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Tony Hawk does his last ever ollie 540

Vermillion

Vermillion

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,717

You know, I was never attached to skating growing up. But like most people, I knew the name Tony Hawk. This video hurts me deeply.

I guess it's important to know your body's limits as you age. Even still, it hurts knowing there are those limits and moments and cool shit you'll literally never do again.

Eventually time consumes us - and everything we held dear. Then we fade away and die.

I'm happy he was able to hit that goal. A lot of people don't get the ability to say "this is where I stop, so just one more." For many of us, we race past a number of lasts without ever noticing.

Please enjoy the clip!
 
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Sign My Guestbook!

Member
May 26, 2018
12,907
Man... what a guy and what a personal moment. I imagine a ton of old memories shot back to him in an instant when he landed it. And then they were gone.
 
Psamtik

Psamtik

Member
Oct 27, 2017
4,132
Tony's a special guy, and his talent has shown incredible durability (to say nothing of his body). Good on him for knowing his limits; I expect he'll keep skating for many, many years to come, but he doesn't seem the type to Terry Funk it and just keep going until there's nothing left.
 
AnotherNils

AnotherNils

Member
Oct 27, 2017
10,187
I hate to say it, but I don't understand what the physical limitation is. Is it a lack of balance? Is there minute dexterity required which he can no longer perform?

As someone who has a terrible sense of balance and never got into skateboarding, I'm having trouble grasping the mechanics of his problem. It just looked like he was going too slow to me.
 
John Rabbit

John Rabbit

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,343
AnotherNils said:
I hate to say it, but I don't understand what the physical limitation is. Is it a lack of balance? Is there minute dexterity required which he can no longer perform?

As someone who has a terrible sense of balance and never got into skateboarding, I'm having trouble grasping the mechanics of his problem. It just looked like he was going too slow to me.
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He's almost 53 dude. Declining physical ability aside, he can't rely on his body to safely recover from falls/accidents/injuries the way he did 20-30 years ago.
 
gimmmick

gimmmick

Member
Nov 26, 2017
1,841
I'm surprised he's even still boarding. At his age, I'd be freaking out of getting a long term injury.
 
Senator Toadstool

Senator Toadstool

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,243
AnotherNils said:
I hate to say it, but I don't understand what the physical limitation is. Is it a lack of balance? Is there minute dexterity required which he can no longer perform?

As someone who has a terrible sense of balance and never got into skateboarding, I'm having trouble grasping the mechanics of his problem. It just looked like he was going too slow to me.
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He falls hes fucked. And your hand eye coordination goes with age? Are you shocked that there aren't 50 year olds in prosports?
 
texhnolyze

texhnolyze

Member
Oct 25, 2017
19,189
Indonesia
Living legend.

That was emotional indeed. I grew up with THPS games on PSX, competing with my friends and all. Skateboarding is not really a thing here, sadly, it was all bikes and rollerblades.
 
John Harker

John Harker

Knows things...
Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,048
Santa Destroy
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him a couple times and see him skate in person. Always came across as a genuinely good dude who really cared about what he does and what he means to people
 
AnotherNils

AnotherNils

Member
Oct 27, 2017
10,187
John Rabbit said:
He's almost 53 dude. Declining physical ability aside, he can't rely on his body to safely recover from falls/accidents/injuries the way he did 20-30 years ago.
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Senator Toadstool said:
He falls hes fucked. And your hand eye coordination goes with age? Are you shocked that there aren't 50 year olds in prosports?
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So most of those were aborted attempts rather than failed ones? As I said, I don't understand the sport so I don't understand what I'm watching.

Also, lighten up people, I understand age, but I don't understand the abilities involved. Like, is it as physically dependent as dunking a basketball is?
 
Poppy

Poppy

Member
Oct 25, 2017
14,717
corvallis, OR
AnotherNils said:
I hate to say it, but I don't understand what the physical limitation is. Is it a lack of balance? Is there minute dexterity required which he can no longer perform?

As someone who has a terrible sense of balance and never got into skateboarding, I'm having trouble grasping the mechanics of his problem. It just looked like he was going too slow to me.
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i assume every time he falls on his knees it feels like his legs are gonna crumble to dust
 
Mahonay

Mahonay

Member
Oct 25, 2017
28,824
Pencils Vania
AnotherNils said:
So most of those were aborted attempts rather than failed ones? As I said, I don't understand the sport so I don't understand what I'm watching.

Also, lighten up people, I understand age, but I don't understand the abilities involved. Like, is it as physically dependent as dunking a basketball is?
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Is this your first time ever witnessing skateboarding? I don’t understand your questions honestly.
 
AnotherNils

AnotherNils

Member
Oct 27, 2017
10,187
Mahonay said:
Is this your first time ever witnessing skateboarding? I don’t understand your questions honestly.
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What's the primary skill/ability required to perform an ollie 540º? Strength? Dexterity? Balance?

I understand you lose dexterity as you get older. Duh. And if it requires great strength/conditioning, that's easy to see why a 50 year-old can't do it. I have no clue as to how balance declines with age, but if it requires preternatural balance, then ok, I get it. But since I don't skateboard I don't know what skills he's using.
 
CommandThrower

CommandThrower

Member
Oct 26, 2017
3,528
I remember Tony Hawk doing a 900 in 2016; had a lot of falls, as you might expect at his age. He did do it, however.

I remember him throwing his helmet off after he did it, as if in a frustrated manner. The reaction from this ollie 540 seemed much more...uh, “victorious”, for lack of a better term. Either way, glad he could still perform his best tricks, even if it was the last time.
 
pennanton

pennanton

Member
Oct 31, 2017
325
AnotherNils said:
So most of those were aborted attempts rather than failed ones? As I said, I don't understand the sport so I don't understand what I'm watching.

Also, lighten up people, I understand age, but I don't understand the abilities involved. Like, is it as physically dependent as dunking a basketball is?
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How many 53 year old you know dunking basketballs? Now how many are doing vert tricks? The whole point is the dude is old and weathered from doing this most of his life. It’s a last hurrah. It’s not that complex.
 
HiLife

HiLife

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
21,722
One of my favorite athletes to watch growing up. It’s weird. I watch extreme sports the least out all sports, but seeing his age hits the hardest than others from traditional sports. It’s one of those “I’m glad I got to see him do legendary shit” on TV when I was younger type thing, for me.
 
mbpm

mbpm

Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,108
Must be a hell of a feeling, knowing when you've reached a limit set by age. Happiness that you still got it for that moment, sadness that you know it's downramp from here.
 
Senator Toadstool

Senator Toadstool

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,243
The one thing that amazed me was looking up the 900 on wiki and how tony I think was in his twenties (he was 31) when he did it and now 13 year olds are doing it.

In May of 2020, 11 year-old Brazilian Gui Khury became the first person to land a 1080 using only a vert ramp (no mega ramp, or lead in).
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THE FUCK ARE THESE KIDS TAKING?! This kid was born after Obama was elected. After the fiscal crash.
 
HiLife

HiLife

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
21,722
Nida said:
Is vert generally easier on the body when compared to street? Or does that depend on what kind of equipment one wears?
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I can’t say. But I think street is harder on the body just because of the constant ollies & kick/pushing you’re doing. Feels like I’m watching a HIIT video every time I see a flatland competition. Not to say that vert isn’t demanding because it is (see any vert tournament and how sweaty they are), but I’m assuming momentum plays a bigger factor in vert, although I do believe vert is more dangerous considering how high off the ground you get.
 
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