Right now, a generation of metal and hardcore fans are seeing their idols get on in years. Artists and celebrities many of us still consider young or youthful are breaking fifty, and though they might still look great and kick ass, time definitely makes cozy homebodies of us all. Not all of them, though — case in point, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk just posted a video of him pulling off a 720, though he admits it might be his last.
Hawk, who’s 52, tweeted a video of him trying to land this ultra-complicated skating move, with the caption, “I recently made a 720 and it was a battle. The last one I made before this was over three years ago, and it’s much harder now all things considered: recently dislocated fingers hinder my grab, my spin is slower so I need to go higher for full rotation and… I’m really old.
“I can’t say for certain that this is the last one I’ll ever do, but I can’t imagine doing many more. So I’m offering this board to raise money for public skateparks: donate any amount to @thenineclub superchat 1/27 7pm PT (on YouTube), & you’ll actually be donating to @skatepark……and automatically entered for a chance to win this skateboard. Good luck, and thanks for all of your support in my ongoing endeavors.”
Check out the video of Tony proving he’s still got it below:
I recently made a 720 and it was a battle. The last one I made before this was over three years ago, and it’s much harder now all things considered: recently dislocated fingers hinder my grab, my spin is slower so I need to go higher for full rotation and…
I’m really old. pic.twitter.com/u8pbwRhS9j— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) January 27, 2021
To donate to the Nine Club, you can learn more at their YouTube channel.
It’s worth noting that though Tony had a trouble pulling off the 720, he still did, and he’ll always be Tony motherfucking Hawk. Metal is a world where ageism can go fuck itself, where young upstarts and the old guard can play back to back from each other on the same festival stage. Tony will always be a dude who pioneered his craft, and for that, we tip our wide-brimmed Suicidal Tendencies hat to him.
Here’s a video of Tony pulling off a 900 at 48 years old, which is more than we’ll do at 48, we promise.
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Words by Chris Krovatin
