The Origin Story of Tony Hawk's Birdhouse

You probably know the name Tony Hawk. He's one of the most famous and influential skaters of all time, and he's also the founder of Birdhouse, a skateboard company that has been around since 1992. But how did Birdhouse come to be, and what makes it so special? Here's the story of Tony Hawk's skateboard company.

Tony Hawk started skating when he was nine years old, and he quickly became a prodigy. He turned pro at 14, and by 16, he was one of the best vert skaters in the world. He won dozens of contests, invented hundreds of tricks, and appeared in movies, TV shows, and video games. He was living the dream, but he also faced some challenges.

In the late 80s and early 90s, skateboarding went through a slump. Vert skating was losing popularity, and street skating was taking over. Many skate companies went out of business, and Tony Hawk was struggling to find sponsors. He decided to take matters into his own hands, and start his own company.

He teamed up with fellow skater Per Welinder, who had his own distribution company called Blitz. They wanted to create a brand that would represent their vision of skateboarding, and cater to both vert and street skaters. They came up with the name Birdhouse, inspired by Tony's nickname "The Birdman".

Birdhouse was launched in 1992, with a roster of talented skaters like Jeremy Klein, Steve Berra, Willy Santos, and Ocean Howell. They released their first video, Feasters, in 1993. They also started making innovative products, like decks with different shapes and sizes, wheels with different hardnesses and colors, and trucks with different heights and widths.

Birdhouse soon became one of the leading skate companies in the industry. They attracted more skaters to their team, like Andrew Reynolds, Heath Kirchart, Bucky Lasek, Brian Sumner, and Steve Nesser. They released more videos, like The End in 1998, which featured some of the most memorable stunts and skits in skate history. They also expanded their product line, with clothing, accessories, toys, and even a cereal!

Tony Hawk also became a household name, thanks to his legendary performance at the 1999 X Games, where he landed the first ever 900 degree spin on a skateboard. He also launched his own video game series, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, which introduced millions of people to skateboarding culture and music. He became an ambassador for the sport, doing demos around the world, creating skateparks and foundations, and appearing in countless media outlets.

Birdhouse is still going strong today, with a new generation of skaters like Aaron "Jaws" Homoki, Ben Raybourn, Clint Walker, David Loy, Lizzie Armanto, Shawn Hale, and Tony Hawk's son Riley Hawk. They continue to make quality products that reflect their passion for skateboarding. They also keep making videos that inspire skaters of all ages and levels.