Tony Alva Skateboarder, member of the Z-Boys and bassist for The Skoundrelz Date of Birth: 02.09.1957 Country: USA

1. Skateboarding Champion and Musician
2. Contrasting Style and Innovations
3. Entrepreneur and Innovator
4. Business Ventures and Achievements
5. Acting and Product Collaborations

Skateboarding Champion and Musician

Tony Alva, a skateboarding champion and musician, was born in Santa Monica, California. He was a member of the Z-Boys skateboarding group and the bassist for the band The Skoundrelz. Alva was the first professional skateboarding champion, earning the title in 1977.

Contrasting Style and Innovations

Alva's level of aggression while skateboarding contrasted with the traditional style of the 1960s. He and the Z-Boys were among the first skateboarders to ride in drained swimming pools. In the same year, Alva was voted "Skateboarder of the Year" by readers of Skateboarder Magazine and set a Guinness World Record for skateboard jumps over barrels.

Entrepreneur and Innovator

In 1977, at the age of nineteen, Alva established his own company called Alva Skates. It was the first skateboarding company to focus on high-level skateboarding and one of the early adopters of using multiple-ply maple veneer for skateboard decks.

Business Ventures and Achievements

In December 2005, Tony Alva opened two stores in Southern California, one in Oceanside near San Diego and another on Fairfax Ave in Los Angeles. In December 2006, he celebrated the first anniversary of their opening, with attendees including Z-Boys skateboarders, Alva's team, MySpace friends, skateboarding enthusiasts, and minor celebrities like Riana "Reno" Oprah from the reality show "Survivor." Alva signed autographs and DJed at the event.

Acting and Product Collaborations

Alva also had a role as Tony Bluetile in the 1978 film "Skateboard: The Movie." He signed a three-year contract with the footwear company Vans, and his pro-model shoes were released in 2006. Alva also appeared in the video game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland.