Ryan Sheckler Bio

Ryan Sheckler gets air.
Ryan Sheckler Biography

He's only 14 but that hasn't stopped Ryan Sheckler from becoming one of the top skateboarders on the planet. Last year, Sheckler became the youngest gold medalist in X Games history and he's shown that being small doesn't mean you can't go big.

Ryan Sheckler Starts Skating
Ryan Sheckler has been skateboarding since before he learned to read. He first jumped on a board when he was six years old and has been kickflipping and rail-sliding his way to the top of the skateboard world ever since. He became a sponsored skater when he was 10 years-old and his list of sponsors now includes Sobe, World Industries and Etnies.

The Ryan Sheckler Training Method
Ryan Sheckler spends a lot of time skateboarding. He spends up to 22 hours a week practicing tricks on the course in his backyard - which includes a half pipe, table tops and several grind rails. He's even developed his own trick called the Sheck-lair - an indy kickflip flyout. Ryan Sheckler also advises up and coming skaters to "never give up and never talk trash."

Ryan Sheckler Reaches The Top
Ryan Sheckler now lays claim to being one of the

Shazzam/EXPN
top street skaters in the world. He won the gold at the street competition at the 2003 X Games and also took top place in the street event at the 2003 Slam City Jam. Ryan Sheckler toured with Tony Hawk and Shaun White on Tony Hawks Gigantic SkatePark Tour and also has a role in the new skateboard movie Grind. So do other skaters hate being schooled by a little punk who could be mistaken for a garden gnome? "Not at all," says Ryan. "Everyone, for the most part is really cool. I learn a lot from other skaters. If I can do a trick they can't do, I'll show them. And they're sure to show me and try to teach me a trick that I didn't know."

Ryan Sheckler Says

No Pressure: "I've been doing this since I was 7, so there's no pressure. My sponsors are really cool so they don't put pressure on me like, 'Ryan, you have to win this one!' I just go out, take a deep breath and skate."

Favorite Toys: "My parents don't spoil me, so I buy all the stuff my sponsors don't give me. The last thing I bought was a remote controlled car. Now, I've got a dirt bike. But my favorite toy now is my Paintball Gun. I also like my GameBoy.

Pre-competition Chow: "I love junk food. But, before a contest, my mom makes sure I eat healthy. Lots of protein and good carbohydrates."