How Tony Hawk's 900 revolutionized skateboarding 🛹 | SC Featured

On June 27th, 1999, Tony Hawk became the world’s first skateboarder to land a 900. We look back at how this moment shaped the future of the sport, inspired a generation of skaters, cut through pop culture and elevated skateboarding into the mainstream.
✔️ Subscribe to ESPN+ espnplus.com/yo...
✔️ Get the ESPN App: www.espn.com/es...
✔️ Subscribe to ESPN on KZbin: es.pn/SUBSCRIBE...
✔️ Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on KZbin: bit.ly/SUBSCRIB...
✔️ Watch ESPN on KZbin TV: es.pn/KZbinTV

[@Johnsaechao1]

Tony Hawk was the “Jordan” of skateboarding when I was growing up..

[@noediaz2392]

Still is

[@Johnsaechao1]

@@noediaz2392 true.. the Goat ..

[@Julian-sl4we]

There is no was, just is

[@viento99]

I want to see MJ hit a vert ramp on a skateboard. He's 61 and a 180 kick turn will suffice.

[@Julian-sl4we]

@@viento99 how about Lupe and *Lil Wayne in a half bowl? Lol

[@joeschmoe5009]

It would be so awesome if you guys would release the whole broadcast, unedited so we could relive it as it was in the moment

[@tonyc5050]

I REMEMBER WATCHING THIS LIVE ON TV & YOU COULD FEEL THE INTENSITY OF WHAT THIS MOMENT MEANT.

[@motodorkjen]

Yeah. I was kinda interested in action sports, which was why I was watching the X Games, but that moment made me OBSESSED and it completely changed my life as a result.

[@Yungbeck]

Great spot ESPN! It never gets old. Incredible moment from the goat.

[@episodebeats2817]

I wish I could teleport to 1999 & stay there.

[@shellbournian]

my shins don't wanna go but my mind does

[@episodebeats2817]

@@shellbournian 🤣Hear ya

[@tonytom5242]

And 25 Years Later this man is a still a Living Legend... Skakeboarding became mainstream thanks to Tony and Countless skaters was born from this single point in history

[@the_last_mou]

few years ago dude landed another one at 48yo. dude still rocks that vert ramp like a god

[@jesreldesilva9882]

All respect for landing it. Tas Pappas was the first person to visualise its possibility

[@JuanRodriguez-fj1nk]

Danny Way, I'd say

[@tomtorrance9194]

🤣

[@Maik-i]

That's a true Fact! Tas Pappas stand the 900 first!!! and All his Air's was ALWAYS much Higher and Powerful moved!!! and He is the GOAT of Ramp!!! -

[@ryaneugenelawrencewalls1987]

Tony Hawk is the main reason why I've played Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video games 4:55

[@jacobwinkfield]

💪🏾👏🏾 up to all! Skateboarders. Y'all incredible in some of the stuff y'all can do💯

[@gabrielcassutto113]

In every video I have seen about the 900, no one ever mentions the serendipitous nature of the fact that the ad playing behind Tony when he does the first 900, is for Disney's Tarzan. A film for which animation is based off of Tony Hawk skating AND he later did the ad for the home release on VHS kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYPOpXt_iJeZersfeature=shared

[@ingry]

Tony landing the 900 is what made me ask my parents for a board when I was 8. Then my neighbor got the game on ps1 and nothings been the same since.

[@vladimirgreene1516]

Truer words have never been spoken.

[@fraticelli510]

I remember going to these X games in SF as a teen, they really need to bring them back!

[@GrainneCarney]

Michael Jordan, Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Hawk, Mat Hoffman, Jeff Gordon, Michael Schumacher, Carl Fogarty, Valentino Rossi .... the 90's had some legends

[@Rocks77-n4w]

I was at outback steakhouse with my family here in Vegas... Was 15 ..Forever etched in my mind.. skateboarding rules!!

[@tdezzydean]

Amazing mini-doc 🙌🏾

[@RaphaelSloanYusukeUrimeshi]

One of the greatest moments of my childhood, I'll love Tony Hawk and Skateboards forever

[@InnocentAirplane-mj4ri]

So cool

[@Mike-ge7pe]

The home run, the slam dunk, the forward pass, the curved stick. That’s what the 900 was for skateboarding. Tony transcended the sport that night

[@ryaneugenelawrencewalls1987]

Tony Hawk the G.O.A.T of skateboarding Happy 25 Years of the 900

[@Maik-i]

The GOAT on Ramp is, to Me, Tas Pappas!(not only while He stand the first ever 900, All His Airs was moved one Level Up than Tony's ALWAYS!!! and on Street there is the one and only GOAT Daewon Yong!!!

[@austins.2495]

It was such a big deal when he pulled that trick off. Him and Michael Jordan ruled the 90’s awesome times 👍

[@dfloriza]

The 900 and Tony Hawk were the embodiment of the determination and the do-or-die attitude of skateboarding and action sports. That one trick made people understand it as a sport, and also understood the community around it - these were all people competing against each other, but were all united around the idea of progressing skateboarding and bringing it to a new echelon.

[@danmacfarlane3444]

@espn Sandro Dias is the First to land a 900 in a contest run at the Munster World Championships in 2004. Not Gui. I saw it in person. There’s footage on KZbin.

[@Maik-i]

WOW! What a Luck you comment here! Thanks a LOT for teaching Me a unknown fact...only 20years later after Happened! I shame double, cause I live only 25km from Münster away than 47years and LOVE Skateboarding!!! ...but... the first who ever stand the 900 was Tas Pappas!, sure not at Contest but recorded on Video!

[@williamgriffith6061]

Baby Jason Ellis at 7:49

[@eastcoasttairua]

Only the real ones know that the pappas brothers landed it before tony hawk. Y’all don’t know skateboarding hahahah

[@phillipsoto8505]

does anyone know where you can watch the full broadcast of every attempt?

[@joeschmoe5009]

I remember watching. Duvh an amazing moment. Thwnk you to whoever made the decision not to cut the broadcast! You are a hero for allowing that moment to be shared and helping skateboarding be seen

[@victor5180]

Love the respect all the skaters gave him.

[@shad3128]

Having this live on TV as a kid was like the superbowl.

[@jacklandon9739]

So glad to see this been given such amazing attention it deserves!

[@NemohHoes]

Tony's the man

[@jeanvincent902]

Show me a sport and it’s athlete that has worked harder. Together!

[@nicholasmesa3588]

I was 12 years old! Watching at home on my TV! 😆

[@manuelrodriguez7200]

same. Crazy its been that long now.

[@jayhawk4578]

I've had the privilege to skate with Tony many times. Absolutely.Without question the greatest ambassador for skateboarding ever.

[@hmigliano]

Muito bom!! I just have a couple of 540’s but that feeling still forever in my heart of a skateboarder! ❤ #obrigadoskateboard #vertskateboard #thankyouskateboard 🛹✨

[@P5ych1c]

Fun fact I worked the last X games and got Gui Khury’s autograph the night before he won gold. The new prodigy of skating who was inspired by Tony. I believe he holds the new record

[@Sssensei11]

its crazy how much sports evolve. just the other day i seen like a little kid pullin off 900’s like nothing. lol

[@shad3128]

Respectfully, its a lot easier to pull off when people are rhe size of midgets and weigh less than 110lbs compared to someone being as big as tony doing it lol

[@leastselfawarepotassium]

What a moment in time. It revolutionised skateboarding by getting it more media attention but the discipline itself (vert) didn’t survive that much longer after this. Making a comeback though.

[@jricks92921]

Goated

[@Viper42104]

Na, Tas Papas did it first at the Escondido YMCA. Hawk stole the trick. Fk what the rest says.

[@jasonhernandez6775]

hahaha you watched a stupid VICE documentary and all of a sudden its truth? you clearly dont skate. you cant "steal" a trick. Papas is drug addict who was never even in the top 20 of skaters and poor excuse for a man. and you should delete your account and never comment again. clown

[@Adam-M-]

Yeah, and all he's done for skateboarding is complain about that for 25 years.

[@Viper42104]

@@Adam-M- wouldn't you if someone stole your trick and made it theirs? You sound like a Hawk simp.

[@Maik-i]

OH! Cool to read that there is One who has Expertise about History of Ramp-Skateboarding!!! - also All other Airs of Tas Pappas were Always One Level higher Performed than Tony did in his whole Career!...seriously He was a true Star, but NOT the GOAT on Ramp!!!

[@mayspondmogul]

I remember watching this live it was Insane! I had Tony Hawk send me a cameo video recently he did a kickflip next to his Mansion pool gave me a shout out so rad. 🤘

[@55bolts]

Well I hate ESPN for years now but this short doc is good! I watched this live on television that evening and to this day the best thing I'd ever seen in my 49 years of skateboarding.

[@mopar_keys]

I was there!! 😊

[@gabrielcassutto113]

2:48 Danny Way should really get credit for doing the first 810, because he would need another 90° to call this a 900.

[@mem5860]

Rodney mullen was the iverson of skateboard, the Ronaldinho of skateboard

[@Flaminhotmo247]

🐐🛹🙌🏾 The Goat!!

[@Glenn-hm8sb]

Way harder on a skateboard vs snowboard. Bigger transitions today makes that trick elsker to land.

[@therealjd1503]

It was so sick to watch this live. Tony will forever be the goat of skateboarding 🤘

[@maomao180]

GOATED moment, blessed to have been able to see it on TV as a kid.

[@MichaelSilverMedia]

BIRDMAN made us all believe in the impossible 🦅

[@katelynnsgiraffe6456]

the video game was more important. it brought skateboarding to the masses.

[@andreschou9560]

little japanese kid ema kawakami doing 900 like their a setup trick haha

[@b1slee267]

That determination and love from the fans and the skating homies had me feeling like I was there. I felt that. This what skating is about .

[@butterknutts5888]

Biggest butterfly effect to ever impact the most supportive group of people

[@dadbeerstoronto]

Klay with the longboard lol. 😂

[@ShinyHubCaps]

Looks like a Penny board to me

[@viento99]

This video needs 900 likes and is currenlty 300 short

[@UnlimitedRange]

I loved playing all the games. Especially Tony Hawk Tua Pro Spitter!

[@JaceOlson-u1w]

Hes not the first bam margera. Hed yhe first tony hawky

[@ryaneugenelawrencewalls1987]

That is a remarkable awesome skateboard 6:30

[@cirellod1]

Tony!!!! Tu déchires tout putain 🤘😎🛹

[@QUASISKATEBOARDS]

I remember

[@KotaroMatsuura-t6b]

The legend definitiv Bonus brigade my faforite in my young time all memory sehr schöne zeit

[@saladz3657]

Shout out to whoever let it run live and didn’t cut the feed.

[@davidowens5412]

🐐🐐🐐🐐

[@keatonmcdonald6676]

There is a profound irony in the fact that Tony's 900 - perhaps the most widely seen and consequentially important trick ever done on a skateboard - was a Baker Maker.

[@mathewmaldonado9135]

Great personal accomplishment but it didn't revolutionize skating. Rodney would be in that conversation.

[@justneagle]

The Year is 2024.. & all comments got a like from me. (Do you know how hard that is to do?) All because of Tony Hawk. Who is a bird just like me!!!!

[@AxlRose-ug5db]

I remember watching it on ESPN live like it was yesterday respect to tony he was the top dog when I skated from 86 to 91

[@2Swift4u]

I remember that night very well. Was jumping up and down in front of the tv. Amazing moment in skateboarding

[@smithsfan425]

It’s more like Tony Hawks game revolutionized skateboarding.

[@Maik-i]

Uhhhm....Me ius 47 now and I LOVE ESPN since my youth, but...That is the first wrong Report!....Tas Pappas 900 and all his other Airs revolutionized Ramp-Skateboarding!!! - He was one Level Up than Tony....ALWAYS!!! (in Skateboarding!!!!!)

[@ryanrowe1975]

🐐

[@justaname2422]

I was 7 years old watching this. Still skating to this day. Thank you Tony for paving the way.

[@gridderz4013]

best moment in sports history.

[@travisimac]

im glad that someone put a video out like this, so that the importance of Tony and this move at this time can be acknowledged and given flowers!

[@CIWise]

Skateboarding nowadays is so incredible and yet so lame at the same time. But, I guess that's to be expected once it's on ESPN and in the Olympics. Anyway, the 900 is dope, but it didn't revolutionize the sport more than the McTwist.

[@samaxeman123]

even more amazing that board he did it on cant be any more than an 8.0 maybe even a 7.75?

[@samclark5546]

It was 8.0in

[@Jay-wk9xj]

And a good human on top of it.

[@noediaz2392]

Mitchie bruso is the man. Tony is the godfather, thanks, Tony

[@wakizashipwreck]

“Revolutionized” lol

[@DustinCardenasVideo]

Goosebumps and tears.. legend.. much love.. :)

[@ryaneugenelawrencewalls1987]

There will never ever a 900 like Tony Hawk in the world Skateboarding wise 10:00

[@KOMOMARKING]

To anyone who sees this, please pray for my health and send positive energy my way.

[@lassala]

What a magical night. The crowd, the other skateboarders, the persistence. Amazing.

[@mauricioneira-hp9pv]

G code

[@antoniostarks7167]

Him and Rodney Mullen are the goats

[@jeanvincent902]

Jason Ellis. Who knew!!! Future podcast

[@marcelurban4120]

That clip is burned into my memory for life 💯 childhood memories

[@aymansaid7028]

Didnt expect this. Keep them coming!

[@saulsmith6674]

Tony Hawk-Tuah

[@tyroneolson6120]

I was there 💯❤️🛹

[@protroll697]

7:50 who’s that hot guy with hair?

[@paulbounleuth8901]

🎰

[@ericesparza5539]

🎉

[@ericesparza5539]

Rocket😮

[@tmmjppsn]

Pappas!!

[@toddt.]

PAPPAS AND SANDRO DID IT FIRST.... JUST LIKE DUANES LOOP ...HAWK CAME AFTER

[@TanakaSigauke]

Its almost as old as me lol

[@SerriHuesita]

Wazzz There📍

[@wcdub]

The greatest ever

[@gustavogonzalez1624]

switch 900 fakie 900 nollie 900 no one has done these

[@samclark5546]

Bob Burnquist did a fakie 900 on a mega ramp. Did Gui Khury do a nollie 900 at the last X Games or the year before?

[@baseplate4160]

Amazing!