Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk just pulled off one of the most meaningful tricks of his life - not for a contest, not for a record, but for a friend who lost everything.
Sam Jones, the filmmaker behind Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off, had a prized possession: the very board Hawk used to land his last stale 540. But when the Palisades fire tore through his home last month, that piece of skate history went up in flames along with everything else.
Hawk wasn’t about to let that slide. He called Jones to the ramp without saying why. Then, at 56, he threw himself into a battle he hadn’t fought in years - attempting an Indy 540.
It wasn’t easy. He slammed, got back up, slammed again. “This is a process,” Jones said, watching him eat concrete over and over. But Hawk wouldn’t quit. Finally, he stuck it, rolling away with a triumphant yell—his last Indy 540 ever.
Then came the real moment. The Birdman handed Jones a fresh board, a new piece of history to replace what was lost.
Tony Hawk didn’t just land a trick that day. He landed a moment that mattered more than skating itself. And with that, the Indy 540 is officially retired, ending on the highest note possible.
The Birdman posted, "Indy 540 was the first “McTwist” variation I did, sometime around 1986. And now it’s the last 5 I’ll ever do. Thanks to @samjonespictures for telling my story in an honest way, and I hope this gives some closure to one of the heavier themes of UTWFO. ✌🏽5️⃣
🎥/🎞️: @_aliminator"