Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk is a force to be reckoned with. The Birdman has not just aced the skateboarding tricks with absolute finesse but he also is a pioneer of modern vertical skateboarding. Yet, beyond the ramps and rails, Tony Hawk’s legacy extends to his role as a motivator. From being fired as David Spade’s stunt double to becoming an icon in his own right, Hawk covered every nook and cranny to reach the pinnacle of glory.
Interestingly, to express their encomium for the Birdman and his journey, an art account shared a staunch artwork representing the skateboarder in an entirely unique avatar. Now, as the painting caught Hawk’s attention, the skateboarding icon acknowledged the artist in the most heartwarming way.
Tony Hawk as ‘Saint Hawk’
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On 5th September, an Instagram account with the moniker ‘saegsart‘ added a new heartwarming painting. The artist titled it as ‘Saint Hawk,’ and the caption, “Saint Hawk is done! It will be up on the website soon! Thanks, everyone!” accompanied the artwork.
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This beautiful portrayal of Tony Hawk with a Powell Peralta skateboard garnered significant attention and a multitude of regards from the Birdman’s fans. However, the comment that took all the brownie points came from the legend himself. Expressing his gratitude for the artist, the skateboarding prodigy added, “Wow, thankyou!” and reposted the post on his story.
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A curious fan inquired in the comments, questioning the meaning behind Hawk’s hand gesture. In response, the account administrator clarified that in conventional iconography, hand gestures often carry distinct meanings, typically symbolizing blessings or Church-related signs.
The Seagsart artist added, “In traditional iconography the hand gestures mean different things. Usually a blessing or a sign in the Church. In the Skate Saints series I use it more as an homage to that style of work.” However, within the context of the Skate Saints series, the relaxed peace sign serves as a tribute to this artistic style and its unique interpretation.
However, the journey as a legend and getting much love from fans wasn’t a cakewalk to follow. In 1987, Tony Hawk’s life took a big unexpected turn that led him to push more toward his legacy.
Tony Hawk’s ‘Police Academy:4’ anecdote
Hawk shared this amusing anecdote during a recent episode of Spade’s “Fly on the Wall” podcast, co-hosted by Dana Carvey. He revealed a humorous twist of fate during the filming of “Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol.” Initially auditioning for a different role in the movie, Hawk found himself hired as Spade’s stand-in for complex skate sequences due to their shared goofy-footed style.
Hawk’s growth in his overall stature between the audition and actual filming led to an awkward height disparity, resulting in a situation where the director deemed him a talented skater but an unsuitable stunt double.
Reminiscing the incident, the Birdman added, “And I remember the director saying ‘y’know, he’s a pretty good skater but he’s a bad stunt double!’ and so then Stacy [Peralta, second unit director for skateboarding] kept telling me like ‘Stay low. Stay low!’ And I go… I was trying, and then they just quietly sent me home. Basically, I got fired.”
From being fired from the popular movie franchise to making a mark on the skateboarding realm through his unwavering dedication, Hawk covered it all. And now, as the legend inspires others through his journey, an epitomizing artwork pays the skateboarder a sincere tribute.
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