Pro Circuit Skateboarding
How many skateboarders turn pro every year?
I would say that from Tampa, going from the Tampa Am to Pro ranks, that there's maybe a hundred every year, maybe less, but I'd say there's only maybe ten that make it, you know. Probably less even. There's probably even less than ten that really make it because being a pro skater nowadays is just like with surfing. It's really not about how well you do in contests and stuff. It's really about your image.
What kind of money can a pro-skateboarder make?
I would say it does vary quite a bit. But I would say maybe some guys, they are lucky if they make twenty grand a year. And then there's other guys that probably make like ten million dollars a year. Just depending on what kind of endorsements they have and how much travelling they do. Because if you travel all over the world and enter all these different contests and you are winning not only the purses from the contests and actually getting paid by your sponsors, but like a guy like Tony Hawk, I would say in a year... I really couldn't say. He could have been making much more than I can even guesstimate.
What makes pro skateboarding tricks different from amateur skateboarding tricks?
The technical aspect of it and also the, more than anything, the amplitude. And the style, like the confidence that a pro skater has. Like, where an amateur skater will maybe go a little sketchy but pull like something pretty hard, like a difficult trick but maybe go three feet out and not make it look easy. A pro skater will go eight feet out and make it look totally solid and make it look just, like, effortless.
What's your warning for skateboarders who want to turn pro?
I think the warning, the basic warning for me would be to learn to fall. That's like probably one of the main things is like, along with learning how to skateboard really well, you better learn how to fall. You better learn how to bounce back and like basically maybe even have some skills that come from tumbling or from Judo or from even if you're a diver or a swimmer or anything, any other type of athletic thing that you've been into at a younger age, to where it gives you not only a center of balance, but also when you're actually in the air and out of control or in a bad situation, you know how to get out of that situation in the safest way possible.
What qualities do pro skaters have?
Most pro skaters are pretty charismatic. There are a few guys that are super boring and dull and don't have much of a personality. Some guys can grow with that. I didn't think Tony Hawk was that interesting when he was a kid. I thought he was really boring, as a matter of fact. And then with his skateboarding, with his popularity, he became more comfortable, I think, in front of the camera. He started to grow and started to mature, to the point where now, he's an actor, pretty much. He's a full-on charismatic, he has an image. He's interesting. I think that's a perfect example of how you can start out really whitebread and then put some spice into it. Then there are other kids that right off the bat they're interesting. They're really charismatic, they're really good in front of a camera, they're good on and off the board. Guys like Christian Hosoi. He's the anti- to what Tony was, back at the time.
What type of attitude should I have as a pro?
Confident but not too cocky I would say. You've got to have that air of confidence but also, I think that it's good to have a little bit of humility sometimes. To be able to relate to your fans and to people that you work with, with grace and not be like totally controlled by ego. At the same time when you're able to actually get out there and get on board, just to have that strength and your internal confidence and strength that it takes to be successful in what you do.
Do looks matter for a pro skateboarder?
Sometimes they matter a lot because it's a matter of being presentable, especially on camera, because there's so much media attention now when it comes to skateboarding. I think that you want to have a well-rounded image. I don't think that hair or the clothes you wear make that big of a difference, but the way you carry yourself and your attitude, whether you look comfortable in your own skin. You have to be comfortable with yourself. I think that that shows. It has a lot to do with confidence, and eventually maturity. Also your attitude towards life.
Do skateboarders live a rockstar lifestyle?
I think a lot of them start out with it and then as they get older, they kind of realize maybe that's not the path to head down. Some of the young ones that start out that way sometimes don't make it. They either fall out of the scene or they have businesses that fail or they end up getting like basically in trouble; not only financially but also a lot of guys end up injuring themselves or having problems with addiction or alcoholism, stuff like that. That can all be remedied through different paths and solutions but some of them just never get it. And they just burn out really fast. The only ones that have been around for quite a while are guys like myself; guys who finally get it and finally know that it's all fine and dandy when you're young and can burn the candle at both ends but when it comes down to it, you've got to find your own path in life.
