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Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk reflects on his early days as a small, trick-focused skater during the Dogtown Z-Boys era, when legends like Tony Alva and Jay Adams set the standard for power and style. Hawk explains how being dismissed as a “circus act,” facing harsh criticism at the height of his success, and finding support from peers like Jeff Grosso prepared him for fame and helped skateboarding grow from an underground scene to a worldwide culture. This 4-minute clip captures the challenges, resilience, and lasting influence that shaped Tony Hawk’s journey and the evolution of modern skateboarding.

00:00 Early Days in the Dogtown Z-Boys Era with Tony Alva & Jay Adams
00:30 Developing Trick Skills Despite Criticism
01:00 Feeling Like an Outcast in an Outcast Sport
01:30 Pressure and Judgment at the Top
02:00 Building Resilience Against Haters
02:30 Finding Support and True Friends
03:00 Conversations with Jeff Grosso
03:30 Skateboarding’s Growth for a New Generation
About The Plug
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The Plug w/ Justin Jay is a bi-monthly arts and culture podcast featuring unfiltered, long-form interviews with the artists, entertainers, and innovators shaping today’s world. Each episode explores career challenges, inspirations, and the stories behind music, sports, design, and politics.

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Follow the audio podcast of The Plug w/ Justin Jay every other Thursday → https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com

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Topics: music production, New York City history, hip-hop history, creative process, professional surfing, comedy, photography, arts & entertainment

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Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay → theplugpodcast.jj(AT)gmail.com