Tony Hawk’s first “900” made skateboard history at the 1999 X Games — like Roger Bannister’s first sub-4-minute mile in 1954.
The Birdman? Exactly 17 years to the day after his milestone first, the San Diego icon landed another 900 Monday — at age 48. (He also did the trick at 43.)
The proof is in the video, nearing 450,000 views after a day.
“I never thought I would be doing this at my age when I was young,” Hawk says at an indoor venue with a handful of witnesses. “I’m still going. I’ll keep on going until the wheels fall off.”
In 1999, he was first to land 2 1/2 midair revolutions on a skateboard — on his 12th attempt, saying: “This is the best day of my life.” More than a dozen others have since replicated the feat.
As CNN noted: “The skater had said he had attempted the stunt for years before finally landing the 900 at the 1999 X Games in San Francisco, the same year his son Spencer was born. The two revisited the moment Monday when the skateboarding legend once again attempted what is often known as one of the sport’s most difficult tricks.”
“Spencer was there at my first one,” Hawk says. “Now he was there on my last.”
Here’s my 900 at age 48. Sincere thanks to @Nixon_Now & @MINIUSA for believing in this middle-aged skateboarder: https://t.co/Ga9Jy0DgIr
— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) June 28, 2016
17 years ago today, @tonyhawk nailed the first ever 900 at the @XGames. pic.twitter.com/BwCUqjuFUL
— Complex Sports (@Complex_Sports) June 28, 2016
Here’s the first 900 Tony Hawk landed in 1999. #GOAT pic.twitter.com/SK07uM2QCW
— Andrew Mucci (@AndMucc) June 28, 2016