Tony Hawk has been trying for years to create a vert skateboarding series, a critical step to the discipline becoming an Olympic sport. But he didn’t have much luck until last year. Olympics
Skate legend Tony Hawk delights the crowd with an invert as he joins other pro skaters for a community skate during a first look of the new Vans - Utah Sports Commission Skatepark at the Utah State Fairpark on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019. The skatepark has a street course, but Hawk brought his inaugural Vert Alert halfpipe event to the Fairpark last year and plans to return in August 2022.
“I feel like we’re going to make enough noise with that event,” he added, “that the IOC can’t ignore it.” Street skateboarding takes place on a course that resembles a park or plaza, with rails, stairs and benches. Vert skateboarding is the older cousin of halfpipe snowboarding, with athletes trying to get as high off the lip of a ramp as possible while also performing flips and twists.
“I feel like we’re going to make enough noise with that event,” Hawk said, “that the IOC can’t ignore it.” Hawk, who recently appeared on stage at the Academy Awards alongside snowboard Shaun White and surfer Kelly Slater, still skates. He dropped in during the event in Salt Lake City last summer as part of a “Legends Demo.” He’s hoping to participate in that again this summer even though he broke his femur last month — while skating — and was walking with a cane at the State of Sports awards ceremony.That doesn’t mean he won’t be on the ramp, though.