Tony Hawk profiled in 1986

December 16, 1986
The Carlsbad skateboarding phenom Tony Hawk was 18 years old when CBS 8's Linda Mour met him at his home. He showed off his signature moves and talked about how strange it was to be recognized on the streets. He was in movies and commercials and had his own clothing line. Once all the fame and fortune has passed, then he'll go to college, Mour said. In 2022 fame and fortune hasn't passed and likely never will.
John Howard interviews Tony Hawk and shows him a 1986 CBS 8 profile about him...the first time he's seen it since it aired.
Jake Garegnani shows Skip Frye our film of him in a skateboarding championship in Anaheim in 1965--he also hasn't seen it since it aired. Another awesome 1965 film clip of kids skating through La Jolla is in this story.
John Howard talks to Tom Stewart about his half pipe invention and reminisces about the 1977 video--the only one that exists. It was recently dug out of our archive and caused quite a sensation among skateboarders.
Marcus Greaves catches up with Russ Howell. We featured him in a 1978 contest in Oceanside. All these years later, he still has the moves...amazing!!

[secretsauceskateboarding]

Reporter: “Once all the fame and fortune has passed…”

Tony: 36 years later and literally a global icon.

[OFFICIALBARNS]

The fact they played Danger zone in the background of Tony’s Interview is legendary

[dcbnyc]

as an 80’s kid who worshipped the bones brigade, now as an adult, what sticks out the most to me is how much support he must have had from his family. when i was watching them as a kid i was fighting my parents every year just to buy me new wheels from all the flat spots. Tony Hawk is what you get when the best talent gets the best support. legend

[spencerb]

You gotta love how honest Tony is. He doesn't put on persona in front of cameras. Tony is Tony, always himself, and never anything less!

[desktorp]

it's pretty amazing that Tony Hawk is 500 years old and still rollerskating

[jayray]

He’s one of the people who actually deserve the money he’s a great guy with great talent he been doing for so long and he’s the Og of skateboarding

[grantcanty]

and in an alternate universe, tony hawk is a world renowned mathemetician

[blaisefilms]

"you don't expect people to recognize you walking down the street"
Oh trust me young tony, they won't.

[gamerman]

18 years old and he's already got a super sick logo, I think this guy is going places.

[skahler]

I love the fact he had to fight through the early 90's just to land his grand fortune. His career tanked before it went sky high, and he fought through it and skated and skated when he was getting a chance.

[catchreload]

Once all the fame and fortune has passed.... then he'll go to college....

The College- "We are still waiting"

[Bigmummy]

This kid has promise! I can’t wait to see him progress!

[ArtistTheArtist]

He went from “It’s weird having people recognize you, I’m just a guy.” To “People don’t realize that I AM Tony Hawk…”
Edit: I’m poking fun at how people don’t realize they’re talking *TO* Tony Hawk, based on his tweets, I DID NOT mean to make it sound like he’s arrogant or anything, sorry y’all!

[aquaticlibrary]

The streets love Tony Hawk. Such a genuinely good dude

[jeremimcdonald]

Once all the fame and fortune has passed lol.

[basedinstinct]

Hes probably the most humble ultra famous person ever.

[Giambis]

Tony was making around $100k a year at this point at this age. And in 1986 that was around $220k in todays money. That house you saw behind him was probably valued at around $60, 000 then for a Carlsbad, California home. Just food for thought.

[MrBaskins]

"then he'll go to college" lol

[MyName-vgyu]

damn the man really stayed pure this whole time. mvp.

[armorykittington]

Seems like a good kid. Hope he's successful.