Tony Hawk's Skatepark Hero Mike Manion has been open about how his early years in skateboarding were driven by a strong focus on going pro and touring.
Like many young skaters, he believed that landing sponsor deals, filming parts, and building a name for himself was what he was meant to do.
For a long time, that belief shaped how he measured his worth in skating and even how he saw his own future.
As time went on, things did not unfold the way he expected. Instead of reaching the level he once imagined, he found himself dealing with disappointment and pressure he placed on himself.
He has shared that he felt like he was falling short of the person he thought he was supposed to become. That mindset stayed with him for years.
More recently, Mike started to see things differently. He began to feel that his purpose in skateboarding was not limited to landing tricks or chasing a pro career.
He started thinking more about what he could give back to others in the community and how he could help younger skaters improve and enjoy their time on the board.
About a year ago, he connected with SkateATL, a group focused on building up the local skate scene and creating a positive space for skaters of all levels.
Mike decided to get involved because he liked what they were doing and wanted to contribute in a more direct way.
At first, it was simple. He would help out with a lesson here and there, working with skaters on basic skills and sharing what he had learned over the years. Over time, he started noticing something important.
The people he worked with were improving, but just as important, they were leaving sessions in a good mood and looking forward to coming back.
As word spread, more people started signing up for lessons. What began as a few casual sessions slowly turned into a steady flow of skaters wanting to learn from him.
For Mike, it became less about his own past goals and more about showing up for the people in front of him each day.
He shared photos from a recent day of coaching, showing a full group of lessons along with a clip of something they had worked on together.
Alongside it, he wrote a message thanking everyone who has supported him and trusted him as a coach.
Mike expressed gratitude for being able to spend his time helping others progress and said he feels proud of the skaters he works with.
He also thanked skateboarding itself for the role it has played in his life, both in shaping his path and giving him a new sense of direction through teaching.