Tony Hawk’s street skating career may have been brief, but in fairness, it definitely had its moments. And his lipslide down Roosevelt Middle School’s iconic 12-stair handrail for a 1997 Airwalk ad was certainly one of them. Looking back on it now, he calls it the peak (and maybe the end) of his handrail era. Was it!?
Shoot, might have been. Regardless, peep the ad and listen to the story straight from The Birdman himself below. Crazy to think that it almost didn’t go down.
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Reflecting on the ad, Tony wrote this on Instagram:
“Airwalk Ad, 1997. This was the exact moment that my handrail skating peaked (or the moment I overestimated my waning street skills). Daniel Sturt and I drove down to this rail on a weekend but there was a car parked at the bottom because they sometimes used this lot for SD Zoo overflow parking. I was secretly relieved to not have to try a perilous lipslide, or at least save it for another day. Just as we were circling the lot and about to exit, the offending vehicle pulled out, clearing my landing zone for the task at hand. I got wheel bite trying to land my first two attempts, sending me into the unforgiving asphalt palms-first, and making my hands look like equal parts gravel and blood. The third attempt worked so I drove straight home to lick my wounds and consciously end my fading street career.”
Related: Birdhouse Meets Baker: Tony Hawk’s New “Riley’s Dad” Graphic is Pure Gold
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I absolutely love stories like this. This was a time in skateboarding when ads like this were plastered on the walls of countless skateboarders homes across the globe, but to hear how it all went down—the struggles, battles, close calls, etc.—makes the photo that much better, in my opinion. Especially from Tony!
Hey, I love me some Street Hawk and I know you do, too. Thanks as always to Tony for taking us on a little trip down memory lane. The guy truly has stories for days.
