What the 900 Is and Why Tony Hawk’s Attempt Mattered
The 900 is a skateboard trick in which the rider completes two and a half midair rotations (900 degrees) on the vertical axis while staying on the board. On March 1999, at the X Games in San Francisco, Tony Hawk became the first person to land the 900 in competition, a moment many consider the breakthrough that brought skateboarding into mainstream sports and media. The trick demands extreme speed, precise board control, and commitment, and Hawk’s success reframed what elite skateboarders could achieve.
Definition and Mechanics of the 900
Technical Breakdown
The 900 is fundamentally a rotational trick. While airborne, the skateboard and rider rotate 900 degrees around the rider’s vertical axis, which runs from head to feet. Key technical attributes include maintaining board control across two midair turns and landing with all four wheels on the coping or ramp deck. The trick is typically performed on a ramp with sufficient height and transition to generate the required air time.
- Rotation: Two full spins plus a half (900 degrees total)
- Axis: Vertical, aligned with the rider’s body height
- Equipment: Skateboard with grip tape, trucks, and wheels suited for ramp use
- Takeoff and landing: Usually done on a ramp coping or transition surface
Tony Hawk’s Historic 900 at the 1999 X Games
What Happened and When
In March 1999, at the X Games in San Francisco, Tony Hawk successfully landed the first-ever 900 in competition. The setting was a vert ramp event, where athletes ride the vertical faces of ramps and perform aerial tricks. Hawk’s run built speed, popped the tail to take off, rotated 900 degrees, and settled onto the ramp with the board level and under control. The achievement was captured on video, instantly becoming an iconic moment in action sports history and widely cited as one of the most important in skateboarding.
Key Details of the Performance
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Event | 1999 X Games, San Francisco | News and sports coverage |
| Trick | 900 (two and a half rotations) | Video evidence and athlete, coach, and journalist accounts |
| Rider | Tony Hawk | Event results and profile sources |
| Outcome | First successful competition 900; highly celebrated | Judges’ scores and contemporaneous reports |
Impact on Skateboarding and Action Sports
Immediate and Long-Term Influence
Landing the 900 at the 1999 X Games accelerated skateboarding’s visibility in mainstream sports. It prompted wider media coverage, inspired new riders to pursue advanced tricks, and increased sponsorship and prize money for vert and park events. The trick became a benchmark for elite skaters, and several competitors have since added the 900 to their competitive repertoires. Hawk himself has noted that the landing opened doors for athlete endorsements, event production, and public engagement, helping skateboarding secure a permanent place in multi-sport events and global conversations about action sports.
Comparing 900 Milestones in Skateboarding
Although Hawk’s 1999 900 is the most famous, other skaters have since landed variations in contests and demos, each adding nuance to the trick’s legacy.
| Skater | Year | Context | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Hawk | 1999 | X Games, vert competition | First competition 900; landmark achievement |
| Rune Glifberg | 2001 | Contest demo, vert | Early follow-up; shown in events and edits |
| Mega Moreno | 2021 | Vert competition, elite event | Modern example of the 900 in top-level contests |
| Other riders | 2000s–2020s | Training, demos, and contest runs | 900 now a recognized trick among specialists |
How the 900 Changed Training and Competition
Technical and Cultural Shifts
The 900 influenced skateboarding instruction, equipment, and judging. Coaches now routinely include rotation drills, air awareness exercises, and ramp-specific techniques to help riders develop the necessary speed and timing. Boards designed for vert feature stiffer decks, larger wheels, and responsive trucks to handle the forces of big-air tricks. In competition, judges credit not just the landing but the style, amplitude, and commitment behind a 900. This cultural shift rewards risk, consistency, and innovation, encouraging riders to push the limits safely and deliberately.
Bottom Line
Tony Hawk’s 900 in 1999 was more than a singular trick; it was a pivotal moment that reshaped skateboarding’s visibility, technical standards, and competitive landscape. Understanding what the 900 is, when and how Hawk landed it, and why it continues to influence training and competition clarifies its enduring significance in action sports and beyond.
FAQ
Reader questions
Is the 900 still relevant today?
Yes. The 900 remains a signature achievement in skateboarding. While newer tricks exist, the 900 is still a high-level milestone that demonstrates a rider’s ability to combine speed, rotation, and control. It continues to appear in contest lineups, training programs, and skate media, and it is frequently referenced when discussing the evolution of vert skating.
Did anyone land a 900 before Tony Hawk in 1999?
According to widely reported accounts and available video evidence, Hawk’s 1999 X Games attempt was the first confirmed competition landing. Earlier attempts and informal demos may have occurred, but Hawk’s performance was the first to be captured under competitive conditions and acknowledged broadly by judges, media, and peers.
How long does it take to learn a 900?
For most dedicated riders, progressing to a 900 takes months to years of consistent practice. It requires mastery of basic airs, strong edge control, confidence dropping in, and developed spatial awareness. Coaches often recommend building rotational comfort on smaller ramps before attempting a full 900. Individual timelines vary based on access to ramps, coaching, physical conditioning, and prior experience.