Mike "McTwist" McGill

If you thought we would take a break for the holiday, then you must not know us very well. Mike McGill joins us for stories of moving from Florida to California, creating "The Trick", opening a skate shop, opening (and closing) a skatepark, and stunt-doubling for Bruce Willis...naked. Like and imbide!
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Tony Hawk @tonyhawk @skateparkproject
Mike McGill @mikemcgill
Jason Ellis @wolfmate

[@brendangreen6197]

Mike McGill. One of the most understated and underrated skaters in history along with Jeff Kendall. Technically brilliant. Pulled the trick of the century. I know they always give that to Rodney with the kickflip but the McTwist was verts equivalent. The slow mo section of him in Ban This is a masterclass in vert skating.

[@leredditcommander8208]

idk dude, everyone can learn a kickflip, but a mctwist? Good luck

[@brendangreen6197]

Its not what I meant. McGill's Mctwist led to the 720, the 900, the 1080 the ollie McTwist, the McTwist kickflip etc etc the same way Rodney's kick flip led to a list way to long to even begin. Both showed what was possible and what could be developed in their respective terrain. McGill accelerated vert skating way beyond what people thought was possible at the time. I wonder if he hadn't taken such a huge risk personally how long it would have been before anyone else would thought of it or even had the balls to go for it. And then I wonder at what point would Tony have even started trying the 900 which in turn put skating back were it belonged. The McTwist had to come first and on that basis I think McGill's contribution to skating is sometimes overlooked.

[@hosoiarchives4858]

Anyone can do a kick flip, hardly anyone will ever McTwist

[@startedskating86]

@@leredditcommander8208 That's exactly what I was going to say and probably everybody else too

[@brendangreen6197]

@@startedskating86 you kids brought up on street skating wont get the analogy...it was a stepping stone that led onto every other spinning trick thats been done on vert since...same as when Rodney flipped his board on flat ground,,,.both were equally important to skating's progression in the relevant domain.

[@evrgreen_69]

Was just a kid in the 70’s and the first time I saw a skateboard I knew it was something I wanted to do..kept at it into the 80’s and of course the bones brigade video show made it’s way to my vcr machine. Moved to Cali as soon as I was old enough to go skate all the spots I’d seen in the mags. Was on a mission and was lucky to get to hit a ton of spots (unfortunately broke my ankle but that’s another story)..and got to meet a bunch of amazing people..Ended up living in Encinitas (barely living was couch surfing and about broke) was out hitting the pavement looking for a j o b and I just happened to pass by Mike’s shop and lo and behold there’s a help wanted sign in the window..I couldn’t believe it..Thought no chance in hell I’d get hired but wtf go in an fill out an application..Mike called me a couple days later for an interview and I think a day later called me to say I got the job..I couldn’t believe it. I was a random mid west dude and I was sure a lot of people wanted the job I was pretty blown away. I had some retail experience but never really “ran” a store but day one was Mike showing me how he ran the cash door gave me keys and just said “Open at 10:00 close at 7:00”..Pretty sure he went on some tour after that because I didn’t see him for awhile after that and mostly dealt with his dad on the day to day. I could go on and I will because one more story that ties in to how cool Mike and Tony are..It was Christmas Day 89 I think ? and Mike knew I had no family in Cali and he called me up to say merry Christmas and he asked me what I was doing and I wasn’t gonna do really anything and he’s all “wanna go skate?” And I’m of course yes but he asked me should we go to the park? And I was easy just said yea but then he goes hold on want to go skate at Tony’s?…😵‍💫🤣..And I’m of course yes..So he says let me make a call..Calls me back and says it’s on pick you up in a bit..Got to Tony’s Fallbrook house and we pull up to a gate and we get buzzed in and drive up to the house where the mini ramp was and Tony came out said hi and that he couldn’t skate but have fun..Skated the mini for a bit then went up to the vert ramp with the spine/bowl and at the time I just remember it was huge. Obviously a memorable Christmas day!! ..love the vlog! really enjoyed this episode..Big shout out to Mike mad respect 💯

[@tomwagner6334]

Very freaking cool👊

[@matchesmalone79]

One of my most prized possessions is my og powell peralta mike mcgill deck with plastic baseplate gullwings and OJ II wheels

[@CoolInOlympia]

I love that Tony cuts in with the original board!!!!!!

[@MichaelSilverMedia]

Read this as it happened hahaha 😊

[@mattday2656]

I have been fighting with my mental health lately, and having Tony and Jason's podcast to remind me to go skate on a monday is just what I needed.

[@AwareWolfOnWheels]

Don't just rely on podcasts brother, reach out to someone who can help you on the daily. Be that family, friends or a professional. There is no need to suffer in slience.

[@TheMorganMonroeShow]

You are surrounded by an amazing community. We are an elite group. Reach out. We’re all here.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

what is it you're experiencing?

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

@@AwareWolfOnWheels Maybe he's not. But yeah online isn't a good place for mental health balance.

[@mattday2656]

same depression and ptsd I have been walking off for years, with sporadic runs of therapy when life affords me the resources to do so.

[@michaelvitiello9960]

Tony needs to have a podcast with all of his bones teammates and they talk about the old times

[@butchcoolidge4448]

Definitely! Like a round table format.

[@junipersnow1]

Yes, I remember, Tony being the skinny nerdy (in a good way) awkward young skater waiting his turn for his run in DelMar bowl, we would joke Bones Brigade skated to the park and Tony got a ride from his dad... Tony was the future then, not really found out till after BB 1.

[@edwardiganz2478]

Aahhhh Captain Obvious here, isnt that what HawkvWolf is? Only episodal. Lance has been in.

[@successful_solutions]

That would be epic!

[@BrianPayne-ef6kn]

Oh hell yeah! And I think at my age, they'd look like the same goofy kids that convinced me to risk life and limb.

[@Sellbow]

I want to get me someone who looks at me the way Tony looks at Mike whilst talking about Mike's old Porsche.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

Get some friends and create some memories.

[@Sellbow]

@@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777 it's just a talking point, I have friends that I interact with regularly. Did you not see the excitement from Tony bud?

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

@@Sellbow but you said 'you want to get me someone'.. so I also replied to your 'talking point'.. is that not what you wanted? or some other fantasy reply ?

[@Sellbow]

@@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777 I'm saying that it's awesome that Tony is excited about this particular moment in their personal lives and it's an example of how to act towards others. Do you not have any emotional intelligence or what sparky?

[@lilspiceboi69]

my dad skated the mcgil park in 89 and caught tony, steve, and mike all skating we just found the pictures so sick

[@bighensdog74]

I had on a Mike McGill shirt on in my 7th or 8th grade pics. Total legend...

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

haha mine was Mike V in grade 10 - went to a private school before that so first time I got to wear t-shirt. just the top of the elephant eyes shows up in the photo.. My 2nd deck was a McGill in 1987.. but it was made out of Boneite and cracked down the middle - weirdest break in a skateboard ever.

[@ScamLikely9327]

I think everyone would be stoked if you got Mike V. Might have to make it 3 hours long like his nine club interviews though. My dad went to McGills park back in the day and I have his old photos of young Mike and Tony on the deck of the Vert ramp. He told me when they showed up he stopped skating and picked up his camera instead.

[@jspaulding4106]

V 🧡🤘🏽

[@FaustTry]

Skated McGill's park summer of 1991, first time I ever dropped in on vert, "Shake your Money Maker" blasting on a boombox, met some cool kids who took a Greyhound bus there from Iowa, for a 16 year old sk8 rat from Pittsburgh it was heaven.

[@Oside3000]

Shout out Carlsbad Pipelines! I remember buying Bones gear there, dang that’s an old memory now. They used to rent out the Bones Brigade videos which is how I learned to skate. So stoked at how much things have progressed.

[@BeachBumsk8]

Wow, this was an awesome surprise..McGill rules, t-shirt ordered on skate one

[@ZTL92]

I've had a rough few days and I'm just thankful for this podcast. It's a little escape from the harsh realities of life. There is something therapeutic in listening to old friends talk. Thank you HvW for always putting a smile on my face.

[@Jiggsisabro]

Thank you Jason for the Mic move! Always making sure the video and audio is on point, kudos mate

[@jspaulding4106]

Pro.

[@RyanWinnInking]

I was part of the visuals team at Quiksilver back when we were doing the Hawk stores! We always treated your stuff with as much respect as we could(while cutting them up and putting TV screens in them). I always wondered what happened to all those display shrines we made. Can’t believe those new owners through all that away.

[@clevermissfox]

I can’t believe it either!! Nice of you to drop a note to let them know before it turned hands , the Hawk stuff was highly regarded ❤

[@TheMorganMonroeShow]

Way #OfTheEpic 🤙🏼. I have so many Mike McGill stories. Stories with his mom, his dad. Opening of the landscape company and the station wagon getting stuck in a trench at a nursery in Clearwater LOL. Is mom taking a fingernail file and filing my chip tooth. It’s awesome to see he still very shy, and super humbled. I was at the contest at Clearwater skateboard park when he got second place after a fall and Alan taking first. Super stoked for this interview and would love to see at least two more. It’s just super epic to see someone so humbled that’s given so much to this amazing sport. Thanks Tony, much appreciated. 🤙🏼💯🎯

[@GavTech74]

The Bruce Willis film by the way is called Once Upon A Time In Venice, and here's the trailer kzbin.info/www/bejne/epXQd3duZtV1jdk It's ok Mike I got ya covered :)

[@TheSinDen]

Now I gotta go watch Gleaming The Cube..such a great movie.. Love the Tony cut in..Id love to see what his deck collection looks like..another great esp

[@mikaellofgren7]

This is so awesome!! Mike learnt me Handplants in Rättvik 1982!!! Good times!

[@noelennon420]

The Collection is almost complete!!!

[@bricemenaugh4828]

Looking forward to a Mikey V podcast!!

[@JimAgain-j5l]

What a legend, a real person who inspired so many. Great to hear the history.

[@JeffBisCamp]

Mike McGill is One Of The Best Skaters Ever !! Great Dude !! 🤘😎👍🌴☀️🛹🛹🛹🛹🛹

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

SOLID DUDE

[@smasher.338]

Thats crazy, I grew up in new port richey, had no idea thats where he was from.

[@tomvbman]

Please do a interview with Lester

[@TheMorganMonroeShow]

Lester is awesome. And if he shows up we must demand The New Orleans pickled pig lips story. Lol

[@stevefrink4842]

I'm expecting to see that board on the wall next episode. Respect

[@LeatherMadeSkateboarder]

I can't remember if I've ever seen an interview with Mike before, and having grown up skating from the late 70's up to today I had the impression he was affable but felt like there was a negative stigma around him for some damn reason, still don't know what that was or where it came from but it was there non the less. The only thing I remember him saying was that clip at Ray's ramp (rest in peace) when he told the young kid (who was that kid Colin?) "you gotta push, whicher arm" haha Anyway, I wish the interview was longer.

[@Nickolaswright]

Mike McGill is a legend! He invented the McTwist and had an iconic VCJ graphic, The Skull & Snake!

[@dickjones1212]

My brother-in-law has a original hawk with the lightning bolt board still

[@SabrinaMorris]

McGill was one of my favorite skaters growing up and I didn't even know it. As a kid I thought Christian Slater did his own skating in Gleaming the Cube. All the crazy stuff he's done is still the pinnacle of difficult maneuvers. Skating has evolved, but his tricks and what he's been able to do are still for the top experts only.

[@chrisknightphysicsclub]

I love that these guys are all still so tight and close as family. No bad blood between any of them. We all reap the rewards with conversation sessions like this. Lovely to see, so gratifying to hear. To see them so casually discuss moments in time that fans of skateboarding and fellow skaters themselves still consider to be incredible achievements is another level of awesome. Jason is all of us asking the questions that fellow admirers of these men would absolutely quiz them about if fortunate enough to be in conversation around a table with them. Love this podcast, love everything all of you guys did and still do for skateboarding past and present. In fact, I love it so much I'm going to go order up a McGill reissue deck just on principle. See you next week for another installment.

[@todd_harrison4500]

Another epic episode!🤘 My cruiser is a hot pink McGill pig reissue, and it's rad!👌

[@BeachBumsk8]

Hell yeah, one of my favs

[@torbenmmartin]

Me too!!!

[@ronnenvallejo7444]

Swear I just saw McGill in a Advil commercial skateboarding

[@danielwestereng155]

"i like skating whenever i want but i dont like fixing the ramps!"

[@gameboylightshows7360]

You guys are my favorite commercial ads ever, not a burn!

[@austinsmith9899]

I got the new deck you guys signed the other day and I’m super pumped on it! As much as I want to skate it, I can’t and can’t wait to hang it up! Great graphic

[@carlosdeaquino6725]

Just another great guest!

[@CraZyzAndCo]

Do an episode with wounded riders of the storm. I got diagnosed Parkinsons when i was 30 and i still skate andb now i skateboard better then i walk now im 47 and skateboatrding is my life. And to be a guest at your show and have a solid hand shake is at my bucket list

[@kjb1336]

WooHoo Another Legendary Skater Guest 👍🔥👍🔥🤘❤

[@davecipres6612]

Ahahaha! " Hoonigan Shred!" 😎

[@zefmanx]

I love Tony's little PSA at the beginning, delightful

[@morris7025]

FLORIDA REPRESENT!!!

[@MartyMcDonnald]

Bring Mike V on!!!!!

[@thegodkiller187]

Best start to the week FACT !

[@mattlong_4896]

Great to hear you talk about Cherry Hill. That was an amazing park and an amazing time.

[@ZBR_ProXP]

COME ON MCGILL

[@couchfighter]

I just got 2 cab series 13's "to keep", one is for my brother from mikes shop! been waiting for this

[@TheArts19]

McGill is more humble now. Cool-Guy for years... Respect. Rumors of Andrecht's at Carlsbad Barn Square pool are legendary... And McTwists obvi..

[@pinkylieder5878]

best episode yet way to short

[@fradd4045]

the best yet!!!

[@rik_rule]

Mcguest

[@clevermissfox]

😂

[@im_smert2348]

McGill respect. twister

[@prairietan]

Good edit Hawk

[@p3yro]

McGill !!!! Awesome. TG then Get Stacy on guys …

[@chris-sp2ek]

i didn’t think it could get better than the lance episode ,but you proved me wrong lol

[@speedyzolt]

One of the best podcasts! Love the story’s!

[@zdotspade]

Happy 4th tony and Jason ! Love y’all thanks for all the laughs, the entertainment and wisdom and ofc the amazing OG vert skater stories 👌 🦅 🐺 🛹

[@jahknow6429]

Top quality, give thanks for the vibes!

[@shawnmcmullan5457]

Luv hearing about the history of skateboard from the bones brigade 😀, Would also like to hear Jason's stories of skateboard in OZ ,

[@kolesteele4242]

Please get Mark Gonzalez or Louie Barletta on. 🙌🏼 love there styles!

[@BeachBumsk8]

Will take Natas as well

[@theramplocal]

Lol tony cutting out 2 minutes in to correct McGill on the board is lol too good!

[@thedonofthsht76-58]

Damn another classic!! I love how hearing the stories of skateboardings elders(sorry guys) lmao it's awesome that you guys are still friends and still shred after all these years.

[@screamingdemonscrew]

Mcgill was my favorite skater from back in my youth.. great to see he is doing good. Had his board and my brother borrowed it and it was never seen again.. I'm getting a reissue Mcgill skull and snake deck soon.. Starting to teach my 7 year old daughter how to skate this year..😎

[@DeeWhy618]

It's so crazy that there are stories or parts of stories that even THEY haven't heard. This podcast is so insane, heartfelt, and historic. Thank you.

[@leredditcommander8208]

This was awesome, complete the whole team and bring tommy guerrero in. Also, the birdhouse team from the 90s! Willy, jeremy, heath...

[@theramplocal]

OG birdhouse dudes wld be so sick

[@jtotheb-ip2hh]

great interview. McGill is a classic. stoked to hear someone mention Mike Yousefpour (sp?) (around 42:55). i used to watch him at McGill's park do lien airs to fakey higher than people could reach. we would all literally gasp to see what that guy would do.

[@rodmullen64]

I'm still waiting on other 2 with rodney, but now we need pt 2 with mcgill

[@couchfighter]

Once upon a time in Venice! lol

[@MarcS4R]

Legend

[@JoshHoodSucks]

My introduction to Mike is through Air Speed from a WalMart in Hartselle, AL as I was born in 89 I'd just begun skating thrashing Walmart boards every few days or so There in the shoe aisle was a skateboarding shoe, an affordable shoe dawning his name Helped me look the part I so desperately wanted to look to avoid being called stuff like wigger and most importantly they fit in my mom's budget As I was wrecking shoes Prior to the local shop highsheels in the town over and by town I mean a mile or two and ccs mags... Establish to me at least I'm a skateboarder in a new town I'd just moved to full of snobby bmx guys wio eventually became my buds Listening to Mike's story I realized his role continued and he's integral to my story's begining

[@doctorspockARTS]

Mike! Mike! Mike!

[@frankmart3339]

These need to be like an hour longer maybe 2 honestly

[@therealjd1503]

Great fucking podcast. Thanks. 👍 I love Jason’s passion for skateboarding, I appreciate it.

[@WHDRWN]

Been watching since day but I can't tell you what that k watermark is for?

[@clevermissfox]

Kast Media

[@WHDRWN]

@@clevermissfox Is youtube their secondary platform? Does the show go up earlier on another site?

[@JohnnygSawyer]

I'm pretty old. My mom would drive us from Camp Pendleton to Carlsbad (Sparks) skateboard park in the 70's. Then we would make her drive us to Del Mar. That's where I first saw little Tony Hawk. He was awesome from the jump.

[@mikemartinez9064]

I’m going to Mcgills skate shop this weekend.

[@-Ricky_Spanish-]

Damn, New Port Richey is just a few miles north of me. That's where I buy my cars because the taxes are lower, but he's right, there's fucking NOTHING there. It looks like a town that died decades ago, which is not unusual in poorer parts of Florida.

[@TheMorganMonroeShow]

Just south of that, I had a lot of really awesome skate ramp dude hahaha!!!!!.

[@-Ricky_Spanish-]

@@TheMorganMonroeShow We had a pretty good skate scene down here in Pinellas in the 90's. A couple decent skateparks and good backyard ramps. I met Tony Hawk when he did a demo at Mad Beach Surf Shop back in the late 80's.

[@sunbecomesea]

I use to see Mike's dilapidated half pipe in NPR across from main street behind the sod business from my school bus as a kid. Saw Mike do a demo behind his mom's skateshop on US19 and SR54 next to the Fina Gas Station. There was another half pipe by the river in NPR that we saw from our school bus and heard it was Chris Miller's but never confirmed.

[@TheMorganMonroeShow]

@@sunbecomesea oh the good old days lol

[@JimMurphyinSTL]

Thank you for making Mondays seem bearable and reinforcing that age is truly just a number. My biggest takeaway from your conversations each week is this: If you want something bad enough, it's in you to find a way to make it happen. Thank you, Tony & Jason! And just in case your producer is struggling for ideas, here's my dream list of future guests, in no particular order: - Tommy Guerrero - Stacy Peralta - Lester Kasai - Tony Alva - Mike Vallely - Ray Barbie - Paul Schmitt - Natas Kaupas - Rodney Mullen (for a second interview)

[@bradcollins7253]

Obligatory comment for Mr Hawk and Mr wolf.

[@MotoMarvmtb]

Love the chats about past times. Awesome, show, guys👍🏽

[@davidharris4030]

Will listen to all the stories I can! Fan from Tennessee and will brag for my area! Me and one of my boys were holding the vert down in late 70s and early 80s!!!!! Can’t get enough of Hawk vs Wolf

[@tttrain9172]

So hype on this one

[@homesickNovalis]

Boy has it been too long since I've seen gleaming the cube lol. Being a kid already in love with skating that movie was magical..

[@purplereigninblood]

I need some hash base plates stat.

[@alexiicarey]

Great episode! Honestly one of the most informative Hawk vs. Wolf episodes yet. I want to hear more stories from Mike. An hour isn't long enough to cover the full living history of skateboarding. So grateful! Next guest suggestions: Bod Boyle Lester Kasai

[@Turtooffical]

Boom

[@thirdlegstalliano]

Dsmn, Hawk calls out McGill for telling tall tales? Hilarious!

[@petecarvo9284]

My mom took me to McGill's Skate Shop in Florida back in '91, and Mike's mom was running the register! She said we'd missed him being there by just a few days.

[@boomerbiker8892]

Love to have all the old bones brigade guys in one group! The stories would be amazing!

[@GavTech74]

Been waiting for this!

[@zerodicjcorez9173]

mike your amazing, thanks for letting him talk this is legendary .... my 1st board was a mini cab sorry mike but always support P&P and get reissues now at 42.... piece bros

[@lotwizzard1748]

gleaming the cube, the mcGill/Mullen edit. the magik deck transformation🏆 (and stance)

[@RobertNazarov65]

Man tony does the funniest impressions 😂

[@successful_solutions]

Favorite podcast on skating! Thank you for doing everything you do Tony, Legend!

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

That was a helluva a gofactor ad 😬

[@hatzlmike1]

bravo...so good...starry eyes! its like being in a vortex.

[@ronnenvallejo7444]

I live in Marina del Rey. Where was this Marina skate park? Anyone know the exact coordinates?

[@clevermissfox]

N 32° 44' 25.7784", W 117° 14' 18.9672" (Santa Monica and Venice Beach is what I found)

[@ronnenvallejo7444]

@@clevermissfox from what it sounds like it was near the freeway but can’t find the exact streets. I’m just curious what’s there now. (Skate nerd stuff)

[@JohnnygSawyer]

Where the 90 freeway is now. It was an awesome park.

[@ronnenvallejo7444]

@@JohnnygSawyer would you happen to the cross streets ?

[@Z17xMachine]

Ken Park! Ken Park! Ken Park! Ken Park! Ken Park!

[@curtanderson4145]

The best trick I ever learned..