Top 10 Best Skateboarders of All Time

The Top Ten
1 Rodney Mullen

Skated with him from the beginning. It's hard to fathom the difference between the exploits of Vert and Street. They are two different disciplines. Thing is, I'm a vert guy. It's more dangerous, but Rodney does what seems inhuman, like something aliens or computers might do. Decades later, his feats are like those of a magician or a UFO sighting. There might be a glimpse of him, but people often can't even recall what they saw afterward. He'll do ten straight tricks with the camera rolling, no mistakes, unlike the tour guys and the Maloof competitors. I was watching the Maloof contest, wishing people could experience the "Rodney trance". We were with SIMS EAST, and he was with Walker, alongside Kelly Lynn, Clyde Rogers, Chris Baucom, and Mark Lake. In the end, there is Rodney.

Rodney Mullen is number 1. He invented the flat ground Ollie, kickflip, heelflip, tre flip, 540 shove-it, 540 double kickflip, Ollie impossible, and much more. People are mistaken, or simply uninformed about skating, when they say Tony Hawk is better. First of all, a 12-year-old kid did a 1080, which even Tony Hawk can't do. Rodney Mullen pioneered freestyle skating and skated before Tony Hawk. So, it's inaccurate to say Rodney Mullen wouldn't have skated if it wasn't for Tony Hawk. Moreover, Tony Hawk didn't invent the 360 flip. Rodney Mullen did. So, the next time you're doing 360 flips, kickflips, dark slides, and ollies, remember to thank Rodney Mullen.

2 Tony Hawk Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk, is an American professional skateboarder, actor and owner of skateboard company Birdhouse. Hawk is well known for completing the first documented 900 and for his licensed video game titles, published by Activision.

Tony Hawk has been the best-known skateboarder for the last 10 years, but Hawk retired from competing in 1999. So, why is he the top skater of this decade?

In 1999, the first Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game came out. Over the last 10 years, the Tony Hawk video game franchise, boasting 12 games, has moved mountains in promoting skateboarding and has dominated the skateboarding video game scene.

Also, in 1999, Tony Hawk became the first skater to pull off a 900, the holy grail of vert skateboarding. Over the last 10 years, many have tried to beat it, but no one has yet. I have no doubt that someone will land a 1080 eventually, but in the world of vert skating, Tony Hawk has remained unchallenged, even though he hasn't competed. That's pretty amazing.

No one will ever accomplish the amount Tony did during his career. Skateboarding would have died without him during the time he was present. He not only kept the sport alive, but almost all tricks done to this day are variations of the ones he created. Mullen is the best when it comes to street, but the title of best ever goes to Hawk, hands down. Just read his resume.

3 Paul Rodriguez/P-Rod

P-rod should be the best. If anyone says P-rod sucks, I will hate them forever. I don't know why he is 6. He should be number 1! I hate everyone who says he sucks. I mean, why do people not like him like they did a couple of years ago?

P-Rod is an awesome skater. I like his skate style. Moreover, I have drawn in his style when I started to skate.
P-Rod RULES. He is the BEST.
I don't know what other people think about him, and I really don't care, because to me, he is an idol.
Switch, Nollie, Grinds, in everything.

Paul Rodriguez is hands down the best skater alive. He does every trick consistently and so cleanly. Have you seen his switch tricks? He pretty much doesn't even skate switch because he skates goofy and regular the same. He's just too good!

4 Ryan Sheckler

My name is Justice, and Ryan is my idol! I watched him skate at Modern Skate Park in Detroit, Michigan on April 2, 2016. And he is the best! He is the main reason I love skating and why I keep skating to pursue my dream of skating all my life and becoming pro. And even if I don't go pro, I will still try to skate every day. All thanks to Ryan Sheckler! And Ryan, I saw you tear your MCL and meniscus at Modern, and I hope you feel better soon and keep skating.

I wanted to vote for Andrew Reynolds, but he isn't on here. The reason I voted for him is that he did the mega jump, which is really extreme, and I could never do that in my life. I watch his and Andrew's videos all the time. Way to go, Ryan. Keep skating and become the number 1 on this list.

I think he is super attractive and is very passionate about skateboarding. He made me want to try it out, and it's pretty fun. So, thank you, Ryan, for introducing me to a new way to get great exercise! I love you!

5 Chris Cole

Chris Cole embodies skateboarding. I believe he should be placed in #2 after Rodney, for Chris Cole is the Rodney Mullen of our generation. He represents what the sport is all about. Not only is he consistent, but he's also capable of pulling off tricks that have never been done before on some of the biggest and most challenging obstacles, or even the simplest. His style is the best I've ever seen for a man of his size.

James Chris Cole is one of the best skateboarders out there. He did a 720 kickflip and many more awesome tricks. One thing I must admit is that he should stay more loyal. And stay away from awful shoe brands like DC. I mean, why couldn't he just keep rolling with Fallen Footwear? Their shoes are great! And DC sucks. So, James, make better decisions. PEACE.

He is in a level just for himself, both for consistency and variety. Respect to Mullen and Hawk and everyone else, but this guy has the tricks, the style, and the attitude.

6 Nyjah Huston

Okay, I'm not going to lie, Nyjah Huston can skate well. He lands tricks solidly, and he's a great skater. However, in my mind, I find his skating very boring. It's the same thing over and over again: nose blunt, board slide, 50-50, and a ton of kickflips. I'm pretty sure a lot of people would agree.

I get it, though. You're starting off skating, and you've watched Street League - which is very annoying, by the way, because it's obvious a lot of those skaters are in it for the money. Come on! You've probably also bought an Element complete setup for $70. Stop watching Street League and enjoy some true videos:

- Supreme - Gangsta
- Yardsale - Softcore
- New York Times
- Polar - Intro
- Chris Copes '66' Part

Nyjah, you are my IDOL. I started skating about a month ago because I randomly found you on YouTube. I really liked that, so I started selling some things to get money. I bought a skateboard and began learning tricks. Now I can do many tricks like kickflip, heelflip, varial flip, and 360 flip. Everybody watches me and wonders how, when in the first month of skating, I was only doing an ollie. Regardless, you are my idol.

7 Danny Way

Hands down, everyone! There's no question about it. He revolutionized vert skating and was one of the most aggressive street skaters ever. He has some of the most impressive footage collections in history. When you watch complete videos, Danny always led the way with speed, air, technique, style, and he was by far the most aggressive and daring. He paved the way for a lot of people. He's one of the most influential figures in our sport. This guy is in a league of his own. For all the youngsters who don't know, this guy has been excelling for a long time. No one has come close to his stature or achievements. He's the best in vert and best all around! Hands down! He makes everyone else look like amateurs. Ask the pros. This guy gets a ton of respect. He is scary good.

Danny Way is a true inspiration! He has done so much, pushing limits and doing the impossible. He is probably one of the skateboarders who has inspired me the most in my year and a half of skateboarding. I may not be great today, but one day I hope to be as good as Danny Way.

8 Eric Koston

Eric Koston is the best in street skating by far, but many of these people have different styles. Hawk skates vert while Koston skates street. Although Rodney Mullen may have invented many tricks, Koston just had more talent than all of these people. He is the MJ of street skating.

Truly, Eric Koston is the best skater. The media may hype others, but in the eyes of professional skateboarders, Eric Koston stands out. Their opinions are the only ones that should matter in this debate. Who cares what uninformed kids think, especially those who can't differentiate between a nollie frontside and a half cab.

He is a legend because he has greatly influenced skateboarding. He also founded many skateboard companies. It's impressive considering he dropped out of school in grade 10.

9 Bam Margera Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, stunt performer, filmmaker, musician and television personality.

Bam is arrogant towards skaters. I have seen him in person, and so have many of my fellow skaters. He deserves recognition but not applause. Ryan Sheckler puts him to shame, and so does Chris Cole. If you feel Bam is a good skater, cool. I think he's a bit of a joke. His rate should be 10 just for how he treats people.

Bam is a pioneer in the sport of skateboarding and is definitely one of the best. His skill level and diversity in his skating are incredible. When I think of Bam Margera, I don't think of Jackass. I think about the huge nollie bigspin he landed on the snakerun at Forks Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Thanks for all the tricks, Bam, and keep it up, man.

He's awesome.

He's so very awesome. He is my idol, so I vote for him. His tricks were dangerous, skateboarding around his house, on the roof of their house, like a stuntman. Bam Margera should be at Ryan Sheckler's place. He's my number 3.

10 Rob Dyrdek Robert Stanley Dyrdek is an American professional skateboarder, actor, entrepreneur, producer, and reality TV star. He is best known for his roles in the reality shows Rob & Big, Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory and Ridiculousness.

Rob Dyrdek should be #1. Because he has made skate parks for kids who skate and have nowhere to skate. Skaters everywhere thank Rob Dyrdek. I'm from N.C., and Rob has made an impact on my skate team. We named ourselves The Wild Grinders after his new cartoon on NickToons. We all hope to meet Rob Dyrdek someday. Rob is an AMAZING and brave dude. He flipped a car 360 degrees. He wrestled in the WWE with Rowdy Roddy Piper. I think the next stunt he should do is to skate off a giant ramp over a LARGE GAP and land it. The gap should be LARGER than when he flipped that Chevy Sonic over the world's largest skateboard. So make the gap about 3 or 4 feet.

Rob Dyrdek is an AMAZING inspiration to skaters all around, and to me, a 13-year-old girl who skateboards. Most people stereotype skateboarders as dirty, having no life, doing drugs, or being generally unsavory. But if you look at Rob Dyrdek, an entrepreneur who made it big on a piece of board and wheels, he REPRESENTS a REAL skateboarder. I believe he is the BEST.

The Contenders
11 Bob Burnquist

He's an exceptional skater. His run at the Xgames is the best skateboarding performance I've ever seen. He's also a genuinely nice guy, one of the few in the skating world, like Tony and P-Rod. He's down to earth and excels at what he does.

He also has tremendous courage. He approaches his mega ramp as if it's a child's slide, and the stunts he does, like the Grand Canyon stunt, are insane.

He's the best skater ever! The most creative and the biggest risk-taker. No one has won more medals at the X-Games. Some rank him below others simply because they're unfamiliar with his history. He's the Kelly Slater of skateboarding!

Just ask Tony Hawk. He said Bob Burnquist is the most versatile and innovative skater these days.

12 Torey Pudwill

T-Pud? The dude is a genius on the wood. Rob Dyrdek or Bam as great skaters? Is this a joke? LMAO. Have either of them ever won or even appeared in SL? No. Rob created it because he knows he's not that skilled. He'd rather make money off the sport than participate. The top 10 easily goes:

1. R. Mullen
2. T. Hawk
3. N. Huston (Overrated, but his tricks are insane)
4. P. Rodriguez
5. C. Cole
6. R. Sheckler
7. C. Haslam
8. D. Way
9. M. Vallely
10. C. Haslam/L. Olivera

Easily the top 10. Maybe mix them up a little for your own personal preferences, but all in all, these are the top 10 best skateboarders in the world, not celebrities that "skate".

Torey Pudwill, creator of Grizzly Grip Tape – how is this dude ranked so low? This is just bogus. The guy is a boss. He does a lot of switch grinds. For example, he'll be doing a board slide and switch to a crooked grind or something like that.

What! This guy rips. Go to YouTube and type his name. He's incredible. I mean, he did a hard flip over a bench and did it without any effort. This guy will be the greatest street skater in the future.

13 Mike Vallely

Talked to him at the 2015 Tampa Pro @ Skate Park of Tampa. He is an awesome person and an amazing skater!

Why the heck is the best skateboarder 16th? Come on, he should be above Danny Way and all those other skateboarders. Not that Danny Way is a bad skateboarder. In fact, he's quite good. He's just not as good as Mike Vallely. Mike V is definitely better than Rob Dyrdek.

Mike V. is a hardcore skater. I wouldn't recommend messing with him.

14 Daewon Song

He is amazing at manuals, and he is a creative skateboarder. He skates on rocks, trees, and pretty much everything he sees! Just watch Daewon Song dorking around at DVS, and you'll see why he should be in the top 3!

Daewon invented a bunch of tricks that didn't catch on because no one can do them. He might be the greatest of all time.

Go watch his Deca 2nd to none part. It outdoes MJ's fully flared. MJ stole many tricks from him. There's a bunch of kooks voting. Rodney Mullen is definitely not the best. Sheckler? What about Bam? Mike V.? Why is he even on here?

15 Chris Haslam

Chris Haslam is the reincarnation of Mullen. Heck, that's probably why he chose Haslam to be on the Almost Team. His style is just so fluid. He incorporates all aspects of whatever terrain he is riding. You will never see any herky-jerky movements of him sticking a landing. Haslam is always consistent and inventive, which is why his style is so unique. He's just like a giant bearded snowflake: 100% original.

Chris Haslam is not just a skateboarder. He is a trick creator! He should be in the top 5, not in 10th place. I just don't understand why many skaters rate his tricks as stupid tricks. He rocks!

He can do a kickflip onto a manual pad and then land on a nice manual, but he can nose manual on one foot and then ollie off. He can also perform a darkcatch on a manual pad. This dude is sick. Chris Haslam has to be my favorite skater.

16 Mark Gonzales

Anybody over 20 who knows anything about skating would say Gonz was number one. He's the most influential skateboarder of all time, and he skated like the board was literally a part of him from birth. Ask any pro skater about the greatest street skater of all time, and they're going to say Gonz. He and Mullen are numbers one and two.

Hey, twelve-year-olds, stop commenting. Gonz is easily top 5 all-time, and both he and Mullen are the greatest street skaters of all time. It's not even close. It's sad to see people voting based on name recognition from who they know from TV.

How is he not in the top ten? He is inspirational! A true legend. It just doesn't make sense! Krooked for the win!

17 Chad Muska

How is he not higher on the list? He is one of the best street skaters out there. Who else can ride a skateboard on its side?

The dude is a boss. He can execute the same trick as anybody, but his landing is ten times cleaner.

Yes, he is one of the best skateboarders of his generation. He is in the same elite class as Tony Hawk.

18 Andrew Reynolds

Why doesn't the Boss have a comment yet? He's not only capable of ollieing a bunch of stairs or a 15-foot gap, but he's also doing nollie kickflips and other stuff that Sheckler and the rest of that extra-overrated bunch at the top of the list (not to mention Cole, because he's really awesome, and the duo Mullen/Hawk were great in the 80s) can only dream of. Look at his Birdhouse "The End" part or "Stay Gold" part to see what real skateboarding is.

Yesterday he was in 7th place, and now he's 15th? That's nonsense. His part in Baker 3 was legendary. He explodes down stairs like Cee Lo Green gains weight.

The Boss should be #1 on this nonsensical list. Everyone who voted for Bam or Tory before Drew is just an uninformed poser.

19 PJ Ladd
20 Christopher Chann

Why is this kid ranked 22nd? Are you kidding? That dragon flip was mad. He's, by far, my favorite and many others' favorite skater. His flat ground skills are insane, and he's not even a pro!

He is amazing at skating. He can do so many unique flat ground tricks like the 360 dolphin flip. He is one of the best. He beat Chris Cole in a game of skate. He's really good.

He can do amazing tricks, even weird ones. He can beat Chris Cole in the Game Of SKATE. He's participated in the Berrics. He's been skating for almost 7 years. He is the best skater.

21 CJ Collins

I love this kid. He skates with the style of a grown man, yet he's only 13 years old.

This kid is a beast for his age! He's got style.

22 Chaz Ortiz

He is the best skater alive. He should at least rank above P. Rod. He has won two Dew Tours, one when he was 14 and the second when he was 16. He has consistently been in the Street League championship and finals. He's really friendly. Unlike P. Rod, who has never come close to winning the Street League, Chaz stands out. I love him.

Yo! Chaz Ortiz easily tops Daewon Song. Chaz is so committed to his boarding that he can't be stopped.

He is incredibly skilled and stylish. He is consistent and has the smoothest tricks.

23 Felipe Gustavo

Felipe is insane. He's amazing and should be in at least the top 20.

He is one of the best skateboarders alive. He should be in the top 10, if not in the top 5.

24 Bucky Lasek

He is one of the most talented skateboarders you will ever meet. He is sponsored by many companies and is great in the bowl.

Bucky wins everything these days.

25 Tony Alva

Alva IS skateboarding. He is the absolute first rock star of skateboarding. That is a FACT. 27? Get outta here with that.

What? He basically invented vert/pool skateboarding!

Alva at 19? The skateboarding world today is a sad place. Bam is 5 and Alva is 19? What?

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