Rodney Mullen

I made it (Olivia Malbran)

My Hero Report of the Inspiring Rodney Mullen

         Name: John Rodney Mullen

         Hometown: Redondo Beach, CA or Hermosa Beach, CA

         Date of Birth: August 17^th, 1966 in Gainesville, FL

         Family: married to Traci Mullen

         Started Skating: 1977

         Started Competing: 1977

         Turned Pro: 1980

John Rodney Mullen was born in Gainesville, Florida on August 17^th, 1966. "He wanted to skateboard, almost as soon as he could walk, but his dad (a doctor) wouldn't let him because he was scared Mullen would get hurt and fall in with the "wrong crowd"."   When Rodney Mullen was ten, his dad finally agreed to let him get a skateboard, on two conditions; the first time he was caught without knee and shoulder pads, or the first time he was injured, he would have to quit.

Mullen invented the Ollie (originally called the "Ollie pop prop", the kick flip (originally called the "magic flip") in 1983, "the heel flip", "the impossible", and a long list of other original tricks.  He wrote an autobiography called The Mutt: How to Skateboard and not Kill Yourself.   He is quoted in saying, "I fell in love with skateboarding because it was individual. There were no teams, there were no captains - it was completely opposite of what I saw in so many sports - it was creative."

"Rodney Mullen began skateboarding at the age of ten after he promised his worried father he would stop the first time he became seriously injured."  Rodney hung out with his sister's surfer friends who would skateboard on the weekends.  Mullen won 30 straight competitive amateur victories in the late 70's mostly in his home state, Florida, at the Oceanside Nationals in June 1979.  

"In 1980, fourteen-year-old Rodney Mullen entered the Oasis Pro competition, defeating world champion Steve Rocco."  Mullen turned professional as a member of the Bones Brigade sponsored by Powell Peralta. Mullen competed constantly in the 80's. In 1991 he joined the skateboarding team Plan B. (which is my favorite company) Mike Tenasky, the owner of Plan B, tried to convince Rodney to transition from freestyle to street skating.  Mullen tried to transition and did just that, street skating. He started to mix flip tricks and board slides.  He also invented the under flip and the casper slide.  Mullen ended his career with Plan B after Mike Ternasky died in 1994. He went to another company named Enjoi, which is wildly popular today.  Mullen left Enjoi to head to Almost Skateboards with Daewon Song, the company which he still skates for today.

             The reason I picked Rodney Mullen for my hero report is because he inspires me everyday when I don't feel like skateboarding.  I watch his videos probably three times a week for me to be able to get up and skateboard.  I personally think he is the best skateboarder alive.  I used to like Danny Way, but he is not as magnificent and professional as Rodney Mullen.  My jaw drops and my eyes go wide when I watch his videos.  He is amazingly talented!