Tony Alva was born in 1957, in Santa Monica California. In 1968, Alva got his first surfboard and skateboard and developed a passion for surfing, skateboarding and rock-n-roll. In 1972, he joined the legendary Z-Boys skateboard team along with Jay Adams and Stacy Peralta. Alva later went on to win the Men’s World Overall Professional Skateboard Championship in 1977.

In the 1980s, Tony formed the infamous "Alva Posse" and sponsors innovative skaters including: Christian Hosoi, Ray Barbee, Mark Gonzalez, Dave Duncan, Eddie Reategui, Chris Cook, John Thomas, Jeff Hartsel, Craig Johnson, John Gibson, Bill Danforth, Fred Smith III, and Jim Murphy.

In 1999, he was presented the X Games Life Time Achievement Award from Tony Hawk, and in 2000, he received the Legend Award from Transworld Skateboard Magazine.

Recently he was featured in the Sundance and Independent Spirit award-winning documentary “Dogtown and Z-Boys” (2002). Tony Alva was an authenticity consultant and stunt coordinator on the upcoming Sony feature film, "Lords Of Dogtown" (2005), based on his life with the Z-Boys.
The first skateboarder to successfully market himself as a brand name, Tony Alva continues to own and operate the innovative Alva Skateboard Company in Oceanside, California. Considered the originator of vertical skateboarding, Alva continues to develop new technology to advance the sport he loves. Staying true to his roots, Tony Alva surfs and skates pools almost everyday.

"Today, Tony still sneaks into unsuspecting people’s backyards to taste the illicit thrill of riding an empty pool." Stacy Peralta

1977 - World Overall Professional Skateboard Champion

1977 - Skateboarder of The Year

1977 - Sets World Record In The Barrel Jump

1999 - X Games Life Time Achievement Award Presented By Tony Hawk

2002 - Transworld Magazine Legend Award

2003 - I-D Magazine 100 Most Influential People In Fashion

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Alva has been featured on several book covers including: Declaration of Independents, Dogtown -
The Legend of the Z-Boys and The Freshjive Maddog Chronicles. He has also
been profiled in several international publications including: Skateboarder, Transworld, People,
Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Spin, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Visionaire, Arena,
I-D etc.

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In 1977, Tony Alva competed on ABC's Wide World of Sports for the World Professional Skateboarding Championship. Since his television debut, Alva has endorsed a variety of products on television including Vans, Mercedes Benz and the Fuel television network.
Tony Alva has appeared in several feature films including "Skateboard: The Movie That Defies Gravity" (1977), "Thrashin" (1986), and the award winning documentary "Dogtown and Z-Boys" (2002). Most recently, Alva was hired as the authenticity consultant and skateboarding choreographer for the upcoming Sony feature film "Lords of Dogtown" (June 2005).

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1957 - Born in Santa Monica California

1967 - Alva gets his first skateboard and surfboard

1973 - Joins Zephyr Team with Jay Adams and Stacy Peralta

1975 - Graduates from Santa Monica High School

1977 - Starts Alva Skateboard Company

1977- Wins Mens Overall World Professional Skateboard Championship

1977 - Voted Skateboarder of the Year in Skateboarder Magazine Reader Poll

1977 - Sets World Record In Barrel Jump

1978 - Skateboard the Movie Released- Alva Plays The Character Tony Bluetile

1983 - Forms Alva Posse Including: Christian Hosoi, Ray Barbee, Mark Gonzalez, Dave Duncan, Eddie Reategui, Chris Cook, John Thomas, Jeff Hartsel, Craig Johnson, John Gibson, Bill Danforth, Fred Smith III, and Jim Murphy.

1986 - Thrashin’ the Movie – Alva Plays a “Daggers” Gang Member

1989 - Daughter Avalon Victoria Alva born

1995 - Son Zephaniah Levi Alva born

1999 - X Games Lifetime Achievement Award

2002 - Transworld Skateboarding Magazine Legend Award

2002 - Dogtown And Z-Boys is released. Wins several awards including Sundance and Independent Spirit Awards

2003 - ID Magazine 100 Most Influential People in Fashion Award

2003 - Alva shoots commercial for Mercedes Benz in Barcelonna

2005 - Lords Of Dogtown Release