Bucky Lasek

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Image:Faces Of Skateboarding.jpg
Rune, Lasek, Burnquist

Charles Michael 'Bucky' Lasek (born December 3, 1972 in Dundalk, Maryland) is a professional skateboarder.

Lasek started skateboarding at the age of twelve, shortly after his bike was stolen. After entering amateur contests, he was quickly noticed by Powell Peralta talent scouts in 1987. Powell sponsored Lasek, and he made his video debut in the 4th Bones Brigade video, Public Domain (1988).

Lasek turned pro for Powell in 1990 -- but by this time, skateboarding and vert skating particularly began to lose popularity, and Lasek's career waned. When ESPN took vert skating under its wing as part of the X Games in the mid 1990s, Lasek's career made a comeback and he soon became one of the most recognizable skateboarders.

Today, Lasek is regarded as one of the most consistent vert skaterboarders in the sport. He frequently masters tricks that are considered too gimmicky and technical by most riders to do in a contest, and lands them with stunning regularity. Some of his signature contest tricks include the Heelflip Frontside Gay Twist and Switch Frontside 540. He is one of only two skaters to flip his board in to an invert (Heelflip Frontside Invert), and the only one to do a 720 on the vert and land backwards (forward-to-fakie Indy 720, known as a "MacKenzie").

As of 2006, Bucky Lasek has won ten medals at the X Games, including six gold medals. He has also earned 2004 titles in the Vans Triple Crown, Gravity Games, and the Slam City Jam. He currently resides in Carlsbad, California with his wife and two daughters, Paris and Devin.

Lasek made a cameo in the low-budget 2003 movie Haggard, in which he gave a skateboard to Bam Margera while he was running from the villain Hellboy. He has also made an appearance in MTV's Viva La Bam.

Lasek is sponsored by Element Skateboards, Mechanical Grip Tape, Randoms Hardware, Independent Truck Company, Type-S wheels, Pro-tec helments, Boneless Pads, Vans Skate shoes, Billabong Clothing, Von Zipper Sunglasses, Ogio Packpages, Save Tibet, Action Sports Environmental Coalition, P.R.O. Pro Riders Organization,T-Mobile, Rock Star Energy Drink, RDS skatesupply, Buckys burritos, Microarts, Gumball 3000, and Meguiars.[citation needed]

[edit] Contest highlights

Image:X games.jpg
Lasek up high in the sky
  • 1st in 2006 Dew Action Sports Tour: Vert
  • 1st in 2006 X Games: vert best trick
  • 1st in 2005 Dew Action Sports Tour: Vert
  • 1st in : vert
  • 1st in 2003 X Games: vert
  • 1st in 2003 X Games: vert doubles (with Bob Burnquist)
  • 1st in 2002 Slam City Jam: vert.
  • 2nd in 2002 X Games VIII: vert doubles (with Bob Burnquist)
  • 2nd in 2001 X Games: vert.
  • 1st in 2000 X Games: vert.
  • 9th in 2000 X Games: 1997 X Games: vert.

[edit] Tony Hawk games

Lasek was a playable character in the first five games in the Tony Hawk series (Tony Hawk's Pro Skater-Tony Hawk's Underground).

[edit] Other references