I remember Rodney Mullen from around the mid eighties. During that time he was riding for Bones (tm) skateboard company. Tony Hawk was another fresh talent at that time.
Rodney went to U.C.L.A. I think during that time and mainly skated freestyle. Note that his skateboard, this skinny type, was the type that freestylers also used back then. Street and vert skaters favored the wider boards with unparallel sides. These boards had curves to them, getting wider at the front truck and at the tail. Funny, how today's boards follow the same vein as the earlier freestyler's boards.
Rodney was light years ahead of practically everyone else in freestyling. A prodigy that seemed to come from a different planet, his consistancy, innovation, and the ease that he performed the "hard" tricks that others practiced and practiced only to struggle to land led him to win practically every competition for a signficant period. Also of note, he pioneered several moves that others just didn't have the talent to perform. He was truly a cut above.
Amazingly, after over fifteen years and the state of street skateboarding is just now catching up to Rodney's abilities, although from the video you can also see that he still has a few steps up on everyone else though.
It's good to see him still skating. He and Tony Hawk are a few of the exceptions from that period that still skate. Most "grow up" I guess or get too old and persue other avenues.
Have a nice day.
