial grants were modest, between $5,000 and $10,000, but were crucial in galvanizing communities and gaining approvals. Over time, this grew with substantial corporate donations, with a portion of sponsorship deals often directed towards the foundation. The proliferation of these parks has transformed urban landscapes, providing safe, inclusive spaces for youth.
The relentless drive and 'price of greatness'
Tony Hawk's career is a testament to relentless dedication. He describes his childhood routine as being at the skate park from the moment school ended until his mother finished work, often forgetting to eat. This single-minded focus, which his mother initially viewed as being a 'nightmare' child, ultimately became his strength. He emphasizes that his motivation stemmed from the desire to learn new tricks, not just from winning competitions or gaining fame. This intrinsic drive is what propelled him through failures and setbacks. The podcast touches upon the 'price of greatness,' with Hawk recounting his early struggles, including a period in his early twenties where his income plummeted, forcing him to work odd jobs to make mortgage payments. This contrasts with athletes in more structured sports like basketball, where there's a clear professional path and financial reward, whereas early skateboarding success was primarily recognized through magazine features and small competition prizes.
The genesis of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater game
The development of the iconic 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater' game was far from straightforward. It began in 1997 when a programmer approached Hawk with a rudimentary skateboarding game engine. Despite initial meetings with publishers, including Nintendo, the idea was met with skepticism; one publisher infamously stated that skateboarding wasn't a popular sport and wouldn't make a good video game. This led Hawk's collaborator to consider abandoning the project. However, a year later, Activision, a company then not known for major hits beyond 'Pitfall!', expressed interest. Initially, the game concept involved Bruce Willis as the playable character. Hawk's involvement was crucial in shaping the game, and his goal was to create a game that professional skaters themselves would appreciate for its authenticity. This authenticity resonated deeply, with many of the game's levels based on real-life skate spots.
Innovation and perseverance: The 900 and beyond
The legendary '900' trick, a 900-degree aerial rotation, was a pivotal moment in skateboarding, and Tony Hawk was the first to successfully land it in competition. He reveals that he had never successfully landed the trick, even in practice, prior to that attempt at the X Games. The decision to attempt it was driven by the desire to push his own limits and overcome a long-standing personal challenge, not necessarily by the competitive pressure. He describes a state of intense focus, where the consequences of failure—potentially severe injury—were not considered. His consistent attempts during the competition, unlike previous sporadic efforts, led him to commit to the landing. The relief upon successfully landing it was immense, signaling the end of a decade-long pursuit. While the 900 was groundbreaking, Hawk notes that younger skaters now perform multiple rotations and complex variations, pushing the sport's evolution even further.
The business ventures and enduring passion
Tony Hawk's entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond skateboarding and video games. He founded Birdhouse Skateboards in 1992, which faced early financial struggles but eventually found success, particularly after the boost from the Pro Skater video game. He has also invested in various successful companies, including Nest, Blue Bottle Coffee, and DocuSign. While acknowledging the inherent risks in businesses like restaurants (mentioning Counter Burger and his current Nashville hot chicken restaurant, Chicken Hawk), he finds success in ventures where he has a genuine passion and can contribute more than just capital. His production company, 900 Films, handles much of his media content. Despite his age, Hawk remains passionate about skateboarding, even trying new tricks and maintaining a dedicated practice space. He also cherishes time with his growing family, especially his grandchild, finding a new balance between his pursuits and personal life.
Adapting to age and the evolution of skating culture
As Tony Hawk approaches 60, he candidly discusses the physical realities of aging as a skater. Warming up now takes significantly longer, and he has to be more mindful of potential injuries, particularly with his grandchildren needing his attention. He contrasts his current approach with his youth, where the thrill of pushing boundaries often overshadowed concerns about safety. He also touches upon the evolution of internet culture and its impact on skateboarding, noting how early skate videos and magazines fostered a DIY ethos that paved the way for platforms like YouTube. While street skating used to involve evading police, today's proliferation of safe, well-maintained skate parks allows skaters to focus on progression without constant confrontation, a significant improvement he cherishes.
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Tony Hawk began skateboarding at a young age, finding solace and a sense of belonging in skateparks. He was a dedicated and persistent skater, which led to early recognition and sponsorships.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
Professional skateboarder, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Discussed throughout the video regarding his career, game franchise, business ventures, and personal philosophy.
Co-founder of Powell Peralta and Bones Brigade. He recognized Tony Hawk's potential early in his career.
Renowned investor and vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. His quote about taking things seriously is used to frame Tony Hawk's dedication.
A highly influential skateboarder credited with inventing many foundational street skateboarding tricks. He is compared to Tony Hawk for his dedication and innovation.
A former NBA player who played for one season. His TikTok video detailing his rigorous training regimen is used as an example of the sacrifices required for greatness.
An American actor. Activision released a game featuring him, and an early prototype of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater featured Bruce Willis on a skateboard.
A professional skateboarder and one of the first female pro skateboarders. She was featured in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games.
Professional skateboarder who was featured in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games.
Professional skateboarder featured in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games.
A professional tennis player. His story about rediscovering his love for the sport is used as an analogy for maintaining passion.
A prominent internet entrepreneur and skateboarder. He encouraged Tony Hawk to attend Comic-Con and introduced him to Blue Bottle Coffee.
A non-profit organization focused on providing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries. Tony Hawk is a supporter, and its model of transparency is highlighted.
A legendary skateboarding team that Tony Hawk was part of. His sponsorship by them marked a significant point in his early career.
A non-profit organization that posts talks and lectures online. Rodney Mullen gave a TED talk about his skateboarding journey.
A band whose music was featured in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game. The game introduced many to this type of music.
A software company providing CRM, marketing, sales, and customer service tools. They sponsored the episode and offered a free resource based on discussed project ideas.
A short-form video hosting service. Joe Alexander's video about his training was shared on this platform.
A sports broadcasting company. Tony Hawk's 900 trick was broadcast live on ESPN.
A video game publisher. They developed and published the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series.
An animation studio. Their films are used as an analogy for the layered appeal of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater game.
Tony Hawk's own skateboard company, founded in 1992. It is discussed as a significant part of his business empire.
A smart home technology company, acquired by Google. Tony Hawk invested in Nest.
A coffee roaster and retailer. Tony Hawk invested in the company.
A company providing electronic signature and digital transaction management. Tony Hawk is an investor.
A restaurant chain that Tony Hawk invested in, but it did not succeed.
A Nashville hot chicken restaurant that Tony Hawk is proud of.
A company where Kevin Rose worked. He encouraged Tony Hawk to attend Comic-Con.
A 1985 science fiction film that significantly boosted the popularity of skateboards, as Marty McFly used one.
A skateboarding magazine that has been in publication since the 1980s. It was a key source of skateboarding culture before the internet.
A skateboarding magazine influential in the pre-internet era.
A skateboarding video magazine that was influential in the pre-internet era.
A reality stunt show featuring dangerous pranks and stunts. Mentioned as an influence on early skateboarding video content.
A home video game console. Tony Hawk edited a commercial for it during a financially difficult period.
A video game console. The host mentions playing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater on it.
A canned water brand known for its edgy marketing. Tony Hawk is involved with the company and its video content.
A highly successful video game series based on skateboarding, featuring Tony Hawk. It significantly popularized skateboarding and Hawk himself.
A classic video game developed by Activision. It was one of their major successes before the Tony Hawk series.
A popular first-person shooter video game franchise. Mentioned as an example of Activision's later focus on a specific game genre.
An event management platform. Tony Hawk invested in the company.
An early website known for user-submitted videos and memes, influential in the pre-YouTube internet era.
A real-life skateboarding spot in San Francisco that was featured in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game.
A real skateboarding park. Tony Hawk mentions visiting it and Tompkins Skatepark in NYC.
A skatepark in New York City. Tony Hawk mentions visiting it.
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