Who is Tony Alva?
Tony Alva, the godfather of contemporary skating, is a pioneer and originator of vertical skateboarding.
Tony Alva is the first skateboarder to successfully pull a frontside air, hence establishing vertical skateboarding.
He is known as the “Godfather of Modern Skating” for his significant influence to the development of modern skateboarding.
Relationship Details, Tony Alva is Married?
The skateboarder was married to Victoria Alva, but their marriage did not work out, and they divorced.
Alva then dated Michelle Gerber Bell for a short time, but the relationship did not last.
However, Tony Alva met the love of his life, Katy Rodriguez, a fashion designer, in 1977. They began dating in 1997, married in 2002, and have been happily married ever since.
Zephaniah Levi and Avalon Victoria are the couple’s two children. His son, Zephaniah, has followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a skateboarder.
Alva is also the grandmother of two grandchildren, Roman Francis and Zoe.
Quick facts about Tony Alva
| Full name | Tony Alva |
| Nickname | Mad Dog, T.A. |
| Known as | Godfather of Modern Skateboarding |
| Date of birth | September 2, 1957 |
| Age | 64 years old |
| Birthplace | Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Dutch and Mexican-American |
| Parents name | N/A |
| Siblings | 2; Kathy Alva and Mark Alva |
| Zodiac sign | Virgo |
Tony Alva: Early Life, Age, Wiki, Parents, Ethnicity
Tony Alva was born on September 2, 1957, in Santa Monica, California, to a Dutch and Mexican-American family. Alva has two siblings: Kathy Alva, her sister, and Mark Alva, his brother.
Unfortunately, when he was ten years old, his parents split. As a result, Alva moved in with his father, while his siblings moved in with his mother.
Alva’s father was an alcoholic and a serial worker. He didn’t spend much time with Alva, and he was lonely most of the time.
He used to spend most of his time with his pals, who were the ones who introduced him to skateboarding.
Education, Schooling, University
There is no information about his education and schooling.
Professional Career, (Professional Skateboarder)
Jay Adams introduced Alva to other young skaters including Stacy Peralta, David Hackett, Jim Muir, Allen Saro, and others.
In 1972, a group of skateboarders called Zephyr Surf Team founded a surfing and skateboarding team. Alva was added to the team as well.
The Zephyr team’s skateboarders were extremely talented. They were passionate, skilled, and knowledgeable about freestyle, slalom, and downhill skiing. Tony was well-known among his peers for his competitiveness and aggression.
Southern California experienced a severe drought in the early 1970s, which caused the pools to dry up. Pool skating was invented by the boys who began skating over the pools.
Surfers began to experiment with skating. During this time, Alva invented vertical skating. He was the first vertical skateboarder to use a polyurethane wheel to catch air.
The team competed in the 1975 Del Mar National, where her skateboarding skills and stunts astounded everyone. Alva also demonstrated his vertical skating abilities, which were photographed.
Tony Alva became a skateboarding sensation as a result of that photograph. It is also regarded as the birthplace of contemporary skateboarding.
With victories, endorsements, and partnerships in his pocket, Alva became an international sensation. In 1977, he won the Men’s Overall World Professional Skateboard Championship.
Aside from that, he was named ‘The Skateboarder of the Year’ and achieved a ‘World Record’ in the Barrel Jump.
Alva received the X Games Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. In addition, his photograph was displayed in the Skateboarding Hall of Fame.
Cooperation with Vans
In 1974, Alva collaborated with a well-known shoe company, Vans, to develop the official skateboarding version of the Vans authentic deck shoe.
The sneakers’ design was created in collaboration with Stacy Perala. They both emphasized the addition of collar padding and a heel cup, resulting in a typical Vans era look.
They formally launched the Vans off-the-wall skateboarding label. It was the first skateboarding shoe designed by skaters.
Alva Skates Alva founded his own skateboarding company, Alva Skates, when he was just 19 years old.
He became the first skateboarder to have a profitable self-created brand after the firm quickly became successful.
The Alva skates were made of Canadian maple wood, which made them more distinct and long-lasting.
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Tony Alva | Musician
Tony Alva changed his focus from skating to music in 1981. As a bassist, he joined Skoundrelz, a hardcore punk band.
He formed another band, GFP (General Fucking Principle), in 2009. The band also included lead vocalist Tom Paul Davis, guitarist Greg Hetson, and Amery Smith.
Alva joined a Los Angeles-based psych band in 2013; his eyes have fangs. Rachel Anne Rainwater sang, Vulcho Bonev played guitar, Matthew Rainwater played drums, and Tony Alva played bass.
Tony Alva | Documentaries and Films
Tony dabbled in the acting business as well. He appeared in three films: Skateboard: The Movie in 1978, Thrashin in 1986, and Lord of Dogtown in 2005.
Vans released The Tony Alva Story, a documentary about his life, on YouTube in 2020.
It chronicled Alva’s rise from street skateboarder to skateboarding superstar, his fall due to drug problems, and his eventual recovery.
The documentary’s goal is to instill optimism and aspiration in aspiring skateboarders who look up to Tony Alva.
Tony Alva will star in the film Skate God, which will be released in 2022. The story revolves around a skateboarder in a bleak future.
Net Worth, Salary, Assets
The professional skateboarder has amassed a fortune, with an estimated net worth of $15 million.
As a professional skateboarder, he obtained this net worth through endorsements, business enterprises, singing, and acting.
Alva had negotiated an exclusive contract with Vans for his unconventional shoes. He also made a lot of money via collaborations and endorsements.
In addition, he owns the successful skateboarding company Alva Skates. Alva skateboards are extremely popular among professional skateboarders.
He has also made a name for himself as a singer and actor.
As a result of his three occupations and investments, Alva has amassed a sizable fortune. As a result, he is among the richest skateboarders.
Rumors and Controversy
Talking about his rumors and controversy, he has not been in any part of rumors as well as controversy to date.
What is the Height of Tony Alva? Weight, Full Body Status
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches |
| Weight | 160 lbs |
| Shoe size | US 9.5 |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Eye color | Grey |
Social Media Accounts
Facebook: 258k followers
Instagram: 168k followers
Twitter: 5k followers
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