Skateboarding's Best: Eric Koston

Photo Courtesy of Transworld Skateboarding

There are only a handful of professional skateboarders that could realistically and indisputably be called the best in the world. Vert and Mega Ramp pioneers Danny Way and Bob Burnquist certainly come to mind, particularly after bomb dropping off the Vegas Hard Rock Café’ guitar and grinding to a BASE jump into the Grand Canyon respectively. Perhaps, you might consider Rodney Mullen, the father of flip tricks, or Tony Hawk, the father of vert tricks, to be the greatest ever. But there is one who has (most likely) been far more influential than the rest, and that my friends, is Eric Koston.

What’s the reason for his popularity? What’s the reason for his success? Well, to understand both dispositions, I think you need to look at how he got where he is today. Skateboarding has remained pretty consistent in regards to how a skater hits it big. They basically have two options; to get lots of coverage i.e. video parts, magazine photos and interviews, or to do exceptionally well in a major contest. For Mr. Koston, it was both. Having won on huge stages like the X-Games or the Tampa Pro contest, along with producing amazing video parts and photos, Koston seems to possess borderline divinity. Most importantly, however, he dropped the greatest video ender of all time.

Girl Skateboards released its third film in April of 2003, entitled Yeah Right!, in which Eric had the closing part. The part was nothing short of absolutely ridiculous; chockablock full of highly technical and often switch stance manual and grind combos. The most impressive feature of course was the after-black last trick. Just hours before the video premiered at one of LA’s most exclusive theaters, Koston hooked up with a filmer and photographer for a late night session on one of Southern California’s most skated six stair rails to film this industry changing trick. Eric Koston’s trick, a 360 flip frontside noseblunt slide, blew the minds of all who watched it, but more importantly it set a new standard for handrail tricks.

Shortly thereafter, professional skateboarders worldwide began to acknowledge Koston’s groundbreaking achievement (if you’ve got a better term, let me know). For example, Milwaukee bred Greg Lutzka caught on to the craze and has since dropped previously unheard of tricks in his video parts like the frontside 270 noseblunt slide he did on the Wilshire 10 and the bigspin heelflip boardslide on the LA High rail. Painstakingly obvious is this point, Koston produced the best video ender in the history of skateboarding. (emphasis on that period ladies and gents) Skateboarding has and will never be the same since that trick and, in my mind anyway, Eric Koston will always be the greatest professional skateboarder ever. See his video part here.

Industry Updates

Sean Malto is now skating for FourStar Clothing.

Ragdoll got kicked off of Birdhouse Skateboards.

Brian Brown now has a pro model board with Listen.

Josh Kasper is now skating again, he's Blind's mystery guest for KOTR 2007.

Dirty Ghetto Kids Wade Des Armo and Lenny Rivas are now pro.

Think has given Adrian Williams a board with his name on it.

Fred Thompson is now running for President and is rumored to getting a pro model shoe from Emerica.

Bobby Worrest joined Mark Gonzales, Dan Drehobl, and Van Wastell in Krooked's pro ranks.

Adidas has given Vince del Valle and Lem Villemin spots on its illustrious and ever stylish amateur squad.

George W. Bush is rumored to have inked a deal with Consolidated Skateboards to have a pro model shirt.