Eric Koston
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| Eric Koston | |
| Born | Eric Koston April 29, 1975 Bangkok, Thailand |
|---|---|
| Residence | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Occupation | Pro Skater, Co-owner of Fourstar Clothing Company |
| Height | 6' (1.83 m) |
Eric Koston (born April 29, 1975 in Bangkok, Thailand) is an American professional skateboarder who grew up in San Bernardino, California and currently resides in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California.
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[edit] Life and career
Eric Koston's father, Bob Koston, met Eric's mom, Wanida, when he was in the air force. Eric's mom was from Thailand, so he was born in Bangkok and moved to San Bernardino, California at 9 months old. They divorced a few years later, and Eric started skateboarding at age 11, when his brother gave him an old Mark Gonzales board with mismatched trucks.
He picked up skateboarding quickly and later went to a skate camp in MI, where he met Eddie Elguera, and realized his potential as a professional skateboarder. He eventually dropped out of school in 10th grade to pursue a full time skateboarding profession. He was sponsored and turned pro in 1993 when he joined the H-Street Team, he lived in the H-Street house in San Diego for six months.
In 1992, Koston moved to Los Angeles when Natas Kaupas got him into the 101 team. On 101, he established himself as a leading switchstance skateboarder - pioneering such technical tricks as the nollie flip noseslide and the switch kickflip backside tailslide. He also took a switch 360 flip down the Embarcadero 7 during his part in 101's 1993 video "."
Eric also loves to play golf. Even though he didn't invent it himself, Koston's main signature trick is the "K Grind," for Koston (aka the crooked grind), after mastering it and showing it on a video. He also has several other tricks that he has invented.
His stance is goofy, but he is known for his ability to skate switch. He possess the technical skill and fearless commitment to create the practice of new tricks either on the streets, or in competition. He is known for commercializing the competitive, HORSE-derivative game of S.K.A.T.E..
[edit] Career highlights
- 1991: Koston turned professional and joined the H-Street team
- 1993: Koston joined the Girl Skateboard Team, started by Rick Howard and Mike Carroll
- 1993: Became a co-founder of the Fourstar Clothing Company
- 1995: 1st in PSL: Street
- 1996: 1st in Tampa Pro
- 1996: Koston was voted "Skater of the Year" by Thrasher Magazine
- 2000: 1st place Globe World Contest, 1st place X Games, 1st place Gravity Games: Street
- 2000: Was a playable character in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2.
- 2001: 1st in Slam City Jam: Street, 1st in Gravity Games: Street
- 2001: Won Transworld Skateboarding Best Video Part for his segment in the eS video: Menikmati
- 2002: Won gold in Gravity Games: Street competition, 1st in Tampa Pro, 1st in X Games: Street
- 2002: Was a playable character in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3.
- 2002: Was a playable character in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.
- 2003: Won gold in X Games: Street and Global Championship, 1st in Gravity Games
- 2003: Finishing part in Girl "Yeah Right!". Pulled off a 360 flip nosebluntslide down a handrail.
- 2003: Was a playable character in Tony Hawk's Underground.
- 2004: Was a playable character in Tony Hawk's Undergound 2.
- 2005: Announced as Thrasher Magazine's "15 Most Loved Skaters of All Time"
- 2005: Koston's Game of SKATE went international, with 24 contests world wide
- 2007: 1st Place in Tampa Pro
- 2007: Double part in Lakai Fully Flared. Skated to two Public Enemy songs. Ended with a fakie 360 flip down the MACBA four
- 2007: Eric Koston and Steve Berra purchase a warehouse and make a private skatepark for them and their friends called The Berrics. (www.theberrics.com)
- 2008: Tampa Pro : 8th
[edit] Sponsors
Girl Skateboards, Fourstar clothing, Lakai Footwear, Diamond Supply Co, Ogio Bags, Independent Trucks, Spitfire Wheels, and Active Mail Order
[edit] Quotes
"The progression of skateboarding seems to be getting more technical with a flip into a slide then a flip back out as well as going down bigger rails and down more stairs. I like to do all that stuff, especially when it feels good. I don't stick myself into one type of style, I would get bored with that." (source: skatinghazard.com)
