X Games

How Tony Hawk landed the 900, a trick he had never made before

Every earlier serious 900 attempt had hurt Tony, including a broken rib in 1994. At the 1999 X Games best-trick event, the announcer goaded him into trying it. By about the fifth attempt his speed and spin were consistent, so he committed to the landings. He made it after time had expired, and his first thought was relief that he'd never have to do it again.

“And I felt like, wow, my speed is consistent. My spin is consistent. Like before, I, I would get maybe one good try out of 5. Hmm. And I had to commit to that one good try. And now all the tries were good. So I guess I can commit again. I thought, you know, somewhere around the 6th attempt, I, I thought, all right, I'm gonna, I'm gonna commit to these landings and, and see how it goes.”