Tony Hawk: The idea was inspired around the time I completed the 720, which was in 1986. I just started thinking about what was next, but I never actually began trying it until about 1996. It was something that I had thought about but could never figure out how to go about it. Other people had tried to land it but no one had until I did.

PB: There was a clip on your TV show of a kid almost landing it.

TH: That kid's come really close. His name is Richard Lopez. What they didn't show was that they had a pool going for him to make it. I started it with $500. All these people started getting in on it, and it grew to two or three thousand dollars. Everyone in the crowd was handing in money. ESPN's director of programming happened to be at that stop of the tour so he pitched in $1000. That put the purse at something like three or four grand. He never landed it so they gave him half the money.

PB: When you first entered contests, you faced criticism for your style. Did it bother you?

TH: Actually, it didn't really happen until I started doing well. People would talk about the fact that my style wasn't in keeping with the hard-core slashing style that involved trying to go high and fast. They called my tricks "circus tricks." And they said because I ollied into my airs, I was cheating.

PB: Now that's the way everyone does it.

TH: It's the only way you can get any height.

PB: In 1984, well before you perfected the 720, you learned the McTwist. Why was that so important?

TH: I had never done anything where I was blind to the ramp during a rotation. It took me awhile to figure it out.

PB: Skateboarders routinely risk (and often sustain) catastrophic injuries, from broken necks to head traumas. What are the more serious injuries you've survived?

TH: I broke my elbow a couple of years ago. I've also torn cartilage in my knee, cracked my ribs and sprained my ankles a couple of times.... Oh, yeah. I've had seven concussions.

PB: When you were 18, your days touring as a member of the Bones Brigade with Lance Mountain, Steve Caballero, Mike McGill and Tommy Guererro seem almost rock star-like. Is that when you realized that being a skateboarder can get you women?

TH: Yeah, and it was a total shock. When I was in high school you were a total outcast if you were a skater. You were shunned. It was the last way you could get anyone interested in you.