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Ryan Sheckler

Sheckler in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Ryan Allen Sheckler
Born	(1989-12-30) December 30, 1989 (age 23) La Palma, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight	150 pounds (68 kg)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Skateboarding
Medal record Summer X Games Representing  United States Gold 2003 Los Angeles Park Gold 2008 Los Angeles Street Gold 2010 Los Angeles Street Silver 2006 Los Angeles Street Silver 2012 Los Angeles Street Bronze 2011 Los Angeles Street

Ryan Allen Sheckler (born December 30, 1989 ^[1]) is an American professional skateboarder and entrepreneur, and was the star of the MTV-produced reality show Life of Ryan.^[2][3]

Early life [edit]

Sheckler was born in San Clemente, California, United States (US), and was raised in a family of three children—his two younger brothers are named Shane and Kane. ^[1] Sheckler was introduced to skateboarding when he discovered his father's skateboard at eighteen months of age. Sheckler's father provided encouragement by revealing that he had learned his first kickflip when he was approximately six years of age. Sheckler's parents are divorced. ^[4] In a 2012 interview for the internet-based channel Network A, Sheckler revealed that the San Clemente skate park is the location where he began skateboarding and that he was present at the opening of the park.^[5]

Professional skateboarding [edit]

This section requires expansion. (December 2012)

Almost [edit]

In 2004 professional skateboarders and entrepreneurs Rodney Mullen and Daewon Song founded the skateboard deck company Almost—Sheckler, together with Greg Lutzka, was a foundational member of this team and was promoted to professional status during his time with the company. Almost team member Chris Haslam explained in January 2012: "Almost is when Rodney [Mullen] came together with Daewon [Song] ... and Lutzka, and Sheckler."^[6]

Sheckler appeared in the inaugural Almost video Almost: Round Three alongside Cooper Wilt, Haslam, Lutzka, Mullen, and Song; Sheckler's video part is edited to the Cure song "Why Can't I Be You?"^[7]

Plan B [edit]

After appearing in Almost: Round Three, Sheckler resigned from the company to join the relaunched Plan B skateboard deck and apparel company in 2007—at that time, the team consisted of Brian Wenning, Pat Duffy, Ryan Gallant, PJ Ladd, Paul Rodriguez, Colin McKay, and Danny Way.^[8] Following his recruitment into the ranks of Plan B, Sheckler successfully performed tricks on Way's "Mega Ramp" construction (a segmented ramp that typically consists of 50, 60, or 70-foot gaps, and a 27-foot-tall "quarterpipe" ramp^[9]), with sections of the corresponding footage included in Sheckler's Superfuture part.^[10] In January 2013, Way provided his perspective on Sheckler in an interview for the online magazine Jenkem:

They [Plan B team] are doing the best tricks consistently with every variation of it down the biggest stuff. And it doesn’t take them long, so they have a lot of it. For example when we went to China recently, Sheckler alone has more footage from his one trip than all of the Girl team from their China trips combined. I’m not trying to diss on Girl, just trying to put it in perspective, what I think his strengths are.^[11]

Sheckler has appeared in numerous promotional and tour videos for Plan B, including the final section of the Superfuture extended promotional video,^[10] and appears in the second teaser for the inaugural full-length video of the relaunched team—Sheckler is filmed performing a kickflip in a street-based setting, while teammates Torey Pudwill and Duffy are also present.^[12] In an online interview that was published in September 2012, Sheckler revealed that, at the time of the interview, he was in the process of building a new skateboard training facility.^[13]

Sponsors [edit]

As of 2012, Sheckler is sponsored by Red Bull, Etnies, Plan B, Oakley, Nixon, Go Pro, Independent, Grizzly, CCS, Panasonic,^[14] Andale, and Ethika.^{[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]}

Video games [edit]

Sheckler is a playable character in Tony Hawk's Underground 2,^[24] Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, Tony Hawk's Project 8,^[25] Tony Hawk's Proving Ground, Tony Hawk: Ride, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD .^{[citation needed]}

Contest history [edit]

Sheckler first participated as a competitor in a skateboarding contest in 2002.^[26]

2003 [edit]

• Gravity Games: 1st (Street)
• Slam City Jam – Vancouver, Canada: 1st (Street)
• X Games: 1st (Park)
• United States Skateboarding Championships: 3rd (Street)
• Vans Triple Crown: 1st – overall (Street)
• World Cup of Skateboarding (WCS): 1st – overall (Street)^[26]

2004 [edit]

• Gravity Games, third place (Street)
• United States Skateboarding Championships, first place (Street)
• Vans Triple Crown, Vancouver event; third place (Street)
• Vans Triple Crown, Cleveland event; third place (Street)
• World Cup of Skateboarding, overall second place (Street)^[26]

2005 [edit]

• AST Dew Tour – Louisville, US: 1st (Park)
• AST Dew Tour – Denver, US: 1st (Park)
• AST Dew Tour – Portland, US: 2nd (Park)
• AST Dew Tour – San Jose, US: 1st (Park)
• AST Dew Tour – Orlando, US: 3rd (Park)
• AST Dew Tour: 1st – overall (Park)
• Globe World Cup, Melbourne event; second place (Street)
• World Championship of Skateboarding, third place (Street)^[26]

2006 [edit]

• Tampa Pro: 5th (Street)
• AST Dew Tour – Louisville, US: 1st (Park)
• AST Dew Tour – Denver, US: 4th (Park)
• AST Dew Tour – Portland: 1st (Park)
• AST Dew Tour – San Jose, US: 1st (Park)
• AST Dew Tour – Orlando, US: 2nd (Park)
• AST Dew Tour: 1st – overall (Park)
• X Games – Los Angeles, US: 2nd (Park)
• Globe World Cup – Melbourne, Australia: 1st (Street)^[26]

2008 [edit]

• Thrasher Magazine's "Bust or Bail": 1st
• X Games: 1st (Street)^[26]

2010 [edit]

• Tampa Pro: 6th (Street)
• X Games: 1st (Street)^[26]

2011 [edit]

• X Games: 3rd (Street)
• Simple Session: 1st (Street)^[26]

2012 [edit]

• X Games: 2nd (Street)
• Street League Skateboarding 3rd Series, 3rd Stop (Glendale, AZ): 3rd
• Dew Tour: 1st (Street)^[26]

• the discipline of skateboarding appears in parentheses

Entrepreneur [edit]

In 2008, the Sheckler Foundation^[27] was created to assist children, and injured and recovering athletes—the Foundation presents its overall goal as the empowerment of "our community to “Be the Change”!". Two of the Foundation's major annual charity events are "Skate For A Cause" (the fourth event occurred in May 2013)^[28] and the "Ryan Sheckler X Games Celebrity Golf Tournament" (the fifth event occurred in 2012).^[29]

In May 2009 Sheckler launched the "RS" clothing line.^[30]

Personal life [edit]

In his 2012 Network A interview, Sheckler explained that he enjoys surfing, relaxing, and spending time with his family when he is not skateboarding, adding that his priorities in life are: "Stay healthy, as much as I can; be a good brother; be a good son, to my parents; make sure I can do anything to keep my family safe; finish this Plan B part and just keep skating—keep filming video parts; be me, I guess—just be myself and not worry about what people think." However, Sheckler concluded by stating that his main priority is ensuring the health and safety of his family.^[5] Sheckler's younger brother, Shane, also skateboards, but has stated that he does not want to be like him, a professional skateboarder; instead he wants to do his own thing. When asked in 2012 about the balance between his personal and public life, Sheckler explained that he just accepts "wherever" his life is at any given time.^[13]

Filmography [edit]

Videography [edit]

• Digital: Everyday (2003)
• Tony Hawk's Secret Skatepark Tour (2004)
• Thrasher: King Of The Road 2004 (2004)
• Almost: Almost: Round Three (2004)
• Volcom: Chichagof (2004)
• FuelTV: Firsthand: Ryan Sheckler (2005)
• Globe: World Cup Skateboarding 2005 (2005)
• Tony Hawk's Secret Skatepark Tour 2 (2006)
• Etnies: Restless (2006)
• Oakley: Our Life (2006)
• Globe: The Global Assault (2006)
• Plan B: Plan B In Dominican Republic (2008)
• Plan B: Superfuture (2008)
• Etnies: Sangria Nights (2009)
• Plan B: Plan B In Moscow, Russia (2009)
• Strange Notes: Wish You Were Here (2009)
• Thrasher: King Of The Road 2010 (2010)
• Red Bull: Perspective (2013)^[31][32]

See also [edit]

• Sole Technology
• Skate shoes
• Flip tricks
• Skateboarding

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ryan Sheckler

• Official website
• Red Bull USA Profile
• Dew Tour Profile
• Ryan Sheckler at EXPN Online
• Ryan Sheckler at the Internet Movie Database
• Official Life of Ryan website