Ryan Allen Sheckler

Ryan Sheckler waiting for a run (Ryan Sheckler's Officaial Website: http://www.ryansheckler.com/onlinestore/home.php?mode=welcome)

At the tender age of 18 months old, my hero started to skateboard. You don’t know who I’m talking about? I’m talking about Ryan Allen Sheckler, pro skateboarder at age 13. The youngest to win a gold in the X-Games, he continued to win even though he suffered from a burnt foot.

Ryan Sheckler as a baby (Ryan Sheckler's Official website: http://www.ryansheckler.com/onlinestore/home.php?mode=welcome)

Ryan was born in La Palma, California, December 30, 1989, and moved to San Clemente where he was raised by his parents and learned to love skateboarding from his father. He started to skateboard at 18 months by using his father’s skateboard to roll down the driveway. And then at age 4 he started to skate around the neighborhood with his friends. In the summer of 1995 they built a ramp that his dad broke because he was too heavy. His father built them a new one and other things, like rails and fun boxes to use. That was when Ryan started to show his love for skateboarding.

He loved the sport of skateboarding so much and became attached to his dad’s board, that he brought everywhere with him. One summer, his mom found out about the CASL, the California Amateur Skateboarding League, and he wanted to try it. Ryan won that competition and went on to win many more. This is a heroic trait to me because he tried something and continued to do it. It’s like me when I play the guitar, I started out playing for just a short time, but ended up loving it because it was something that made me feel good, and it helped pass the time.

Ryan posing for a picture (Ryan Sheckler's Official Site: http://www.ryansheckler.com/onlinestore/home.php?mode=welcome)

In the summer of 1996 he became devoted to skateboarding and didn’t do anything else in his free time. He really wanted to skate with Tony Hawk, since Tony was his favorite skater. Ryan’s dad suggested that he write to Tony and ask him to come to his birthday party. Ryan wrote Tony a letter, and Tony agreed, saying he would come to his party only if there was chocolate cake.

In the years of 1997 to 2001 Ryan was winning every CASL event. He became sponsored and got free eyewear from Arnette, the same company that sponsored Tony Hawk. At some time the Arnette team manager asked Ryan if he wanted Tony’s vert ramp, and his parents said it was OK. They put up a 12 foot vert ramp in his backyard! Ryan skated it every day…right up until the minute the city of San Clemente threatened his mom and dad with a lien against the house if they didn’t knock it down to just under 8 feet. The short story is that they knocked it down, and he had one fast and awesome mini ramp.

In 2003 World Industries, a skateboard and snowboard company, turned him pro and he was determined to make a statement. 2003 was a great year for Ryan. He won the X Games, Gravity Games, Vans Triple Crown and Slam City Jam. In 2004, he was named the World Cup of Skateboarding’s National Street Champion.

In 2005, he was named the World Cup of Skateboarding’s National Street Champion and the Dew Action Sports Tour Athlete of the Year. In 2006, he won the Global Assault in Australia, and he recently finished 5th at the Tampa Pro in Florida after suffering from a pretty good knock out and concussion. Another heroic trait I think is important is persistence, or in other words, determination. On a fourth of July weekend in 2005, Ryan burnt his left foot by stepping on a sparkler. Most 16-year-olds would have packed up, to give themselves some time to heal, but not Ryan. He was determined to continue skating ASAP. “I’ve won every contest I’ve entered this year,” he said. “I’d like to keep that going if I can.”

Another heroic trait is a good self-esteem because he doesn’t care what anybody thinks of him. He was able to continue to skateboard and go on through all the adversity that follows fame.

Ryan Sheckler is my hero because he was determined to become the best at skateboarding, and he turned pro at age 13. He showed me that you have to keep trying to get what you want and to never give up.