Staying Fit
Holiday in Place
Travel is our big holiday tradition. Last year the whole family was in Costa Rica, driving around in ATVs, up into the forest. Swimming in waterfalls. Visiting towns. We'll do it again, but we all have to be OK with waiting until things get back to normal.
AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.
Play It Forward
Our recent remaster with Activision of my Pro Skater 1 and 2 video games has the same old-school tricks, though with insane new features. I was playing with my son the other night and had to show him how to get the high-score challenges. The old man's still got it!
Let Kids Be Kids
It's a fine line between parenting and being overbearing. I've tried to let my four kids find their own limitations. That's tough. One of my kids didn't care if he got hurt. In his 20s, he's still a daredevil, though he's finally developed a sense of mortality.
Skate On
When I was a pro in my 20s and 30s, people asked, “How long can you do this?” As I got into my 40s, it almost became an insult: “Still skating?” After 50, I kinda broke through — nobody my age has this career. Now it's, like, “Holy s--t! I can't believe you can do that!"
Be Fearless
I've had surgery on both knees, broken my elbow, broken my pelvis, dislocated my fingers, had countless stitches. I've never let those things stop me, and in certain technical ways, I'm getting better.
Bring on 2021
New Year's resolution: Stay in shape without relying on skating alone. All these pandemic takeout meals have added a few extra pounds. Stress eating is real!
—As told to David Hochman
Tony Hawk’s nonprofit Skatepark Project has built some 600 skate parks to promote exercise and raise self-esteem.