Carrying the most famous name in skateboarding could easily have been a bit of a hindrance for Tony Hawk’s son. But although he was taught to skate by his dad, Riley has pursued a different path, concentrating on street skating and putting out video parts.

He even quit his dad’s company Birdhouse, to sign for Baker because he wanted to go it alone. He’s worked damn hard and earned his first ever invite to X Games (to ride skateboard street) on his own merits.

As one writer for Vice put it: “Riley Hawk sucks at being a lazy rich kid. If I had a dad who owned a skateboard company I would make him turn me pro as soon as I was able to speak, and I sure as hell wouldn’t bother learning to skate.”

“I’d just have him buy me the best skater in the world, a la Richard Pryor in The Toy, and inform the skater that he was now me and would be changing his name to mine and putting out video parts for me. I think Nyjah Huston would look great with my haircut.”

We’re not necessarily expecting him to win, but we are looking forward to seeing how the most famous son in skateboarding fares this weekend.