The God father of Skateboarding Rodney Mullen | Skate Stories Ep. 3

[@TheTylerRossmann]

I love what Rodney Mullen represents: “Become obsessed on what you enjoy doing, and just focusing on doing that.”

[@Kodes-75]

What life should should be all about dude... Everyone should take a leaf from the Rodney tree...

[@smilefriend7171]

Just passion dude, some people have insane amounts of that

[@forestlink6673]

Everyone who r very good at something does that

[@blognationent1956]

That’s what the Og’s and millionaires call being on your purpose

[@iaganfoss]

Kudos to the guy who introduced him to skateboarding.

[@Momlover-kl3kh]

I agree

[@jonnyru1177]

Legend has it that a neighbor friend got him into skating but his home didn't have much concrete to skate on and his dad did not approve of him skateboarding so he practiced in his garage learning immobile flatland tricks aka freestyle

[@benji0299]

Yes sir he needs a Medal of Honor

[@brodychodey2840]

Jonny Ru I heard he just saw some magazines I’m pre sure that’s what he said in his Ted talk

[@kilosoul236]

It was his sister and her friends who got rodney into skateboarding, she was a surfer and they skated slalom. This guy got alot of facts about rodney incorrect.

[@matthewhall9006]

It’s funny lookin back that street skating is only like 35 yrs old

[@cashw1]

Matthew Hall he is 53 54

[@matthewhall9006]

What

[@xmachiavellirizex3540]

@@matthewhall9006 he is talkin about Rodney Mullen, probably

[@unknown_individual7050]

Cash Wells Rodney didn’t invent street skateboarding just basically all the tricks used within the section of the sport along with the board almost everyone uses universally.

[@HelloHi-vs4rj]

@@cashw1 that doesnt mean anything, rodney freestyled before street skating, just necause rodney is 54 doesnt mean that street skating is 53

[@persiadance7605]

i love how his existence lead to several companies, development of skateboarding, and overall the history of skateboarding. its truly amazing

[@GetintheCAH]

Dude was literally the Sage of Six Path

[@zenmindstate110]

Man I’ll never forget watching Rodney Mullen skate when I was a kid. Growing up he was always an inspiration and I don’t think I’d be skating still to this day without his influence. Such an amazing human.

[@emjaylongjohn5088]

His videos in the THPS games influenced so many people, I am amongst the influenced

[@TREOVIEW]

There’s no question, that Rodney Mullen and Tony Hawk are the most influential Sk8ers to ever live. One created the tricks and one caused everyone to try the tricks.

[@sethmeadors1274]

Couldn’t have said it better to be honest…

[@rickdonnelly3937]

While this is true, the more I learn, the more I see Stacy Peralta being the mastermind of it all.

[@innatemusic]

The level of skill and brain power to even come up with these tricks. Genius.

[@lvl.99socialdistancewarrio67]

The day I unlocked Rodney Mullen's secret tape in the original THPS was the reason I even got on a skateboard.

[@analysan7]

FACTS!! Only Reason I even started skating!! I used to Freestyle BMX before I met him

[@mtsyo8165]

I was remembering the same thing while watching! Second favorite was Carem Campbell (its been 20 years so dont get mad if name is wrong). I would like to see story about Carem - does he skate or is alive eaven?!

[@BassBrigade2012]

@mtyso yes he still skates. He lives in Dallas Texas near the deep ellum area I ran into him back in like 2009 and he's a really nice dude. I knew I recognized him from somewhere but couldn't put my finger on it until I noticed he had a skateboard

[@lvl.99socialdistancewarrio67]

@@mtsyo8165 Ahhhh yes Kareem Campbell was dope, I remember having "The ghetto bird" as one of my special moves for my custom character in THPS3. Good times lol.

[@t1mmymwnd754]

Me too!!!!!

[@GetintheCAH]

Rodney has a smile that just warms my heart man

[@JaCrispy937]

“This is very temporary “ is an amazingly ironic quote since modern skating quite literally doesn’t exist without RM. crazy to think about how big an impact one guy can have

[@aharonsuri845]

I feel like Rodney invented the alphabet of tricks And gonz and Natas wrote poetry with it,

[@Soldier_Sean]

And then Tony hawk and Danny way wrote chapters in the history book of skateboarding, breaking records and all.

[@AndySo2000]

@@youngboyouchswag9288 That's not true, Gonz and Natas where inventing street WHILE Tony Hawk was ruling vert, and Hosoi. Same years. late 80s. I was skating then so I should know

[@AndySo2000]

@@youngboyouchswag9288 There was no 'tony hawk' scene, vert skating was big in the 80's and Tony Hawk wasn't the only one doing it, nor was it his scene. Rodney Mullen didn't invent street, he was a freestyler in that same era. Mullen invented TRICKS used in street skating. Street skating wasn't invented by mullen.

[@AndySo2000]

Nice Grosso quote

[@morgellon9449]

@@youngboyouchswag9288 Not true at all, dude. Gonz and Natas were already hugely popular in like 1986. Gonz had a Thrasher cover in 1984.

[@ElectronHexagon]

Rodney was a personal hero of mine while growing up in the valley of So Cal. He was the prototype we all emulated.

[@commanderpipi1youknowfromp730]

I used to watch his clips as a kid and now I'm a man that's crazy. Great clip thanks for the effort thumbs up.

[@themalteseninja8307]

I have so much love for Rodney, he’s an incredible guy through and through. Long live the KING.

[@Pb-ij4ip]

I bought my first board this last Saturday. Spent a good deal of Sunday just standing on it finding my balance. Today (Monday) I started learning how to push and turn. I’ve loved every minute of it! At age 45, Tony Hawk sparked my desire to skate by driving around and asking random people to do a kick flip. I spent the week prior binge watching skate/skater videos and discovered Rodney Mullen. Mullen is the “good angel” over every skaters shoulder. The man is amazing! He’ll pick you up when you fall, but push you to do more when you’re just “riding the wave”.

[@irohwavez]

Great video. One thing, he had his first Plan B part was "Questionable Video" in 1992. Virtual Reality was in '93. I know this because I grew up loving his parts in the Powell videos and then my friends and I watched questionable nearly every day. Seeing Rodney's evolution to street in Questionable was amazin.

[@sack943]

I love listening to Rodney break down a trick he's like a scientist breaking down a formula he's like Rembrandt on a skateboard I used to love that's incredible as a kid and I remember that episode with mullen on it classic

[@gregorywilson3318]

I stopped cruising around on my skateboard due to my loss of center vision. 13 years later here I am with my awesome 8.25 with 54 wheels 98 hardness enjoying skating again. A few decent scrapes and bruises later and I’m comfortably riding! I have tons to learn, I almost have the Ollie! I kick turn and ride off curbs. Truly inspired by Rodney Mullen not to give up and just keep doing what I enjoy! Great vid! ☯️

[@carterstafford1446]

So you’re not going to talk about how he invented the kickflip

[@michelleobioma3629]

he said that near the end

[@ltamha]

He invented SO many tricks, I doubt you could mention them all even in the entirety of this video and longer haha

[@ciaranthamonarch7495]

I was originally called a magic flip

[@johnnyraven8178]

Rodney himself doesn’t see inventing the kick flip as a big deal. You gotta think about the fact he’s had already been doing flip tricks for years by the point he invented kick flips so he just saw it as another flip tricks. Just like when he invented heel flips he concidered to be basically the same thing as a heelflip.

[@didhit5086]

He did

[@Kari2025]

It’s remarkable that even with such an awful home life, the guy is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. I’m glad it didn’t drive him down.

[@Rezzorito]

Yea! A lot of the nicest people happen to have the hardest lives

[@Nick-AngelpeodSeaxisc]

It could not have been that awful, his father bought him his first skateboard and was worried about his future.

[@Kari2025]

Nick I base it off of what he says about his home life in this kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2XQZmSsgdqqpsk and what he says about it in his autobiography.

[@Nick-AngelpeodSeaxisc]

@@Kari2025 I think you are confused as to what is awful. He might have had a difficult childhood but far from awful.

[@Kari2025]

Nick I mentioned he had an awful HOME life, not an awful life. He straight up said “And things had been getting bad around the home. Real bad. Real bad. My sister had gotten anorexic and I had started to go down a path that way.” That sounds like an awful home life to me.

[@Unlockingparadoxes]

Rodney mullen is an amazing human. Genuine and innovative and artistic. As well as humble.

[@danbukstein6853]

I've seen in other videos he was largely responsible for developing modern board shapes. Dude helped push almost every aspect of skating forward

[@Grom-rl8bm]

Something about Rodney Mullen fascinates me. Despite seeing multiple videos and documentaries about his life, I never get sick of watching a new one

[@esk8er900]

My oh my this man is still my hero- he gave Ted talks!!! I still have a bunch of his pro model shoes &”enjoi” / “Almost” decks with tensors & Swiss bones bearings. All his vs videos are still in my top rack for sure!!

[@jeffkelly4721]

An incredibly creative pioneer. A virtuoso. So inspiring.

[@cynamonstudio]

To me... the most inspiring person I came across in my life.

[@ryansmith9104]

The way he describes skating is so poetic.

[@nvlogs6207]

This is so cool I got into skating this month because I’ve always wanted to and now I have to the actual drive to do so it’s really cool to watch really really good skaters and learn all these new things. This is really really cool its like he is the foundation of this activity almost. I really want to get good so I’ll keep going and practicing and watching skaters everyday like I do :)

[@lilwangwill5935]

This is how I imagine Jesus would skateboard

[@Bri32675]

I mean Riley Hawk looks like Jesus, but Rodney skates like Jesus.

[@camper2008]

@@Bri32675 combine them and you have jesus

[@BrandonHanson]

Thanks for putting the On Video Article combined with this documentary of Rodney Mullen in it. He'll always be why we can see skateboarding go above and beyond the basics. Which can lead to incredible progression if one sets their mind to it.

[@reaganwiles_art]

Rodney Mullen was the first board I had, 1987. I had seen him demo at the mall a year earlier. I never knew he had it so tough in the business of skateboarding. This is crazy: I never knew about enjoi and Mark Johnson, I used to skate with Mark in Winston Salem when he was fifteen before he was sponsored.

[@wk_killer]

I really like your content it has helped thank you so much I love you

[@jonathanormandy5159]

A skateboarder never stops skateboarding Im sure he still skateboarding lord of the board

[@davida3528]

my dad skated with him in Tallahassee and grew up with him until he moved. They were in a group of about 10 people

[@maman89]

I’m mind blasted. This guy is skateboarding. I can’t believe he is the first human ever to ollie. And to be able to skate with his feet condition is just extraordinary.

[@MrPikaparka1]

He wasnt the first..alan gelfand was and some other dude did it before him as well..on very though

[@sandramrivera6667]

Shoutout Tony Hawk for introducing me to the man, myth and legend himself. Beauty of a beast on a board maneee

[@aiden_skatebergman8700]

The person who made this content isn’t Tony hawk

[@dashd0t]

Aiden Bergman nah shit

[@joshdeveaux6936]

@@aiden_skatebergman8700 are you stupid?

[@pureblooded3877]

@@aiden_skatebergman8700 bruh are you brain dead 🤦🤦

[@chrispawl]

Rodney surely is a master of skateboarding (freestyle / street), anyone denying that is a fool. But Natas and Gonz and for me the first H-Street video is what set the choice of pure street skating. Not just sessions, everyday way about. Today I am blown away at the current state of street. It is beyond incredible. You can certainly make a timeline and a who is who that got it where it is - but there are skaters today that take those past to level 11!. This does not mean Rodney is not the substance that began an era, by no means, to me the dedication and creativity he shared lives today.

[@jakcute]

This man is legendary

[@ulisesramirez5526]

This hit home. My favorite pro skater. I used to go to Dwindle in el segundo as a kid in hopes to seeing him one day. One time he came out the front door and hauled ass to his car. He knew we would chase him, and we did. A group of us chasing him down the alley on our boards for autographs. The most humble person and that memory will live in my heart forever. I now have a 3 year old son with autism, and hearing about his mild autism hits my heart. Great job Rodney. I know admire you more that I ever did. Skateboarding saved my life. Autism power forever 💥

[@helloitsme-76]

you need to make an episode about the legend Aaron Kyro

[@RiseSteadyNC]

Isn't he a sponsored skateboarder from the San Francisco bay area?

[@Itsnotme12332]

No

[@AstronomyDomine]

You saw his scientology video?

[@RiseSteadyNC]

He's for real a scientologist?

[@hani-xb4lt]

First he need to get really comfortable with the board

[@stevensrp2music985]

Thanks Mike. Without you we might’ve never witnessed the dark slide!!! Mullen helped me through so much as a kid of the late 80’s and early 90’s. His videos vs Song vol 1 and 2 were so epic!!!

[@oldladyfalling7844]

The man the myth the legend.....I read a book on him, it was amazing....this dude is an absolute genius

[@ellizabetheuniceluna7204]

The way he talk is so much humble and a kind person ❤️

[@McStick7]

Yes, yes he is

[@dirtyrascal666]

Thank you for that, always love hearing about his story. The man is an absolute inspiration.

[@kalenissen9164]

I love this series so much

[@localnatives1]

love this so much. thank you for making this

[@messiahshow]

The only idol I ever had, such a beautiful person and a genius on the skateboard.

[@Damoforce]

Good video mate, this video could really go for hours and people would sit and watch!

[@jacksonhahn2982]

My tricks are trash but I get a lot of my inspiration from Rodney Mullen. God bless yah!

[@exoticexperiments3008]

Mean video bro I feel watching ur channel since 70 k subs loving the vids man especially the skate stories keep it up my bro.

[@9doublem28]

Rodnex Mullen is a real LEGEND!! Very nice video👌👌💪💪👍👍

[@audbertovelez130]

I love him.. I can identify with his thinking and view.. And of course.. Skate.. Freedom and ArT.. StreetSurfing

[@darwintavarez350]

The reason why skateboarding has a special place in my heart is because of Mullen

[@voodoocustompickups2547]

Rodney Mullen is a living legend. I modeled my entire skating style after him.

[@melisa_moore]

This was AWESOME! I love documentary videos, and your voice is so calming. 😁

[@jevinday]

He was one of the first skaters I was obsessed with. I sucked at doing tricks, I could ride bowls and Ollie but couldn't do many flip tricks. So being able to like do a Casper made me feel legit, it made me feel like I could actually do a trick, especially when I could varial flip out of it. His TED Talk is so great. I relate to him a lot. I have gnarly social anxiety, I usually don't like it when I'm not home. Sometimes I even wear headphones just because loud noises can give me anxiety. I don't think I'm autistic but I relate so much to him.

[@tatsuchangaming8774]

😭🤧 bruh this brought me back to another time, gotta remember the goat 🐐

[@tbrowe5810]

absolutly love this video! keep on the good work

[@tonybones7044]

Rodney Mullen is my absolute all time favorite. But, the one person most responsible for getting me into skating in the 1980's, making seem within grasp, was LANCE MOUNTAIN. I would love to see one of these videos about him

[@maksymilianzelisko]

Do a vid explaining the different styles of skateboarding (vert, street, park, etc). You could talk bout how they work, how they came to be and/or the GOAT of each style. I think i could be fun to watch.

[@grandmastercorruptor6483]

The Man. The Myth. The Legend. The Father. The God. Hail to Rodney, not only a simple starter, but a hidden gem of incredibly amazing innovation. A curator catalyst of creative compounds and completion. This man single-handedly brought himself back from the dead by doing just what he loved after dead dreams dissolved. I hope to whoever may be, Rodney continues to speak out and inspire the world through his feats of fierce resilience. Love to this Man. Hope to this Myth. Respect to this Legend. Admiration to this Father. Indulge in this God.

[@japhyvansan]

I love the message of this video. Thank you for sharing!

[@mr.f_dnb]

Have his autograph on the deck on my wall 👌

[@Ressario17]

Rodney mullen is definitely my favourite skater. He made so many tricks like the kickflip handflip (i think) and many more he even made the ollie! I respect him a lot

[@powerwizard007]

Be4 i watch this video i want you to know i started sk8ing in 1985, and every time i see one of your video's i think i know everything about, you always teach me something i didn't know. So glad you do the research My DuDe! Keep up the awesome Channel and work!! (after Video) Yup learned something i didn't know, Thx Great video as always.

[@slowrotor7391]

I'm watching this from Gainesville Florida and I couldn't be any more fucking proud

[@Miadaskate]

Go read his book “The Mutt”; it’s excellent.

[@P1983sche]

Excellent read I agree ☝️

[@robweissman5952]

I got him to sign my copy!

[@Mikeplaysdbd]

@@P1983sche is it good?

[@kan50805]

@@Mikeplaysdbd yeah because the title is “how to skateboard and not die”

[@georgewilhelm]

That was awesome. I didn't know. Now I do

[@Elshonio]

Just catching this series of vids - good work man. As @Shifty McFly put below though, we should note it was Alan Gelfand who invented the Ollie. Rodney then took it to places no one could even conceive after it was incorporated into street from vert

[@DetectiveStablerSVU]

watching recent interviews and footage of rodney talking about skateboarding is the most emotional shit you can find.

[@BrandonHanson]

One thing that was forgot to be mentioned. At 7:28. Rodney Mullen's first Plan B Skateboards video Part was actually Questionable in 1992 (which actually shows allot of that footage after bringing up Mike Ternasky in this Documentary). But his true breakthrough video part was Plan B Virtual Reality a year later.

[@rafaelraposo6437]

Amazing series, loved it! Next time do it about Paul Rodriguez.

[@colingomez5934]

I skated a little as a kid, never got super into it, just bullied and rode around alot but man I loved it and I love skate culture. Rodney Mullen is one of the greatest athletes we've ever seen and hes a hugely inspirational person. Such a nice guy and a true master of the craft, might be the single most important skateboarder ofall time. Like if you always played as Rodney Mullen in the Tony Hawk games 🤘😀

[@selinaogorman8380]

Now Rodney is the man besides nyjah Rodney got amazing tricks he is incredible hands down he is one of the best skaters still he is like a juggler so perfect.

[@ipod9771]

Bro I’m loving this channel! Could you pls make a video on Eric Dressen, Tony Alva & Jay Adams!? Hope to see you talk about these guys in the near future!

[@princess-kywie]

Loooove this video and this channel fr fr

[@0luc83]

It's amazing what a single person can do with a whole sport

[@gilly6612]

My favorite series

[@cosmo7559]

My favorite skate boarder of all time

[@Kkidzz]

Started in '75..still pushing. Read Rodney's book 'Mutt'

[@Samsgarden]

Your final words of advice are very good, although with the advent of social media, there’s never been a period in history of so much social comparison

[@DeadlyFreshAK]

"Just follow your passion and you'll make it" Said every homeless person

[@wheels9645]

I really enjoy this series.

[@OhioRiverFisherman]

Rodney is so sick!!! Awesome dude

[@Kronsbaer4802]

I really enjoy your skate stories! Keep up the great research, I'd love to see more of them!

[@marvingaye2812]

i love saturday’s so much cus that’s when skate or die posts❤️

[@TREOVIEW]

I love the fact, that everyone has there favorite skaters. But no one can questions who the GOAT, is. Neither can you question, who is the most important skater aside from Tony & Stacey.

[@14Dirty88]

the most humble man in skateboarding

[@korneyxxxkorney]

i really enjoyed the video. Nice work 👽

[@kakshihatake6391]

As a kid playing Tony Hawks underground 2 I legit thought those tricks were impossible but learning that he invented the Ollie and the darkslide jesus Christ he is amazing

[@jennag3226]

He invented the flat ollie. Alan Gelfand invented the ollie

[@vandakaii2893]

Nice to see the sk8 god represented huge mullen fan

[@shiftymcfly]

Great video but we should.note that Rodney didn't invent the Ollie he was the 1st to adapt it to flatground/street Alan "Ollie" Gelfand invented the Ollie in the 1970s

[@Elshonio]

I was just about to type that exact thing. Alan is definitely the inventor, Rodney took it to places no one thought possible

[@kylemarter5627]

This dude is so humble too..

[@Rockstar-wf4fp]

this video was sick man!! do one on the Muska next

[@DefinitionOfKen]

What an inspiration

[@fjalls]

Mr Mullen is the sole reason I even watch skating today

[@1dashcamboatsandcars]

Good video, Rodney is gold..

[@kuxo9966]

It’s insane how you went from 15k subs to 150k In like a year... great job dude🙌🔥🔥🔥

[@glorytoglorzo5591]

That was the quickest 10 minute video I've ever watched.

[@lina-md8wv]

I love ur videosssss!!

[@nyemartin5737]

Great video, thanks for sharing.