Vert skating requires a type of bravery that goes beyond standard street skating. Popping in and out of massive ramps and catching air is no easy feat. It takes a specific skill set to be able to skate big vert ramps without hesitation.
Many of the skaters on this list were once members of the Powell Peralta team. However, vert skating has spilled over to major teams like Creature, Birdhouse, and Anti Hero. Follow along as we highlight the 10 best vert skaters of all time.
What is Vert Skateboarding?
Vert skateboarding or vertical skateboarding involves skating ramps. The name “vert” comes from the fact that the skater catches air vertically after crossing the coping on a ramp. Vert skating is primarily based on competitions, and many of the best vert skaters of all time have won many competitions.
10 Best Vert Skaters of All Time
1. Tony Hawk
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Not only is Tony Hawk the best vert skater of all time, but he’s also the most famous. Tony Hawk was countless skaters’ gateway into the world of skateboarding. He started out on Powell Peralta and went on to start his own brand and team called Birdhouse.Tony Hawk created just under 100 tricks throughout his career. Born in 1968, Tony Hawk continues to shred bowls and ramps to this day. He is also quite charitable and has built skate parks all over the world. Check him out on Instagram to see how Tony Hawk is still in his prime.
2. Bob Burnquist
@bobburnquist Quem lembra dessa vídeo part que rolava no Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater I quando fecha o jogo? Os jogadores assistiam o vídeo junto dos créditos do game e a part ficava desbloqueada para assistir outras vezes. Who remembers the video part that unlocked in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater when you beat the game? Players could watch the video along with the game credits and the part would be unlocked to watch again later. #skatecuida #burnkitskatearte #bobburnquist #thps #skate ♬ original sound – bobburnquist
Bob Burnquist is just as well-respected as Tony Hawk, and it’s with great reason. He is best known for landing a 900. Spinning 900 degrees in the air is no easy feat, but Bob Burnquist made it look easy.
His appearances in Tony Hawk video games helped introduce him to a much larger audience than most skaters can ever appeal to. Still active in skating and on his instagram, Bob Burnquist will always be regarded as one of the best vert skaters to ever live.
3. Danny Way
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You may know Danny Way as the man who jumped the Great Wall of China on a skateboard. However, he was beloved in the skateboarding community long before that. One of the best vert skaters of all time, Danny Way is one of the few people to win “Skater of the Year” more than once.
DC Shoes sponsored Danny Way before they sponsored any other skaters. He has soared up to 25 feet in the air after launching off a quarter pipe. Check out his Instagram where he posts great skating footage regularly.
4. Bucky Lasek
@buckylasek Skateboarding is fun! #fyp #foryoupage #skateboarding ♬ Ride It – Regard
Bucky Lasek is involved in skateboarding and motorsports, but he is best known as a vert skater. Another legendary skater from Powell Peralta, Bucky Lasek has been professionally sponsored since 1990. Born in 1972, Bucky Lasek comes from a unique generation of skateboarding before it took a turn towards street skating.
He has been sponsored by major corporations, such as Rockstar Energy, Subaru, and Puma. Much like Tony Hawk, Bucky Lasek has transcended skating and appeals to the mainstream. He even appeared on the MTV show Punk’d. He is still a part of the motorsports and skateboarding world, and he is active on his Instagram and TikTok.
5. Christian Hosoi
@skateboardinghighlights Pioneer #christianhosoi #skateboarding #skateboardingdaily #skateboarder #skaboard #skateboardingisfun ♬ original sound – SKATEBOARDING HIGHLIGHTS
The “Christ Air” is Christian Hosoi’s most iconic trick, but he is known for much more than that. Christian Hosoi is just as iconic as Tony Hawk, Stacey Peralta, and Steve Alba. He has had ups and downs in his life, but he has always made it back to the skateboarding world.
Christian was part of the iconic early Powell Peralta lineup along with Tony Hawk. He was a fierce competitor back in the late ‘70s and early-to-mid ‘80s when vert skating was mostly competition-based. Nobody will ever skate ramps and bowls quite like how Christian Hosoi did in his prime.
You can see what he is up to on his Instagram page here.
6. Aaron Homoki
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Better known by his nickname “Jaws”, Aaron Homoki is one of the bravest vert skaters to ever live. Known for his crazy antics and skate stunts, Aaron Homoki is a member of the Birdhouse team. You don’t need to look much further than his Instagram page to see how crazy he gets on a skateboard.
He comes from the school of skating that is all about shredding as hard as possible with little regard to how safe something may be. Jaws is a one-of-a-kind vert skater, and he shows no stops of slowing down anytime soon.
7. Mike Vallely
Mike Vallely is a well-rounded skater who has done it all. He has shown that he is an amazing street, transition, and vert skater. All of these feats are impressive on their own, but you rarely see skaters that are proficient in each type of skating.
His career started in 1987, and he is still heavily involved in skateboarding. You can still see him shred streets and vert ramps on his Instagram.
8. Stacey Peralta
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Stacey Peralta co-founded Powell Peralta in 1978 and changed the world of skating forever. He and George Powell recruited future legends like Tony Hawk and Christian Hosoi and helped jumpstart their careers. His iconic frontside lip-to-fakie trick has been emulated for decades, and he was one of the first prominent vert skaters.
He also co-created some of the best skate videos of all time, such as The Search for Animal Chin and The Bones Brigade Video Show.
See his Instagram profile here to see what he is up to today.
9. Steve Alba
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If you are familiar with the history of skateboarding, then you likely know the name Steve Alba. Steve Alba is from the Dogtown generation of skaters who paved the way for every trend that came after. He is one of the most recognizable Santa Cruz skaters of all time, and his vert skating was ahead of its time.
Nothing compares to watching a classic frontside air from Steve Alba. Steve Alba is also an impressive artist and musician.
10. Tas Pappas
Tas Pappas is an Australian vert skater best known for his performances in competitions all over the world. While he is no longer a professional skateboarder, his time as a pro was nothing short of impressive. He is the subject of the documentary All This Mayhem which documents his turbulent life and career in skateboarding.
Despite his struggles, Tas Pappas has left an indelible mark on vert skateboarding in Australia and beyond.
Nick Durante is a professional writer that primarily focused on action sports. Skateboarding and Longboarding are his particular areas of expertise. When he isn’t writing about action sports, he is catching up on the world of skateboarding and spending time outside.