Tony Hawk on Surviving the 1991 Skateboarding Crash
How Tony Hawk survived a sudden industry collapse in 1991 with two mortgages, slashed sponsorships, and odd jobs in Hollywood.
Tony Hawk inspiring us for 72 minutes straight
With Sam Parr, Shaan Puri, Tony Hawk · Sunday, September 13, 2026
Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk joins Sam Parr and Shaan Puri to discuss the trajectory of his career, from scraping by during skateboarding's downturn in the early 1990s to landing the historic 900 and building a global brand. Hawk details turning down a $500,000 buyout for Activision's Pro Skater royalties, managing his investment portfolio and businesses like Birdhouse, and adapting his physical routines to continue skating near age 60.
Key takeaways
- Tony Hawk made six figures as a teenager in the late 1980s, bought two houses, and then watched his monthly income drop by half repeatedly during the 1991 skateboarding downturn. Read more →
- Tony Hawk insisted on full creative control and beta testing with hardcore skaters before signing his deal with Activision. Read more →
- Tony Hawk founded Birdhouse Skateboards in 1992 during an industry downturn, keeping it alive through lean periods by subsidizing team rider salaries with external licensing revenue. Read more →
- Tony Hawk broke his femur and rushed back onto his board too early, causing the bone to shift out of place around a titanium rod and requiring a full surgical reset. Read more →
- Tony Hawk spent a full decade failing to complete the 900 before landing the trick at the 1999 X Games. Read more →
- Tony Hawk built The Skatepark Project into an engine that has funded and helped create nearly 1,000 public skateparks across underserved communities since 2002. Read more →
6 articles from this episode
Tony Hawk: Why I Rejected Activision's $500,000 Buyout
Tony Hawk turned down a $500K buyout from Activision, kept his video game royalties, and collected a $4.5M check. Here is the lesson.
Tony Hawk on Licensing, 900 Films, and Angel Deals
Tony Hawk breaks down how licensing subsidizes Birdhouse, his 900 Films production setup, and his angel investing rules for tech startups.
Tony Hawk on Physical Longevity and 'Finding Your Kickflip'
Tony Hawk breaks down his spine and hip warmup routine and how to maintain athletic performance after severe injury near age 60.
Tony Hawk on the Brutal Psychology of the 900
Tony Hawk explains the mental commitment and total elimination of doubt required to land skateboarding's historic 900 at the 1999 X Games.
Tony Hawk on Building 1,000 Parks with Endorsement Revenue
Tony Hawk funded nearly 1,000 public skateparks by carving 10 to 20 percent out of endorsement deals. Here is how his concrete model works.
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