SC Featured: The 900 Turns 25
The 7th Annual Awards
- Best Athlete Storytelling
- Best Documentary: Long-Form
- Best Life or Legacy Tribute
ABOUT THIS ENTRY
Twenty-Five years ago, in the summer of 1999, Tony Hawk managed to outdo not only the other skaters in the contest, but his own previous achievements in the “Best Trick” event at the X Games in San Francisco. Hawk spontaneously decided to chase a decade of attempts for what was referred to as the "Holy Grail" of skateboarding, a two-and-a-half-revolution midair spin, named for the math of the trick, the 900. In a spectacle under the lights, one attempt after another, Hawk seemed to move a bit closer to landing the maneuver. Hawk entered into "the zone." With each fall and subsequent stomping up the halfpipe steps, the intensity of the crowd was fueled inside of the unfolding television broadcast. This is the first time all eleven have ever been seen on television. He showed the world the relentless dedication of skateboarding.
How does this represent "Excellence in Engagement"?
Industry leaders have shared their praise for a mainstream look at what some would consider a niche sport. The sport is mainstream now, that does not mean people understand Hawk’s contribution to a skateboard being every class of home around the world. This is proof, no matter the endeavor, the human heart and mind empathize with what it takes to do what has never been done before.
Objective
Twenty-five years later, both Tony Hawk and the 900 remain relevant. The trick’s evolution it's evolution in skateboarding begins with Giorgio Zattoni hitting the 900 five years later in April 2004 and then a handful of other skaters figuring out the trick. Tom Schaar, in 2011, at age twelve, born three months after Tony landed "the 9," becomes the youngest person to ever land a 900 (MegaRamp) and a year later In 2012, Schaar would then be the first to land the 1080 on MegaRamp. 2016: Hawk, at the age of forty eight, seventeen years to the day of making the first 900, lands a 900. In 2017, Gui Khury from Brazil at age eight becomes the youngest to claim the 900. 2019, Mitchie Brusco becomes the first skateboarder to land a 1260 (MegaRamp) at the X Games 2020: Khury lands the first-ever 1080 on a vert ramp.
Strategy & Execution
Athletes are defined by what they can find inside of themselves to reach a goal, rarely do we witness the process. The success is measured the accomplishment, not the dedication, the time and energy invested display what makes the great ones … great.
Credits
Craig T. Lazarus
Executive Producer
ESPN
Julie McGlone
Executive Producer
ESPN
Ben Webber
Executive Producer
ESPN
Jose Morales
Executive Producer
ESPN
Steven Lawrence
Producer
ESPN
Celebrate in NYC
Join us for the 7th Annual Hashtag Sports Awards™ on the evening of June 24, 2025 as we celebrate finalists and reveal the winners of this year's awards live during the show.
