Eric Koston

Eric Koston(born April 29, 1975 in Bangkok, Thailand) is a professional skateboarder who currently resides in Hollywood, Los Angeles. He was born to an American Air Force father and a Thai mother. Eric's family moved to California when he was 9 months old. He settled in San Bernardino when his parents divorced. He first began skateboarding at 11, when his older brother handed him an old Mark Gonzalez board with mismatched trucks. Eric picked up on skateboarding just like that and began sessioning on the driveway.

Eric Koston Skateboarding Style and Strengths: Eric Koston is a fearless skater. He has technical skill combined with the willingness to try out new, untested tricks in the middle of a competition. Eric Koston is one of the few ultra successful pro skateboarders who retains his reputation for throwing everything he's got into every competition he comes across, be it the X Games, or Koston's famous games of SKATE.

Eric Koston Skateboarding Career Highlights: 1993 - Helped start Fourstar Clothing Company 2000 - Eric Koston won Globe World Contest, X Games and Gravity Games 2001 - won TransWorld Skateboarding Best Video part for his segment in eS Menikati 2002 - won gold in Gravity Games Street 2003 - won gold in X Games Street competition 2005 - Listed in Thrasher's '15 Most Loved Skaters of All Time' 2005 - Koston's Game of SKATE went international, with 24 contests world wide, and the winner competing against pros in the fall.

Eric Koston Personal History: Eric Koston's father, Bob, was in the airforce when he and Eric's mom met. Wanida, Eric's mom, was from Thailand. Eric was born in Bangkok, and moved to the states at 9 months old. His parents were divorced when he was only 5, and Eric grew up in San Bernardino, CA. Eric's older brother Chris gave him his first skateboard. Eric later went to a skate camp in MI, and met Eddie Elguera. This is where Eric realized his potential as a professional skateboarder.

Eric Koston Interesting Fact: Eric Koston plays basketball on an NBA Entertainment league in the winter. The team is called the Maverics, and he plays with Ashton Kutcher, Justin Timberlake and Mike Marlin to name a few. Eric also loves to play golf.

Eric Koston Quote: From skatinghazard.com - "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."