by Tony Hawk
June 10–12, 2005
Disneyland, Vegas, Arkansas, Home, Spokane, Various Events
My life is weird. In the past few days, I’ve introduced Arnold Schwarzenegger at an event, taken my kids to Disneyland, been Punk’d, played in a high-roller poker tournament in Vegas, helped design a backyard skatepark for the TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and spent exactly eight hours at home getting ready for this summer’s Boom Boom HuckJam tour. Some highlights:
Governor Schwarzenegger’s office prepared my speech for an event at Disneyland where I was supposed to introduce him so he could announce the formation of something called the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. I put it in my own words and sent it back. They said I wasn’t allowed to make changes to my own speech. So I said, “No thanks, I’d rather not do it.” They said they’d look at it and get back to me. They approved my words.
I skated up to the podium and introduced the Governator while standing next to Michelle Kwan and Jack LaLanne, fellow members of the new fitness council.
Riley Punk’d me. That’s all I’m allowed to say until MTV airs the show.
Met the following people at the Wynn hotel in Vegas: Wayne Gretzky, Matt Damon, and Steve Wynn. I also met multibillionaire Warren Buffett as we sat down to a lavish dinner. There was lobster, caviar, fancy French dishes, and Dom Perignon. Warren had chicken fingers and a Coke.
Lost miserably in the Netjets Poker tournament. Nobody fell for my bluffs. I officially suck at poker. The guy who placed third won a Maserati. A Maserati! For third!
Got some redemption at the blackjack table with my lucky Lhotse sitting anchor.
Flew from Vegas to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to help Ty of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition design a backyard mini-ramp for a lucky family there. Lhotse and I were in Arkansas for a total of three hours.
Got home in time to pack two giant bags for the BBHJ tour and sleep for four hours.
Arrived in Spokane for the first BBHJ show and immediately went to test our new Bigass Ramp: a 44-foot drop to a 40-foot gap to a 20-foot quarterpipe. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done.
After six flights and three hotels in three days, we’re finally settled in Spokane. Daily rehearsals until our first show on 6/17. It’s good to be back somewhere familiar: on tour.
July 8–31, 2005
Boom Boom HuckJam Tour, Home, DC, MO, IA, MN, WI, MI, OH, NJ, PA, Toronto, NY, MA
I am officially over sleeping on a bus and waking up in a different city and checking into hotels only to shower and change clothes. The shows were a blast, though. Some high- and lowlights from our whirlwind adventures:
I made a surprise visit to the GreenSkateLab skatepark in DC—one of the parks that received a grant from the TH Foundation. I did an invert on the only vert wall in the deep end and managed to hang up on the way in, sending me straight to the flat on my hip and shoulder. It hurt a lot, and the next four shows were a lesson in pain tolerance.
Mat Hoffman took the worst slam I have ever seen live. He locked up on his sprocket coming in from a 10-foot air and took the handlebars to his chest before going straight to his head on the flat. I was convinced he had a concussion and internal damage and was done for the tour. But backstage during intermission he took the oxygen mask off and asked if his bike was okay, and then went back out to ride, despite newly bruised ribs and giant, fresh contusions on his knees. Mat Hoffman is the toughest and most dedicated athlete in the world.
Riley came out for some shows and learned the art of design-bleaching shirts from Drake. He smelled like ammonia for days.
Went home for one night between Milwaukee and Detroit. Had a birthday party for Keegan, washed some clothes, recorded a radio show, and headed back to the airport. Our flight was canceled, so we had to wait around LAX for nearly eight hours and catch a red-eye to Detroit to make our show there the next day. This jet-set lifestyle is not so glamorous sometimes.
Just when my hip was feeling better, I fell on it in the exact same place, right at the beginning of a four-show stretch. But I still don’t hold a candle to what Mat must go through all the time.
Jon Bon Jovi came to our NJ show with his family. As a tribute, we played “Bad Medicine” during the jam.
Rune Glifberg started pulling 360s over the jump near the end of the tour, but over-rotated during practice in Philly and went down hard. He bruised his lung, ribs, shoulder, hip, elbow, and probably other spots he didn’t mention. He didn’t skate the rest of the shows but stayed on tour to keep our spirits high.
Kevin Robinson and I visited wounded troops in DC. These guys have heart-wrenching stories of losing limbs (and buddies) in battle, mostly during their time in Iraq. They are profiles in courage and make my injuries (and even Mat’s) look like minor scratches in comparison.
September 9–18, 2005
Secret Skatepark Tour, OR, MT, IN, Cayman Islands, GA
I presented the idea to Activision to do another secret skatepark tour, this time in conjunction with the release of Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland (THAW), and they were down to support it. The only stipulation was to include as many riders from the video game as possible, and to have playable demos of THAW at each stop. I handpicked each park based on quality, location, and whether we donated money to the project through the Tony Hawk Foundation.
The lineup changed along the way, but at one point we had the following group: Bam, Bob Burnquist, Mike Vallely, Daewon Song, Ryan Sheckler, Steve Nesser, Shaun Stulz, and Rick Thorne. People freaked when we showed up to parks in places like Grants Pass, Oregon, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. We got the surprise factor that I’d hoped to achieve with our original secret tour (but never seemed to catch on video). Some highlights:
Showing up to Great Falls, Montana, an hour before dark and watching the crowd grow like wildfire once word spread that we were there. It was such a scene that the cops started issuing tickets to people (including our tour manager) not wearing helmets. Mike V. and I confronted one overzealous officer about humiliating kids by putting them in the back of the cop car while writing their tickets. Not surprisingly, this exchange did not go well and ended with Mike and me leaving the park in protest while hundreds of kids booed the cops. Within minutes, four more patrol cars showed up, and a no-helmet ticketing frenzy ensued. Why provide a facility to keep kids from skating on the streets if you’re just going to hassle them at that very place? Fish in a barrel, I suppose.
Bam coming along on a skate-only trip. He’s been so overwhelmed with his MTV show and various movie projects that he hasn’t had time to focus on his skating much. He was ripping by the end.
Watching everyone’s reactions when they first encountered stingrays in Cayman. It transformed a group of scarred and tattooed skaters into shrieking kids, jumping out of waist-deep water in fits of fright and delight.
Going to a middle school in Helena, Montana, and announcing that we would be at the skatepark down the street after school, then skating through the gym to the surprise of the P.E. students. The park was packed once the bell rang.
Turning our demo in Athens, Georgia, into a last-minute fundraiser for Katrina victims. There was no entry fee, but spectators were encouraged to make a $10 donation, and all concession proceeds went to the fund. Marriott agreed to match any money raised. Total take: about $30,000.
Mike V. and me.
August–November 2007
France, Germany, NYC, NC, LA, SF
I spent my last summer days hanging out with the kids and killing myself for The Beginning, our new Birdhouse video. The alley-oop backside ollie over a 20-foot channel was my favorite trick that happened spontaneously. The premiere happened less than a week after I got my last few tricks. The most exciting aspect of the video for me is that Riley has his own legitimate part and his stuff is good. It’s been nine years since we released a video. Here’s what else happened:
Over the course of 10 days, I traveled to NYC twice to do a mélange of TV shows and appearances
: TRL, MSNBC, Fox & Friends, ESPN, Yahoo!, Fuse, The Naked Brothers Band, a Laureus dinner, and an appearance for Steiner Sports. At least there’s plenty of good food in Manhattan to enjoy between obligations.
Had Thanksgiving at my brother’s house in Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco. We hired a boat to check out Maverick’s, the big-wave spot, which was breaking thanks to a rare swell. Our skipper put us a little too close to the action, and we barely made it over the shoulder of one of the biggest waves of the day. It felt like we dropped 40 feet on the way down the back. My mom was on the tip of the bow. She thought it was fun.
December 2007–February 2008
Compton, Vegas, Woodward, Hawaii, Whistler, LA
Every time I feel like things are starting to slow down, they blow up again. The holidays were no exception. My wife and I found out we’re having a baby, which will be my first girl! This was not spontaneous or romantic, but the fruit of a full year of fertility treatments, dozens of shots in her stomach and hips, hope, worry, and tireless disappointment. Modern medicine is amazing . . . and expensive. But it works! We can’t wait for our June baby. Meanwhile, I’ve been skating nonstop. So has Riley; he’s turned into an amazing street skater, better than I ever imagined. I hope he’ll teach me switch flips soon. Here is what else I’ve been up to:
Presented the City of Compton with the check for their skatepark during a city council meeting. I still can’t believe we raised $60,000 in a matter of minutes at our last fundraiser.
Attended the 2007 Spike Video Game Awards. I flew in, handed out an award, and flew home. I was in Vegas for only a few hours—a most uneventful trip to Sin City.
Spent the New Year in Kauai with my family and the Underhills. It had been Ray’s dream to take a helicopter tour in Hawaii and we made it happen. It rained most of the time, but it didn’t stop our kids from surfing Hanalei every day. Kilauea is incredible even when it’s pouring.
Went to Whistler, BC, for one day at the request of Benji Weatherley for his film project. Rode powder all day with Todd Richards, Shane Dorian, Jake Burton, and Tosh Townend, then flew home the next morning.
Mia Hamm Celebrity Soccer Challenge. Mia asked if I could join her cause to register potential bone marrow donors by playing in a soccer match with other celebrities and some soccer pros. I’ve never played a real game of soccer in my life, so it was intimidating to be out in front of thousands of people my first time on the pitch. It was more fun and way more work than I had assumed. Rivers Cuomo (of Weezer) was one of many on my team who took it seriously, but it seems that he takes everything seriously. The most rewarding aspect was seeing the donors and recipients meet (for the first time ever) during halftime.
March–June 2008
Russia, Japan, Vegas, Hospital!
It’s been hard to keep a journal with things in a state of flux recently. It seems like we have been awaiting the arrival of our daughter for nearly two years (well, we have in some ways), and all plans were tentative until her arrival. Here is what happened during those last months of her incubation:
Went to St. Petersburg, Russia, for the Laureus Awards. Lhotse and I were lucky to have Miki Vuckovich (head of the TH Foundation) as our tour guide. He lived in St. Pete during the oppressive years and was able to give us insight about many of the landmarks and customs. The most exciting part for me was buying an Ushanka hat (with earflaps) and being offered cans of caviar by a street hustler. I wish we had time to skate, but we were there for only two nights.
Took a family trip to Japan. It was something I always wanted to share with my mom, brother, and sisters since my first visit. It was fun to see their faces upon first seeing sushi and dried octopus at 7-Elevens, and to share barbequed squid-on-a-stick from a street vendor.
The only downside was missing the Kids’ Choice Awards and finding out too late that I’d won the award for favorite male athlete. But nothing will replace the memories of Kyoto and searching all day for the skatepark with Riley. It’s not the destination, it’s the journey that matters.
Turned 40 in style with a Big Lebowski bowling bash in Las Vegas. Careful, man, there’s a beverage here.
On June 30, 2008, we welcomed Kadence into the world. My first daughter. She looks just like her beautiful mommy. Her brothers are very excited. Life will never be the same. I can’t wait.
May 12–16, 2010
Woodward Skate Camp Opening, Beijing, China
The flight from SFO to Beijing had so many skaters on board it looked like a chartered jet. Who would summon such a crew across the world? Woodward Skate Camp and their first international installation: Woodward Beijing.
We landed 12 hours later and shuttled straight to the new facility, which is amazing: a full-size street course, three separate bowls connected by spines and wall rides, a foampit for launching, two mini-Megaramps, and two vert ramps. Jet lag was quickly forgotten. Curren Caples chose one of the biggest gaps in the place as his warmup while Riley, David Loy, and Aaron “Jaws” Homoki worked on their Megaramp tricks into the foam pit. After a couple hours of skating and delirious sweating, we went inside for a traditional Chinese buffet with dish names like “meat with pineapple” and “exploding goat.”
Not long after, my two-year-old daughter passed out from exhaustion. The rest of us weren’t far behind.
Day Two started at 3:30 A.M. with a tiny girl’s voice calling, “Dada, Yo Gabba Gabba please.” No use trying to explain the concept of jet lag to a two-year-old. After a short morning skate session, we took tours of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, then headed to the Quiksilver store in Sanlitun. Quiksilver is doing a great job of importing the boardsports culture to China in a way that doesn’t look too Western or far out. Still, people had no idea what to make of a grown American man skateboarding around the streets, especially when he puts his blond daughter on the front for rides along the walkways. They were also tripping on Kevin Staab’s purple hair.
On Day Three, we visited the Great Wall, where vendors did everything they could to block our path in hopes of selling us T-shirts, chess sets, stamps, books, noodles, dried fruit, and cliché hats. The best sales tactic was to put a small Chinese flag in the hand of my daughter, who refused to let it go, giving me no choice but to pay for it. It wasn’t until we were riding a chairlift to the top that we got a sense of how massive the Great Wall really is.
On the day of the grand opening, everything was scheduled down to five-minute intervals. The Chinese government (including a “Chairman of Extreme Sports”) doesn’t mess around when it comes to their time. It was a long day, with demos, speeches, cheerleaders, and a lunch featuring such delicacies as “fried sausage” and “chicken string.” Many of us fell asleep by 7:00 P.M., only to be awakened an hour later by fireworks right next to the hotel. My daughter liked all of the colors but none of the noise. Now she wants me to go buy “more fire.”
Tweets, 2009–2010
Dear Santa: I would once again like to have rock/punk/hip hop songs stuck in my head instead of Elmo melodies. Sincerely, Tony.
I just hid a skateboard between two trash cans at Abbey Road Studios. Go now.
Abbey Road has been found, so please stop lurking around there like a 5th Beatle.
Dear Kia: Including Muno & Sock Monkey in a commercial has added a very young female to your demographic. Expect her purchase in 16 years.
My daughter Kady.
Anyone out there connected with the A-Team movie? Looking for a PR or promo connection…
The power of Twitter, exemplified: I hadn’t secured a car for Gumball Rally as of today. A friend: “What about the A-Team van?” (cont’d).
“The movie is out soon. They might let you use it for promotion,” I tweet; @iambenlyons responds with contact info at Fox.
Five hours later we secure the van (the ACTUAL movie prop). That JUST happened thanks to Natalie at Fox. I love it when a plan comes together.
Dear media outlets and event organizers: I am not your link to Shaun White. He wi
ll not magically appear in my presence. Sincerely, Tony.
My 10-year-old’s review of an English park: “This is the sketchiest playground EVER! It’s AWESOME!” Lack of liability laws = fun for kids.
When asked what tattoo he would ever consider getting, my 10-year-old paused & said: “The words ‘Does this make me look fat?’ on my belly.”
Me to my ultra-finicky 11-yr-old: “What would it take to try new food?” Him: “What can I ask for?” Me: “Whatever.” Him: “Half of California.”
Waterboarding is so 2006. Getting kicked in the head by a squirming toddler all night is the new torture.
Kid at skatepark: “You met my grandma Karen one time! Do you remember her?” Me: “Not exactly, sorry.” Him: “Was she wearing a pink shirt?”
Don’t you hate it when a baby is loud & squirming an entire overseas flight? You could never be “those” people. We have become those people.
12
GIVING BACK
Family, friends, Regis, and a very smart fifth-grader help me build a charity
From:
To:
Subject: your #1 fan and i mean it
Dear Tony Hawk,
I keep asking my dad if he can build me a little skatepark, but he’s always like, “I’m too busy.” There is a big skatepark here but there are a lot of big kids who swear and knock me over. So if you have any extra time, could you come to my house and build one with me?