Biography
Date of Birth
30 December 1989, San Clemente, California, USA
Birth Name
Ryan Allen Sheckler
Nickname
Shecky
Height
5' 7" (1.7 m)
Trivia
Placed first at the second stop of the Van's Triple Crown in New Jersey
3rd at Gravity Games in 2004
Worst injury is fracturing his foot in two places trying to smiths grind a nine-stair hand rail
Favorite movie is Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971).
Has two brothers, Shane Sheckler and Kane Sheckler.
Started skating at 18 months (just rolling around) and started doing tricks at age 6.
Favorite bands are Guns N' Roses and The Cure.
Was a special guest star on Teen Nick with Tony Hawk.
Placed 1st at the 2004 LG Sports Championship
Also rides motocross and enjoys golfing.
At age 13, he was the youngest skater to win a pro contest when he competed in the Vancouver Slam City Jam. He was is also the world champion skater (accomplished in the same year).
Broke his arm during practice for the Vans Triple Crown competition and later found out that he also broke his elbow in the opposite arm earlier, but that it fused itself.
Got his sponsorship start when he frequently visited a neighborhood skate shop and asked to display some of his trophies.
Like many professional skaters his age, he is homeschooled. But, he says that he would like to attend a regular high school at least some time during the remainder of his education.
Sponsored by Plan B, Volcom, Etnies, Red Bull, Silver Trucks, Bones, Ninja, Mob Grip, Oakley, Nixon, Kicker, CCS, and Panasonic.
Took the gold metal at the 2003 X Games for the street course, beating out Eric Koston.
Placed 2nd in the 2005 Globe World Cup, and won $15,000.
He keeps packages of skateboard wheels in his freezer so that they last longer.
Owns one of five Sobe sponsored Les Paul Gibson guitars.
Has a skatepark in his backyard.
Has his last name tattooed across his back.
He was 13 years and 230 days old, when he won the skateboard park gold-medal at the 9th ESPN X Games in Los Angeles (California, USA) on 17 August 2003.
Ryan is named Athlete of the Year at Dew Action Sports Tour. [October 2005]
Appeared in an infomercial, hosted by Vanessa Williams, for "Proactiv Solution" acne medication. [2008]
San Clemente, California [2005]
He has German, English, Irish, and Austrian ancestry.
Trademarks:
Shecklair
Quotes
A part of me relates to kids my age, a part of me doesn't, I'm not complaining about my life, but it definitely gets to me when I want to go to the beach. But then, I also want to travel and do all these cool things I get to do. It kind of clashes a little bit, but it's not something I can't handle.
I'm pretty comfortable with the image I have now. People generally know me for my skating, and I think that's really the way I want to keep it. I'm not trying to be something I'm not. This is who I am when I wake up in the morning, and I'm comfortable just being myself. Like, I used to be into wearing all black and stuff like that, but I probably won't be going out and getting full tattoos overnight.
In my downtime, I try to catch up as much as possible with hanging out with my friends and stuff like that. I go to the movies, ride my dirtbike, and surf. On a Friday night, I like to drive around town with my homeys, find stuff to do. I like being home and trying to take advantage of it as much as possible. I like being a part of the scene in San Clemente, so that's pretty much what I'm out doing when I get a chance. This year has been crazy, though. I haven't been home much.
I knew this was a career when I realized people actually wanted to see me skate.
I think really you turn pro when you feel ready. I think your sponsors have to be behind you 100% because the sponsors are the ones that are going to pay you to turn pro. It's just about having heart. You've just got to skate, skate your heart out and have fun with it all the time. It's all about having fun.
