street skating

15 Best Street Skaters of All Time (The Ultimate List)

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Street skaters possess unique creativity and courage that have led to some of the most impressive feats on skateboards. Each popular professional street skater has a unique style that immediately lets you know who you’re watching. Talent is just as important as style when it comes to street skating. So, who are the best street skaters of all time?

1. Rodney Mullen

Rodney Mullen is more than just the best street skater of all time. He is the inventor of street skating, and his contributions to modern skateboarding go unparalleled. Rodney invented the ollie, kickflip, tre flip, and more.

Skateboarding was primarily competition-based before Rodney Mullen came around and created a new style. Rodney Mullen continues to skate at 58, and he shows no signs of slowing down. His part in the classic skate video “Virtual Reality” holds up to this day.

2. Mark Gonzales

No list of the best street skaters of all time would be complete without Mark Gonzales. The Gonz is most widely known as one of the innovators of the early days of street skating. He is widely considered to be just as influential as Rodney Mullen when it comes to cementing a style and bag of tricks.

Mark Gonzales has appeared in several skateboarding video games as well as on the cover of beloved skate magazines like Transworld. His part from the Blind “Video Days” video is still one of the best segments from any skate video.

3. Daewon Song

World Industries has had many great skaters on its roster over the years, but Daewon Song is the most unique. His approach to street skating is artistic and immediately recognizable. Daewon is known for skating with the loosest trucks imaginable, and that alone is impressive.

The “Rodney Mullen Vs. Daewon Song” video was a big part of my childhood because of the sheer insanity of the tricks. He now owns a skateboard company called “Thank You” along with fellow skating legend Torey Pudwill.

4. Nyjah Huston

Don’t let the fact that Nyjah Huston is the youngest man on this list fool you: he is one of the best street skaters to ever live. He is also currently the highest-paid professional skateboarder in the world. Nyjah turned pro at just 10 years old and is still going strong after nearly 17 years.

His part in the classic Element video “This Is My Element” is mindblowing to this day. Nyjah’s fearless approach to street skating and grinding massive rails is admirable by anybody’s standards. He has one several Street League Championships and is even sponsored by Monster Energy.

5. Paul Rodriguez

Since 2002, Paul Rodriguez, or P-Rod has dominated the world of skateboarding. The son of an actor, P-Rod went a different route and crafted a unique style of smooth and technical street skating. P-Rod originally made an impression when he was dubbed rookie of the year by Transworld magazine.

After 20 years, Paul Rodriguez has gone on to appear in multiple video games and gain worldwide notoriety. He now owns Primitive Skateboards and has assembled a team of impressive and up-and-coming skaters.

6. Kareem Campbell

Best known for his part in “Trilogy”, Kareem Campbell is one of the best street skaters of all time. Not only does he make it look easy, but he leaves an unmistakable impression with his unique style. His nollie hardflip is distinct and he is credited with popularizing that trick.

From video game appearances to watch sponsorships, Kareem Campbell has achieved more notoriety than many of his contemporaries. Many skating legends like Chad Muska have named Kareem Campbell as an influence, and he has left his mark.

7. Guy Mariano

Well-respected since he was just 14, Guy Mariano was one of the most important street skaters of the ‘90s. However, Guy Mariano has not fallen off since then as some of the best work he’s ever done has been in his 30s and even his 40s.

Best known for his time on the Blind team, Guy Mariano’s part in “Video Days” is an all-time classic. While he briefly stepped away from skating due to personal struggles, he came back stronger than ever and continues to top himself.

8. Jamie Thomas

If you’ve ever heard of Zero Skateboards, then you likely know who Jamie Thomas is. He started Zero Skateboards after he had only been a professional skater for 2 years. He goes down as one of the best street skaters of all time to this day, and his part in “Welcome To Hell” is all the evidence you need.

Jamie is widely respected throughout the industry and is affectionately called “The Chief. This video shows that Jamie Thomas is still on fire in his late 40s.

9. Elissa Steamer

You may recognize Elissa Steamer from Tony Hawk’s original and legendary video game. Or, you may recognize her from classic Toy Machine videos such as “Jump Off a Building”. Her unique approach to skateboarding is an example of how attitude and style ultimately define great street skaters.

Elissa Steamer is part of Nike’s impressive roster of professional skaters. She has been one of the best street skaters of all time since 1996.

10. Andrew Reynolds

The co-founder of Baker, Andrew Reynolds is a major influence on modern street skating. His part in “The End” will forever go down as undeniably impressive. However, his part in “Baker 3” is a true standout in a video filled with astounding parts. He continues to skate to this day at 44 years old.

Andrew Reynolds is just as much of a leader and businessman as he is a legendary skater. He started on Tony Hawk’s Birdhouse team but went on to create a team that is just as notable and recognizable.

11. Eric Koston

Best known for his time with Girl Skateboards, Eric Koston is a skating legend. His unique street skating style and contributions to the skating community are invaluable. Eric Koston is one of the founders of The Berrics which is a modern skating institution.

His “Chomp On This” video part is the best example of his technical talent and approach to street skating. Many skaters wouldn’t have attempted to skate switch if they didn’t see how easy Eric Koston makes it look.

12. Frank Gerwer

Frank Gerwer isn’t just one of the best street skaters, but he is one of the funniest. Look no further than his part in “Cash Money Vagrant” to see how his balance of humor and technical prowess make him a well-rounded street skater.

Fearlessly bombing hills and just massive stair sets are just the tips of the iceberg. He is a longtime member of the Anti Hero team, and his style is like none other.

13. Antwuan Dixon

Any seasoned skater will tell you that Antwuan Dixon landed the best 360 kickflip of all time in “Baker 3”. That happens at the beginning of his part which only gets crazier as it goes on. Antwuan Dixon has had ups and downs in his career, but his style and confidence are unmatched.

His shoulders-down stance is recognizable and his ability to skate switch is impressive. Originally signed to Baker, Antwuan is currently on the FTP Skateboards team.

14. Brian Anderson

Brian Anderson won Thrasher’s “Skater of the Year” award in 1999, and he hasn’t slowed down since. His talent garnered many sponsorships from Toy Machine and Nike SB to Anti Hero Skateboards. Everything about his style is big and bold, and that’s not just because he’s so tall.

The world was mostly introduced to Brian Anderson through his part in Toy Machine’s “Welcome To Hell” video. At 46 years old, Brian Anderson is still featured in many skate videos and has been the subject of many articles and mini-documentaries. While he is primarily known as a street skater, Brian Anderson is also an undeniably great transition skater.

15. Ishod Wair

Ishod Wair has gained a lot of attention since turning pro back in 2012. He was 2013’s “Skater of the Year” recipient, and his career only seems to get better and better. Ishod is a member of Real’s team and is also sponsored by Monster Energy, Nike SB, and Spitfire Wheels among others.

The most impressive thing about Ishod Wair is that he can skate switch just as well as regular. He is also quite well-rounded in that he can carve a bowl as well as he can kickflip a big stair set.

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