Tony Hawk Trick Tips

Professional skateboarder Tony Hawk is credited with inventing over 80 skateboarding tricks. The popularity of his tricks has led to their incorporation in several different video games as well as a series of trick tip films and a trick tip cell phone application. Tony is more than happy to share his skateboarding advice with the world, but perhaps the best advice he has given to young skaters is to practice a lot. As a kid, Tony routinely practiced for six hours a day.

  1. The 900

    • Of all the tricks Tony Hawk is credited with inventing, the 900 may be his most famous. As it names suggests, in involves a 900 degree rotation: two 360s and a 180. Tony attempted this trick for several years without success, but finally landed it on live TV at the 1999 X Games. It is one of the hardest tricks to master; use extreme caution if attempting a 900. Completing a 900 will require a large ramp, and you will need to go as fast as you possibly can. Pro skater Steve Badillo recommends doing back-to-back backside airs and to huck yourself or go airborne while trying to spin backside.

    The Madonna

    • Tony Hawk named the Madonna after the famous pop singer. The trick is combination of a one-footed lien air and a lien to tail. A lien air is when you grand the nose or heel of the board with your front hand while catching air. To complete the trick, do a frontside air, pop off the coping with your back wheels and grab the nose. Take your front foot off of the board and kick your leg down. When landing, aim the tail to hit first and step on the tail with your back foot returning your front foot to the board.

    The Airwalk

    • Tony Hawk's Airwalk involves getting both feet off the board. Skate into a frontside air. Grab the nose of the board as you hit the lip and lift both feet off the board. The front leg should kick out judo style, while the back moves into a simple frigid position. As the board lands, return both feet to it.

    General Tips

    • Tony Hawk maintains a question-and-answer section at his website, where he offers fans and amateur skateboarders tips and advice as well as producing the line of trick tips films which show skaters, step by step, how to complete basic and more complex tricks. Some of his best advice to young skaters is to practice and to have confidence in their ability to pull off increasingly more difficult tricks.