Eric Koston
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Eric Koston (born April 29, 1975 in Bangkok, Thailand) is an American professional skateboarder. His family moved from Bangkok to California when he was 9 months old and he settled in San Bernardino, California when his parents divorced. He began skateboarding at the age of 11, when his older brother handed him an old Mark Gonzales board with mismatched trucks. He picked up skateboarding quickly and eventually dropped out of school in the 10th grade to become a full time professional skateboarder.
Bio
Koston turned professional in 1991 when he joined the H-Street team. He went to live 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 tailside and also taking a switch 360 flip down the Embarcadero 7 during his part in 101's 1993 video Falling Down.
While many people believe either Koston or Karl Watson to be the inventor of the "crooked" grind, (nicknamed the K-grind after either Karl or Eric K), it was in fact Dan Peterka who invented this trick. Since the name Peterka is somewhat difficult to pronounce, and Koston was seen doing front-foot flips out of the grind a short time after its conception, the grind was renamed "k(oston)-grind" after his mastery of the trick. It was later changed to crooked grind as Koston was too modest to hold a title on a grind that he in fact did not invent.
In 1993 Rick Howard and Mike Carroll started Girl and asked Koston to join the team. He accepted and quickly became one of Girl's most influential skaters. Koston is also known for creating his own trick, the Fandangle, a Frontside 180 to Switch one-footed Nose Grind, which quickly found itself in magazines and in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. However, Koston admits the trick was the result of quick photography and a bailed trick on his part - as he was trying to avoid injury from a failed grind, Koston leaped off of his board, giving the appearance that he was in fact grinding with one foot. While with Girl, Koston was named the "Skater of the Year" by Thrasher Magazine in 1996.
Along with his highly successful skateboarding career, Koston has branched out into the world of business, and is one of the owners of a clothing company called Fourstar. While a member of the éS Footwear shoe team, Koston proposed that before his contract ran out in 2007, he would become a part owner of the company he had worked with for so long. When his proposition was surprisingly rejected, he decided to part ways with éS. After months of rumors and speculation, he decided to sign with the Lakai shoe team, joining friend Mike Carroll. Koston is scheduled to release his new shoe during the 2006 holiday season.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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Contest history
- 1st in 2003 X Games: street
- 1st in 2003 X Games: Global Championship
- 1st in 2003 Gravity Games
- 1st in 2002 X Games: street
- 1st in 2002 Gravity Games: street
- 1st in 2002 Tampa Pro
- 1st in 2002 X Games: street
- 1st in 2001 Gravity Games: street
- 1st in 2001 Slam City Jam: street
- 1st in 2000 Gravity Games: street
- 1st in 1996 Tampa Pro
- 1st in 1995 PSL: street