The Biggest Men’s Pro Skateboarder Athletes in the World
By
Will Brown
Contributor Updated: 08 October 2024
Will Brown Contributor
William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.
Pro Skateboarder Athletes
After the exciting second showcasing of professional skateboarding at the Olympics, the sport is undergoing a resurgence in popularity not seen since the early 2000s. But if you’re completely new to the sport, you may be wondering which men’s pro skateboarder is the most successful and famous. In this guide, we’ve highlighted former, current, and emerging men’s skateboarders who have left their mark on the sport, from icon Tony Hawk to top-ranked athlete Tate Carew.
Intro to Pro Men’s Skateboarding
To kick off this guide to the men’s famous skateboarder athletes, we’ve shared a brief history of professional skateboarding. From there, we’ve broken down the 10 biggest skateboarders, including former athletes who put the sport on the map to the emerging talent who have succeeded in the Olympics.
From there, we’ve looked at the major skateboarding competitions that you can watch and even bet on. We have also looked at how the world rankings work before sharing some insights into the future of professional skateboarding. You can use the following buttons to jump to each section.
- The History of Professional Skateboarding
- The 10 Biggest Skateboarders
- Major Skateboarding Competitions
- How Rankings Work
- The Future of Pro Skateboarding
The History of Pro Skateboarding
After the sport was invented in the 1950s in California, professional men’s skateboarding emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This surfing-inspired sport saw iconic athletes such as Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta, known as the Z-Boys, dominate in contests and inspire a new generation to take up the counterculture activity.
In 1976, the world’s first international skateboarding championship was hosted, which legitimized the sport and marked skateboarding’s growing popularity. In the 1980s, vertical skateboarding was introduced to highlight aerial tricks, with pro skateboarder Tony Hawk pushing the boundaries of what was once thought possible. In the 1990s, he was joined by other icons such as Rodney Mullen.
In 1995, the X Games was launched to provide a platform for pro skateboarders, and the sport hit the mainstream with youth. As skateboarding culture dominated in the early 2000s, the sport had cemented its place in the zeitgeist. The next biggest milestone was achieved in 2021 when skateboarding debuted in the Tokyo Olympics. It then returned for the 2024 Paris games.
The Top 10 Male Famous Skateboarder Athletes
Without further adieu, we want to showcase the biggest names in men’s skateboarding. We have chosen to honor both the former icons and emerging athletes in this section to help inform you of the sport’s history and future. This is all useful information to have when betting on the Olympics.
Tony Hawk
Undoubtedly the most famous skateboarder of all time, Tony Hawk, or “The Birdman” is a legend in the sport whose innovative tricks revolutionized the sport. He is best known for being the first skateboarder to land a 900 in 1999. With many X Games medals to his name, Hawk also built a major media empire with his Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game series.
Nyjah Huston
American skateboarder Nyjah Huston is routinely regarded to be one of the best contest street skateboarders of all time. Over the past decade, he has won multiple X Games and Street League Skateboarding (SLS) titles and won a bronze at the 2024 Olympic men’s street event. His competitive spirit, inimitable style, and precision have made him one of the top-paid athletes in the sport.
Tate Carew
Tate Carew is an up-and-coming American skateboarder who has quickly earned a reputation for his fearlessness and technical skills. Carew excels in both park and street disciplines, and as of June 2024, was the top-ranked athlete in the Olympics skateboarding rankings. He has also performed well in the X Games, showcasing versatility and innovation.
Rodney Mullen
Referred to as the “Godfather of Street Skating”, few other athletes have influenced the sport quite like Rodney Mullen. As a technical master and innovator, Mullen is the inventor of tricks such as the kickflip, heelflip, and 360 flips. His wide influence on younger generations of athletes cannot be understated.
Keegan Palmer
Keegan Palmer is an emerging Australian skateboarder who specializes in park skateboarding. He shot to recognition after winning a gold medal in the park event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics only to follow it up with a gold medal win in the Paris 2024 Games. Cementing himself as the best skateboarder for park events, Palmer is known for his fluid style and tricks such as the 540 and kickflip indy.
Yuto Horigome
Japanese men’s skateboarding pro Yuto Horigome has quickly risen to fame as a street skateboarder. Horigome made history by winning the first Olympic gold medal in street skateboarding in Tokyo, impressing the judges with his technical precision and effortless execution of complex tricks. Horgome has claimed multiple titles in Street League Skateboarding with signature tricks such as the Nollie 270 and switch kickflip.
Paul Rodriguez (P-Rod)
For more than a decade, Paul Rodriguez or P-Rod has been a prominent talent. He has won multiple X Games medals and is known for his smooth style and technical abilities. He has also reached broader popularity outside of the sport, with several signature shoe lines with Nike SB. Like Hawk, Rodriguez has been instrumental in keeping interest in skateboarding alive.
Chris Cole
Chris Cole has won multiple SLS and X Games titles and is celebrated for his versatility across different contest types and terrains. Cole has proven adept at landing difficult tricks in both vertical and street environments, making him a respected and influential figure among other pros. He is sponsored by countless streetwear and skateboarding brands and is an entrepreneur.
Gavin Bottger
Gavin Bottger is an emerging skateboarding talent who is known for his prowess in both vert and park skateboarding. Despite his age, he has competed in prestigious events such as the X Games and Vans Park Series. Signature tricks include high-speed 540s and technical lip tricks. A landmark achievement saw him win gold at the 2023 World Skateboarding Championship.
Tom Schaar
Tom Schaar will forever go down in history for being the first person to land a 1080. Not only this, but he pulled off the landmark at the age of 12. He has continued to be a formidable talent in vert skateboarding, winning silver at the 2024 Games in the park contest. He is adept at complex tricks, winning several X Games titles.
Major Skateboarding Competitions
Professional skateboarding competitions have evolved since the first official contests were hosted in the 1970s. The X Games, launched in 1995, continues to be one of the most prestigious events, attracting top skateboarders from around the world to showcase their skills. Street League Skateboarding (SLS) is a premier league for street skating, with elaborate, high-stakes courses.
The Dew Tour includes multiple skateboarding disciplines, while the Tampa Pro is a grassroots event that is renowned for giving emerging talent their break. For park terrain skating, the Vans Park Series is widely respected, and the Red Bull Bowl Rippers provide unique bowl environments to challenge skaters.
The modern pro skateboarder may now look to earn a place in the Olympic Games, which provides global recognition and a new career peak for professional skaters to aspire to. All of these contests have earned their place in the pro skateboarding calendar and are instrumental in incubating talent and stoking innovation.
How Rankings Work
World rankings for professional men’s skateboarding are managed by World Skate. This is the international governing body of the sport and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Rankings are based on points accumulated through performances at officially recognized events throughout the year. These include the World Skateboarding Championships, Continental Championships, Pro Tour events, and Five-Star events.
In these events, skateboarders earn points for their performance. Ranking points are then awarded based on the pro skateboarder’s finishing position in each competition. Some events offer higher point values based on their prestige. The Olympic Skateboarding Rankings, are determined using a similar system but only focus on a specific qualification period leading up to the games.
The Future of Pro Skateboarding
Some of the skateboarder guys showcased on this page represent the future of the sport, with skateboarding continuing to attract attention and recognition after its inclusion in the Olympics. As skate parks are improved, the community expands, and technology advances, the sport will continue to evolve. It is also likely to get a major boost as women’s professional skateboarding undergoes a surge in popularity.
