Forty-year-old skateboard legend Tony Hawk's name recognition among young consumers ranks No. 1 of all U.S. athletes--surpassing NBA basketball greats Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron
James--according to Research International USA's TRU. And Hawk hopes to keep growing his brand as a force in the media, entertainment and retail fields with fresh products and endorsements, from new
video games to roller coasters at Six Flags amusement parks.
With his marketing savvy and wholesome looks, the family man introduced an outlaw street sport to the suburbs and shopping
malls, helping to turn skateboarding into a multibillion-dollar industry. In the past decade, Hawk has made millions from licensing and marketing deals with his popular Activision video games,
skateboard gear and clothing, and with corporate sponsors, including Jeep and McDonald's.
Hawk is poised to take advantage of the U.S. and global market for skateboarding, snowboarding
and surfing, which are merging into one large "active sports" market.
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