Sure, practice makes perfect in skateboarding. But so does studying the physics of the sport. We recently discussed the topic with famed skateboarder Tony Hawk.

Q: Have you thought much about the role physics plays in skateboarding?

A: Yes, but only after studying it in high school and realizing how much we use kinetic energy and friction. I used to take it for granted, but it is much more fun to have specific knowledge of how it makes tricks possible.

Q: Have you ever actually sat down and mapped out whether a trick is possible, based on the laws of physics?

A: Yes, but mostly in the sense of ramp sizes, speed and force necessary to make a jump or clear a gap. The tricks are more body-controlled.

Q: Have you encountered any specific tricks that simply defy physics?

A: I believe that the ollie, which is the foundation for most skate moves, defies gravity. But I know that friction plays a big part in getting a skateboard airborne without using your hands.

Q: Does an understanding of physics help you prevent injuries, especially those that involve falling?

A: Yes, in terms of designing ramps that have better radii and landing zones (even if the landing is off your board). There are many ways to fall safely, but I believe that they are learned more by experience than science.

Q: Do you envision tricks in a step-by-step process, or in more of a single fluid motion?

A: These days, most new tricks are combinations of one or several existing tricks. So I learn step-by-step, in a calculated and methodical manner. At some point, I know that I have all the necessary pieces to make it work and I complete the trick with confidence. Although the tiniest variant can have tragic consequences.

Q: You’ve watched skateboarding evolve technically. Which tricks would you consider game changers to the sport, and why have they been so influential?

A: The ollie because it taught us control of our board into the air using only our feet, the kickflip because it allowed us to maneuver the board without using hands, the McTwist because it showed that we can flip and spin in the air like gymnasts and still land safely, and the Ollie 540 because it proved that we can do such twists without using our hands.

Q: Could you talk a little about making the 900 and the level of difficulty involved.

A: It was a quest of mine for nearly a decade, trying to figure out how to spin properly, fast enough and have a body positioning suitable for landing. Bit by bit, I figured each part out except the landing position; which took nearly four years of failed attempts. I finally realized that I needed to shift my weight more to pick up my back foot while spinning; something I never had to do for any other trick.

Q: Are there any tricks that you see people doing now that would have seemed physically impossible earlier in your career?

A: Anything that involves flipping the board in midair (especially at heights above 4 feet), and catching it using only your feet. Tricks at that height had to be done using hands to grab the board and keep it there; we had no idea that we could use friction and gravity to keep it in place.

Q: How do you believe the physical limits of skateboarding will be tested in the future?

A: Using computer simulations and testing grounds that are padded.


