Rodney Mullen's First Skate

John Rodney Mullen was born in Gainseville, Florida on August 17th, 1966. He wanted to skateboard, almost as soon as he could walk, but his dad (a doctor) wouldn't let him because he was scared Mullen would get hurt and fall in with the "wrong crowd." When Rodney Mullen was 10, his dad finally agreed to let him have a skateboard, on two conditions; The first time he was caught skateboarding without pads, or the first time he was injured, he would have to quit. Rodney Mullen managed to avoid any early injuries and became sponsored by the Inland Surf Shop nine months after he started skating. Mullen won the first freestyle contest he entered in 1977 and at the age of 13, he turned professional with the legendary Powell-Peralta skateboard company.

Rodney Mullen Rules

Rodney Mullen kept winning freestyle skateboard contests, but his dad still wanted him to give up skateboarding and move on to something else. But when skateboard magazines kept calling Mullen and companies started sending him money, his dad said he could keep skating. After 10 years skating freestyle and winning dozens of competitions, Rodney Mullen began developing new street tricks and making skateboard videos. He also started World Industries Skateboards with Steve Rocco in 1992.

Rodney Mullen Revolutionizes Skating

Rodney Mullen has invented hundreds of skateboard tricks and has revolutionized the world of skateboarding. The tricks Rodney Mullen introduced to the world include the kickflip, the heelflip, casper slides and the 540 shuvit. Mullen still skateboards at least 2 hours every day and is always inventing new tricks. From tricks to videos, to designing skateboards, Rodney Mullen