The Most Influential Skateboarders of All Time
The most influential skateboarders of all time are more than just some of the greatest to ever step on the board. These dudes (and Elissa Steamer) have made major contributions to skateboarding throughout their careers, from pushing the boundaries of what was ever thought possible to bringing their own style and energy to the culture. Proving themselves to be the best skateboarders of all time, the legends to follow have influenced skaters all over the world.
Whether you're talking top street skaters or the world's best vert skaters, everyone you'll find on the list below has left a major mark on the skate industry. These impactful skateboarders include the likes of the godfather Tony Hawk, the always-entertaining Mark Gonzales, and the guy who brought flip tricks to real life, Rodney Mullen. Of course, you can't forget to mention John Cardiel, Danny Way, and Steve Caballero—though there are many others to consider. In short, these are some of the most important skateboarders to ever grace the streets and skate parks across the world. So, who do you think is the most influential skater ever?
Take a look at the skateboarders who changed the sport below and cast your votes for those who had the greatest impact on skateboarding as a whole.
- Age: 55
- Birthplace: USA, Florida, Gainesville
John Rodney Mullen (born August 17, 1966) is an American professional skateboarder, entrepreneur, inventor, and public speaker who practices freestyle skateboarding and street skateboarding. He is ...more - Age: 54
- Birthplace: Carlsbad, California, United States of America
Anthony Frank Hawk (born May 12, 1968) is an American professional skateboarder, actor and owner of the skateboard company Birdhouse. Hawk is well known for completing the first documented 900 and ...more - Age: 54
- Birthplace: USA, South Gate, California
Mark Gonzales (born June 1, 1968), also known as "Gonz" and "The Gonz", is an American professional skateboarder and artist. He is known in the skateboarding world as a top pioneer of modern street ...more - Age: 57
- Birthplace: San Jose, USA, California
Steve Caballero (born November 8, 1964 in San Jose, California) is an American professional skateboarder and musician. Caballero is known for the difficult tricks and air variations he invented for ...more - Age: 64
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, Venice, USA, California
Stacy Peralta (born October 15, 1957) is an American director and entrepreneur. He was previously a professional skateboarder and surfer with the Zephyr Competition Team, also known as the Z-Boys ...more - Age: 64
- Birthplace: USA, California, Santa Monica
Tony Alva (born September 2, 1957) is an American skateboarder, entrepreneur, and musician, most prominently known as a pioneer of vertical skateboarding and as one of the original members of the ...more - Age: 45
- Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Robert Dean Silva Burnquist (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʁɔbɛʁtʃ ˈdzĩː ˈsiwvɐ bɐ̃(ɹ)ˈkwistʃ]; born October 10, 1976) is a Brazilian-American professional skateboarder who competed for Brazil ...more - Age: 44
- Birthplace: USA, Florida, Lakeland
Andrew Reynolds (born June 6, 1978) is an American professional skateboarder known for co-founding Baker Skateboards in 2000 with artist Jay Strickland. He is now Baker Skateboard's sole owner. ...more - Age: 48
- Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, United States of America
Danny Way (born April 15, 1974) is an American professional skateboarder, company owner and rallycross driver who has been awarded Thrasher magazine's "Skater of the Year" award twice. He is known ...more - Age: 54
- Birthplace: California, United States of America
Christian Rosha Hosoi ( hoh-SOY; born October 5, 1967) is an American professional skateboarder. He is also known by the nicknames "Christ" and "Holmes". - 11Age: 53
- Birthplace: Lithuania
Natas Kaupas (born March 23, 1969) is an American professional skateboarder. He grew up in South Santa Monica, California in the area known as Dogtown and is of Lithuanian descent. He attended Santa ...more - Age: 47
- Birthplace: Bangkok, Thailand
Eric Koston (born April 29, 1975) is an American professional skateboarder and company owner. He has been featured in the Tony Hawk's video game series, and the Electronic Arts (EA) video games Skate ...more - 13Age: 47
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
Daewon David Song (born February 19, 1975) is a Korean-born American professional skateboarder, recognized for his skillful technical street skateboarding. He is co-owner of Thank You skateboards ...more - Age: 58
- Birthplace: USA, Pasadena, California
Robert Lance Mountain (born June 13, 1964) is a professional skateboarder and artist who was one of the prominent skateboarders throughout the 1980s, primarily due to his involvement with the Bones ...more - Dec. at 53 (1961-2014)
- Birthplace: USA, California, Santa Monica
Jay J. Adams (February 3, 1961 – August 15, 2014) was an American skateboarder who as a teen, was the youngest member of the Zephyr Competition Skateboarding Team (Z-Boys). His spontaneous freestyle ...more - Age: 45
- Birthplace: Lorain, Ohio, USA
Chad Muska (born May 20, 1977) is an American professional skateboarder and entrepreneur. In November 2012, Skin Phillips, editor-in-chief of Transworld Skateboarding, described Muska as "one of the ...more - Age: 52
- Birthplace: USA, Edison, New Jersey
Mike Vallely ( VAL-ə-lee; born June 29, 1970), also known as Mike V, is an American professional skateboarder, musician, actor, television personality, stuntman, and FHL hockey player. As of January ...more - 18Age: 47
- Birthplace: Dothan, Alabama
Jamie Thomas (born October 11, 1974) is an American professional skateboarder and skateboard industry entrepreneur. Thomas is the owner and founder of Zero Skateboards and Fallen Footwear, until he ...more - Age: 46
- Birthplace: Liverpool, United Kingdom
Geoffrey Joseph Rowley, Jr. (born 6 June 1976) is an English professional skateboarder, former co-owner of Flip Skateboards and owner of the Civilware Service Corporation. Rowley is a recipient of ...more - Age: 49
- Birthplace: Baltimore, USA, Dundalk, Maryland
Charles Michael "Bucky" Lasek ( LAY-sik; born December 3, 1972) is a professional skateboarder and rallycross driver. - 21Age: 45
- Birthplace: Dorchester, United Kingdom
Tom Penny (born 13 April 1977) is a professional skateboarder from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK). As of January 2013, Penny is sponsored by the Flip skateboard deck brand and his Cheech ...more - Age: 48
- Birthplace: San Jose, California, United States of America
John Joseph Cardiel (born December 14, 1973) is a professional skateboarder and snowboarder who has been a core member of the AntiHero Skateboards company since it was founded in 1995. - 23Age: 27
- Birthplace: Davis, California
Nyjah Imani Huston (born November 30, 1994) is an American professional skateboarder and was the overall champion at the Street League Skateboarding (SLS) competition series in 2010, 2012, 2014, ...more - Age: 46
- Birthplace: USA, California, San Francisco
Michael Shawn Carroll (born August 24, 1975) is a professional skateboarder from Daly City, California, United States. He is the co-founder and vice-president of Girl Skateboards and the co-founder ...more - Age: 50
- Birthplace: Garden Grove, USA, California
Ed Templeton (born July 28, 1972) is an American professional skateboarder, contemporary artist, and photographer. He is the founder of the skateboard company, Toy Machine, a company that he ...more