My stepson and I were skating on the Hermosa Beach Strand last night as we do most nights for our evening push. Who do we see but Rodney Mullen just slowly cruising around. My son rides and Almost Rodney deck so I politely stopped and asked Rodney if he would mind if my son got a pic with him. He couldn't have been nicer or more than happy to take a pic and thanked him for riding his model. I know its so rare for him to be skating in public these days so it was quite amazing. Kavi is still juiced this morning from meeting him. Was a big fan before, even bigger now.
He said he likes skating at night by himself because having people watch him makes him nervous these days. It's pretty humbling knowing that a man of his status, a man that created almost every flip trick or the foundation of them, still gets nervous when people watch him skate.
5 років тому+17
He's nervous skating in front of people because he's afraid he won't live up to their expectations.
He seems so humble. A friend of mine was in Germany last year for work and got to meet him and he sent me a picture. Even my friend said Rodney was super kind and humble. We could all learn something from Rodney's kindness.
Jerry Seinfeld made a great point about this as well. He talked about watching a skater fall and get up over and over until he got it right. "Whenever I see those skateboard kids; I think those kids are going to be alright."
It's definitely a different mindset. Most people get it 10 times wrong and they give up, because they are not interested in the essence of things. Someone who really wants to GET IT, they will try a million times. It's not about when you do it, it's about the joy of learning certain things that can't be really put well into words to explain. It's a necessity to feel something quite deep. I think that's what skaters, mathematicians, programmers, are about (not all of them of course, but the really great ones). Perhaps that's what anybody who is really happy is about. Talent helps, but it's a personal passion more than anything. I see people with incredible talent, mindblowing facility, but the passion either is not there, or they are just messed up in their lives with other vices (alcohol, drugs, etc.)... if you can get rid of vices and live just from the core passion of learning your passion, that's how do be happy I think.
Aaron J.S. Pixelbeard He made some scientific errors and believed in both slavery and the subjugation of women, but as a whole his philosophy is still widely studied and extremely influential for the West.
I was just thinking... it's crazy how unnatural skating is. You can't skate dirt, mountains, rivers, forests. We need the developed landscapes, especially in street skating. Kind of fun to think about.
+Jay Flippen I was thinking about that the other day. I say to myself "Okay. Someone else can tell me what my environment looks like but, they can't tell me how to interact with it. That's still MY decision." Skateboarding.
D4NIB4BE I was thinking about that too. I like natural environments but skateboarding is a creative way to interact with and do things in a urban environment. Not just skating with tricks but all kinds.
Pain is temporary, chicks dig scares, and glory last forever!!!!! I'm 38, haven't skated in a decade, just bought a new complete and ready to start skating bowls and breaking bones
Rodney makes me cry. He has such a romantic view on skateboarding that he expresses both logically and poetically. He hasn't just contributed with tricks, he is also an inspiration for all people feeling like outcasts.
When I was 14 I heard him speak, and read his book. I identified so much with him. I was an absolute mess of neuroses from an early age. Disgustingly underweight from anxiety, homeschooled, the list goes on lmao. His wavering voice and intense expression when it comes to speaking about something he loves. Idk, I could tell that I wasn’t alone in feeling as hard, and thinking as much as I did.
It's not just about how good of a skater he is, it's how much of a skater he is. He has the heart of a true skater, down to the bone. He is what skateboarding is all about. Him being who he is is probably what he made him so amazing: His genius, his understanding of Physics, his lack of fear, his persistence. Truly an inspiration in not just skating, but in living.
Im not so sure he is fearless, I think he just goes for what he wants to do anyway.He did say in the video he is sometimes afraid of being judged just like everyone else is which is ome reason he doesn't skate in public.
Who the FUCK would ever dislike this video. This dude has thought more in depth about skating and the lifestyle than anyone ever. Most people are talkin about getting better and hes talkin about skater mentality and the philosiphy behind it lol
Raoul Duke That was me after doing psychedelics and n ot skateboarding all winter. My style has been progressing so much and my perspective on skateboarding has changed
rayroxrox same here dude! I actually said that I give up skating after a bad injury. lots of psychedelics were involved as well and then it became so spiritual. I had visions of me skating in slowmo and it was so beautiful. I always felt I miss something. Just got back on the roads yesterday and cried the shit out of myself, because of its beauty.
old comment but. he never needed too, everybody in the community did it for him, because skateboarding with all its drama, still by far breeds the most respect in competition.
I honestly don't know why, maybe because i've been a fan of Mullen for as long as i can remember, and maybe its because what he has to say speaks to me on such a spiritual level... i'm not sure. But i'm a 24 year old man, and i almost choked up a couple times watching this. I know that's weird, cause not a speck of it was sad to me...it just spoke to me, at my core. I know i'm gonna get put on blast, but fuck it.
+LTC Ambrose when the heart speaks truth, it is always enlighten, hence there is a sense of spirituality in Rodney Mullen's articulation on the art of skateboarding.
No need to feel embarrassed. If listening to Rodney explain why he loves skating doesn't touch you at your core in some way, you aren't a real skater. He views skating the way it should be viewed, and if you cant relate to that, maybe you should just step off the board
No reason to be embarrassed man. We were allowed to view an unguarded glimpse into the true joy of this man's soul. In today's culture that has become rare. At 36, seeing this makes me want to go embarrass myself by setting up a new deck and getting back out there. It's been too long since I've had to pick myself back up and try again. When life gets comfortable, it gets boring...
The ending is what got to me, I try explaining it to my peers who don't skate and they will never understand. Skating is a part of who I am, I don't skate for money or attention... When i step on the board all opinions go out the window because i can self express in ways that allow me to push through the next week of 9 - 5's. Skating will always be apart of me, it will never change.
bellingham Crew, I perfectly loved hearing his life story. I think what you are really saying is you didn't want to because you couldn't understand that life has some meaning and skating can be part of that. I also think you want to put on a facade of being cool or whatever they call it nowadays. But you can't handle that truth so I may get an antagonistic response, and to you I say "be well". Life is more than what you're living for to have a comment like that. We in community love each others stories. Are you serious? Hit me up if you want to talk...
Hawk may have brought skating to the level it got to,and props to him for that. He also is the vert king,but this man deserves all the respect in the world. He is skating,literally eats breaths and sleeps skating. He invented every modern trick and is one of the best kind hearted dudes alive. There will never be another Rodney Mullen..thank you sir!
On top of that he also pretty much designed/shaped/invented the modern popsicle decks literally everyone is using today when he was at World Industries.
If only he realized how revered he truly is. He’s so humble and almost hard on himself despite accomplishing more in skateboarding than pretty much any other pro. I would love to see Rodney in public more at whatever level he’s skating at. I bet he’s still elite on flatground. The years and years of muscle memory must still be in there. Love that dude.
Having just turned 44 years old, I know the fear of "losing my skills". Truthfully, they're mostly gone at this point... but the memories and the feeling lives on. I still cruise my neighborhood on occasion, simply enjoying the flow. Rodney is legend, and is an inspiration to the entire skateboarding community. His legacy will live on in every one who touches a skateboard.
I remember back in the day around 10-12 years ago even as a kid with my friends we were amazed by Rodney Mullen and probably dropped his name while skating a thousand times. I think that is what sets my generation apart from today's generation, we understood that what Rodney was doing, nobody else was doing and would probably ever do again. He didn't have to be flying down stair sets and hand rails, because his skating was so unique and required such technical precision that it required more actual skill than grinding down a hand rail. Gaps and hand rails are more a matter of overcoming fear and adrenaline than skill, but that seems to be the only thing kids respect these days. Don't get me wrong, Nyjah is a freak of nature, but kids should be reminded that Rodney revolutionized skateboarding and without him it would not be what it is today. Thank you Rodney you are a true legend and I agree that skateboarding transcends it's physical nature to a powerful philosophical ideal that if were embraced by more people, the world would be a better place.
No offence but you didn't understand what he was saying. He just said skateboarding as a unity and for some reason you have to tear that apart and start the "when I was young it was so much harder" nonsense. Don't get me wrong I love Rodney Mullen he is an inspiration and a true legend, but you misinterpreted him. Besides pleas try a nollie overcrook down 20 stairs 270 out and tell me that doesn't requires skill -.-
Boris Hagemans You are committing a logical fallacy by assuming I didn't understand what he was saying, just because I went off topic from what he was saying to begin with and spoke from my own perspective of the man and how he impacted me and my friends. I clearly understood what he was saying if you would just go back and read the last sentence of my comment.
Ryan if you're a skateboarder, it would be wise not to pigeon hole and stereotype other skateboarders. That is what's called a false dichotomy fallacy. Yes there are some dumb and bad influences, but they are less common than you make it sound. The baker crew is a good example, Dustin Dollin and Jim Greco may be "piss drunks" but look how fatherly, responsible, and humble Andrew Reynolds is. Boom.
I do compare them, learning bjj is like learning skateboarding, when you fail a skateboard technique you fall when you fail a technique in bjj you get tapped out or lose a dominant position, you also develop yourself over the years and get to create a unique style. the communities are also similar and tight knit, both are misunderstood but will do wonders for you if you stick with them.
i was riding around today with a smile on my face because the feel of just riding is awesome. i also went to the skatepark and had a beer and busted some tricks. and fell a couple times. im 25 and had taken a 5 year break from skating. ive been at it for about a month now everyday and i can do tricks i was never able to do. i used to smoke weed and i think skating and smoking have something in common when you see a fellow skater/stoner you know, just like rodney mullen was saying. now come to think of it i restarted skating after watching his ted talks. i can see myself skating for the rest of my life. thanks
Well said dude. Similar to me. im two years younger than you and I remember skating with my buddies in highschool all day on weekends and after school. Then we went our different ways and I put the board down for a bit, which I really regret. But these days I get super inspired by dudes like mullen who remind me to keep doing it simply because its fun and once a skater always a skater. These days even if I do it alone, I love just skatin around town and grabbin some beers. I don't think I'll ever "grow out of" skateboarding
I don't really see how drugs and sports are related. I have been skateboarding for 18 years, I am now 31. Never needed to smoke and consequently, never been coughing like crazy as some of my smoker friends do regularly.
i just had a year off and went back last weekend - i had forgotten just how much fun it is, massive grin plastered across face, sweat dripping, legs aching
This is why Skateboarding will never die. I strongly believe that skating is something that not everyone can do not because they do not have the skill for it but because they do not have the will. We as skaters have have gotten so used to failing that it does not phase us, it only makes us stronger every time we get up and try again. That itself is just beautiful.
I remember trying 360 flips in a parking lot with my crew. Over and over and over.. then finally both feet on the bolts.. then collapsing afterwards..lol. Damn I miss it soo much.
This makes me want to skate my whole life do what i love i am 15 years i am not good and i have Been skating for at least 4 months but this week i have found true love in skate i want to Wake up ever y day come back home from school and skate and be better ever y day and do this forever love skateboarding is a lifestyle.
All the positive things about Rodney Mullen have been said, so I won't reiterate them. This talk.. about being alone, it really resonates with my soul, deep down. I can't explain it, but I know what he's talking about and I wonder if that's maybe why I looked up to skaters at a young age. Never had any skater friends or knew any skaters, but I bought my first board two years ago on a whim. I don't regret it, what I continue to regret is not skating because I fear being judged. He's mentioned this, too. And near the end, everything he said is so true. I think from now on, I can throw away my fear of being judged for skating. Going to feel the wind all around and smile. Looking forward to that. To Rodney Mullen: Thank you for blessing the world with your pure existence.
I've been experiencing a lot of debilitating panic recently at 28 about my place in the world and where I'm going or if I'm going anywhere. This guy has been a major help in keeping my attacks at bay and talking myself down. Doesn't seem like a big deal but trust me I'm very grateful for his talks. He's talking about something way deeper than skating. Thanks, Berrics and Rodney.
You will be alright , anyone who cares about life and doesn't have a golden parachute has fear like that . I'm 42 and still wake up most mornings with some doomsday thought or fear . The more you try the more you will realize that as long as you count on yourself and work at whatever it is the more the fear will subside and more confident days will shine through . Good luck to you, and what luck to have a guy like Rodney to listen to and draw inspiration from !
If only the people at my local skatepark were as cool as this guy. Our 'park' was actually just a small halfpipe, 2 quarters a box inbetween and a grind rail. It was always pretty packed with older guys who didn't like the younger ones taking up space so whenever I went there it felt really uncomfortable. People laughing as you fell down even though I picked up skating weeks ago. People picking up your deck and tossing it across the street, as a 11 year old that hit me hard and basically made me quit skating. Now, 14 years later that flame is reignited but I doubt I could still pick it up.
I'm glad he can just sit down and spontaneously speak deep level truth and understanding. Most would have to research and prepare for a month to deliver what he just did straight from his head. Mullen is the Truth.
I wouldn't expect less enlightening words from the most influential skateboarder of all time. Rodeny's genius doesn't just spill into his skateboarding, it's the essence of this man.
Rodney makes you want to go skate, just by hearing him talk. His level of stoke for skateboarding is off the charts. Inspiring is an understatement. Skating with rodney would be truly epic!
***** I think it took everyone about a year to start landing the kick in our park. 60% catching flip in the air success rate . I've broke both my arms riding the thing for 5 years. Can't work out properly, constantly feel pain in my hands nowadays.
+Maksims Ivanovs Do it bro!! I too am thinking its time to get back on it....I'm just a few months shy of my fortieth bday, and the thought kinda scares me as I've been off it for almost a decade but when I really think about it, there is nothing that fulfills me like skateboarding does.
Rodney Mullen made a vid where he said his body really isn't up to the task anymore. so I don't think I would be fair to him since daewon still kills it. it would've been cool maybe 5 years ago but the dude is aging
Just THANK YOU RODNEY... Thank you for what you gave us.. Thank you for what you gave to skateboarding.... In each and every today's tricks, there is a part of you my friend.... GREAT MAN !!
When I started skateboard I spent at least a month in my parents basement trying to pop a ollie (I was too ashamed to go to the local spot). Then I left 2 weeks on holidays and as I came back the first thing I did was to take my skate back to the basement. FIRST TRY!!!!! It was ugly, it was weak but it was a ollie. One of the best feeling in my 30 years...I wasn't just an outcast...i was a sucessfull outcast :D. Eventually I droped skateboard, got a good job with a good salary...never felt again the same..I still have my last board though....Next time I'm visiting my parent I think I'm gonna drop by the basement...
Every now and then I revisit this video. This man changed my life when I was 11 years old and I'll forever be grateful for his existence. Hope to thank this legend in person one day
When other scientists in their fields and professors want to have the personality and characteristics from skaters in their students or apprentices....THAT is when you know Skateboarding is progressing more in all variations. And having Rodney Mullen being...you can say the ambassador of Skateboarding and describing how skateboarding is to other professions and making it more understandable in simple ways so the professors and scientists can somehow be similar and knowing "hey, he makes great points about how his profession is with ours." Makes you smile and appreciate it more :).
I remember in 2003 when I met Rodney Mullen and was trying to land a double kick flip on a summer trip with my mom side of the family and he saw me trying impress him lol and set there at least 2 hours teaching me how to land it. And it was barely about my foot placement and my power with my ankles and how to not twist my ankle trying so hard. He was telling how I go about with changing my mind set. I will never forget that man I think about all the time. I love this man for that because he didn’t have to do it and I know he had other shit to do because I think he was filming before I got there.
Rodney is such a gem. A truly beautiful mind and an incredible inspirational person, who brought skateboarding to another level. I could easily listen to him for hours. He's so humble and peaceful and lighten up something inside each of us. That mentor and friend most people need in life. The fact it comes down to skateboarding being the tool to expression, mental balance, community, inner peace and life itself for many people couldn't be explained better than by the one who masters this art to perfection and without doubt will be THE best ever on a skateboard (yes you will!). It's an incredible experience to see how he has gone through at least 3 stages; the young and innocent kid struggling through life taking the world with surprise, the older more autonome character still doing what he loves, perfecting a new level of life when creating street skating into a form we still enjoy up till today, to his older now being extremely wise and thoughtful teaching us the whole progress he has been through. The guy really hides something we'll probably never see, but all of us surely know in some sort. It's impressive but also kind of sad. The man is telling the truth with tears in his eyes!! A huge respect and a big thank you Rodney! We love you. Your struggle has created soo much more than you could imagine. We owe you everything! Looking soo much forward to follow you for many more years!
I could listen to Rodney Mullen speak for hours and hours. He is truly enlightened and his innovation and humble attitude should be a strong example for skateboarders and humanity in general. If it were not for individuals like him, this world would be a planet full of drones. Thank you for posting this & thank you RM... skate & destroy. cheers.
After learning about Rodneys philosophy on skateboarding, everytime i go out to skate. It feels different. A lot of things that i never realized. Rodney sees the true potential im skating when others dont. It bothers me that this video doesnt have a lot of views.
Rodney is the reason today's street skating is the way it is. He shaped the path for modern day skateboarding It doesn't matter how old he is or if he's not as good as he used too be, people will always look up to him I don't even skate & i'll still thank him if i ever saw him in person He's such a humble person & will always be the godfather of skateboarding, & people will still talk about him long after he's gone
put a smile on my face at the end haha and 16 minutes is a lot of talking to pick through but he does have a lot of good points to make about this hobby of ours. i'm 20 and i see the other choices my friends and coworkers have for when they need something to help relax or even to pass the free time with. but for me after skating for 14 years i still like an easy skate sesh at a flow park. it's great just to be outside doing something tangible rather than playing video games, other than that i'll keep skating so i'll be ready when we finally get hover boards
I still know the day i found out about Rodney Mullen about 10 years ago. I was already skating for a couple of years on and off in the summers, but after seeing a few video's of him I started watching all his stuff. I didn't know back than he almost invented skating as we know it now and i remember i was so inspired by his personality as much as his skateboarding skills. Still to this day i think about him Every time i go skating and now i work at my local indoor skatepark and i wouldn't ever contiued skating if i didn't found out about this amazing guy. Thankyou Rodney! ♥️
My heart still skips a beat when I watch his videos. He's such a kind and intelligent man as well as an incredibly talented skater. When I was a kid I aspired to be as gracious as he in life. To this day, 20+ years later, he's still my favorite skater and very much my hero. I would love to shake this man's hand and thank him for his wisdom and innovation in skating and in life.
holy hell this is amazing. A beautiful mind ... holy shit i wana hang out with Rodney. A little philosophy, a little skate sesh. night sesh. mad respect
Whenever I listen to Rodney Mullen speak, I can't help but get drawn into his space, like he's speaking right through me. He has that ability to get through to you with his passion, his philosophy, and just the way he conveys his thoughts and ideas on life....and skating. In my mind, he's honestly the Messiah of Skating but he can relate to anyone, even outside of skating. He's a national treasure and so humble...just an amazing human being beyond words.
this man was the one who got me into skate boarding in 2003 buy his skate videos. now knowing his mentality, appreciation and love for the community (skaters), makes me admire him more!...thanks Rodney for all your hard work.
I actually shed a tear when I watched this... And I am not even too invested in skateboarding. The world is a very deep and connected place and sometimes if you look close enough you will find those connections.
What a humble guy. He's the father of street and he's just the most humble person ever. Rodney is someone I want to meet someday, just so I can shake his hand and say thanks for everything he's done
I’ve been eyeing my bmx bike for a few weeks now. I threw it in the garage after I got hurt in the military. I used to race and ride park all the time. I turned bitter after I had my shoulder surgery, I just hated that I’m broken so I turned my back on it for a few years. It’s hard to explain, but it wasn’t physical pain that I would feel. It was the loss. I didn’t have what I used to, and it was painful just fumbling around. Heartbreaking. It was a huge part of me. I’m thinking I need to pull that thing out again and put in some work. Rodney Mullen is a legend, I’ve been in awe of him since I saw his bio clip in THPS2. Thanks man, I’ll be making some changes and taking some steps in the right direction.
Reminds me of The Marine Corps. I used to love skateboarding also. It's the kid who keeps getting up, the fat kid who got fit, the unpopular kid who kept his morals that ends up being that Navy SEAL and that CEO. Not the high school quarter back. Learned that from experience. It's all about mental toughness and being around a group of elite individuals and not wanting to fail them or be weak. To constantly improve. It's why we (Marines) who pursue higher education are so successful. You're forced to become a leader and I believe skateboardings greats were the ones who became leaders.
I'd just wish more higher educated people and leaders would do something good for the world in their life, instead of becoming fucking navy seals or ceos
Rodney, for me, defines what all skaters should work to achieve, which is to come away with transcendent lessons that can apply to any domain of life. He is such an inspiration to me. I’ve been thinking about this video and the TED talk, and there is one big difference between Rodney and Burce Lee that I think is very important to understand and that establishes a legacy for the true value of skateboarding: Lee was promoting the power of the martial arts, and Mullen is promoting the power of the community of skateboarding. Lee did not answer the question of what the martial arts are protecting. Mullen answers that question by putting the community above his skill. Lee may have been an incredibly skilled and poetic martial artist, clearly one of the best, but Lee attempted to position himself as the guru in the West, and by diminishing the styles that were different from his, he left a stain on the monastic Shaolin community as a result. Mullen is bringing his community with him as he achieves, elevating his community to above himself, and by the authority that the skating community gives him, he is establishing a legacy for skateboarding that will ensure its life and proliferation in the future. Rodney, I bow to you my friend. Eric Klassen Skate Pass
Forever a legend, but in more than just skating....a true philosopher. I remember trying every sport as a lonely child and then skateboarding came along and it was something that could be mine and nobody elses, and in time I have met some of the most beautiful souls through it....real people.
I'm 50. I haven't thought about Rodney Mullen in at least 30 years. It's 1 am, I can't sleep, and somehow I ended up watching skating videos. What a gift this man is. I don't skate anymore, but his words are universal. Sage.
im so so scared to get old for real i never wanna quit i can just imagine me sitting in a chair at 70 just thinking to myself i wanna go skate but i can't :(
***** I know these people aren't skaters and one of them isn't really a psychical relation.. But its better to have some positive influence than nothing... George Carlin is a comedian, and Seasick Steve is a musician... And they both kept going past the age of 70 with a strong passion to it :P Don't be an boring old fart, be a awesome old fuck lol
I used to be a skater, but about 9 years ago, I got into football freestyle instead. The strive and getting back up is the same in the two artforms (although you don't fall as much in football freestyle) and even though I quit skating, Rodney has always been a hero for me. Being able to create your own style and your own personality through a wooden board with four wheels is art. I am now doing what I can to be able to express myself through juggling a damn football. Big up, Rodney.
I totally get what Rodney is saying here and it is absolutely mind blowing because he is speaking a truth that so many could never even fathom or even coming close to even understanding. As I sit here wondering which one of my friends or colleagues I could share this with, I am having trouble. I'm having trouble not because my friends wouldn't like this, but instead so many just wouldn't "get" or "relate" to what he is saying. Wow... that was awesome.
Man, every few months I watch this along with his other TED talks, I feel a reborn skater. Rodney really catches the essence of skating untainted and pure. Truly, an amazing person.
Damn! This guy is so simple I like how he expresses himself. Even though I'm not a skater I like listening to this guy because even though he got fame it never got to his head. Really nice guy
I teared up a lil during this, I got into dancing and I love it, so much I want to win sytcd... but at the end of the day I will still always define myself as a skater. So thanks Rodney for making me feel great that I'm still skating. (:
Rodney, you have been my role model, my favorite skater, and the impression on me since I was 5 years old, I think you so much for making me the person I am today, you are a genius, and a believer... Thank you for never giving up, and thank you for being who you are, still today. You gave me courage, you gave me confidence to go out and skate, it was because of you I entered competitions, it was because of you I didn't give up, and it was because of you I still skate today. You are a blessed, amazing person, so never quit. :P
I could watch and listen to Rodney Mullen for the rest of my life, such an intelligent, gentle and articulate person. I just so get off feeling how much he loves skateboarding, I'm getting back on a skateboard at 41, rediscovering that love that skating brings.
+Rodney Mullen I'm amazed..... Rodney, I remember first seeing you on Gleaming the Cube as Christian Slaters double.. And that was it.... I needed to start skating. Thank you for everything!
12:20 Oh my fucking god he's talking about Cedric Villani, that guy is a fucking genius. For Rodney and Cedric to become friends is a great example of the beauty of this universe we live in. Cedric won his fields medal through his work in mathematical physics, working on plasmas and the Boltzmann equation. Un-fucking-real.
My stepson and I were skating on the Hermosa Beach Strand last night as we do most nights for our evening push. Who do we see but Rodney Mullen just slowly cruising around. My son rides and Almost Rodney deck so I politely stopped and asked Rodney if he would mind if my son got a pic with him. He couldn't have been nicer or more than happy to take a pic and thanked him for riding his model. I know its so rare for him to be skating in public these days so it was quite amazing. Kavi is still juiced this morning from meeting him. Was a big fan before, even bigger now.
dam dude that's crazy you got lucky man!!
He said he likes skating at night by himself because having people watch him makes him nervous these days. It's pretty humbling knowing that a man of his status, a man that created almost every flip trick or the foundation of them, still gets nervous when people watch him skate.
He's nervous skating in front of people because he's afraid he won't live up to their expectations.
I guess sometimes meeting your heros isn‘t disappointing after all!
He seems so humble. A friend of mine was in Germany last year for work and got to meet him and he sent me a picture. Even my friend said Rodney was super kind and humble. We could all learn something from Rodney's kindness.
Jerry Seinfeld made a great point about this as well. He talked about watching a skater fall and get up over and over until he got it right. "Whenever I see those skateboard kids; I think those kids are going to be alright."
Wil Aukschun we saw that too.. Jerry Seinfeld is a smart man haha
Legends BATB
+T AB Fuck yes
It's definitely a different mindset. Most people get it 10 times wrong and they give up, because they are not interested in the essence of things. Someone who really wants to GET IT, they will try a million times. It's not about when you do it, it's about the joy of learning certain things that can't be really put well into words to explain. It's a necessity to feel something quite deep. I think that's what skaters, mathematicians, programmers, are about (not all of them of course, but the really great ones). Perhaps that's what anybody who is really happy is about. Talent helps, but it's a personal passion more than anything. I see people with incredible talent, mindblowing facility, but the passion either is not there, or they are just messed up in their lives with other vices (alcohol, drugs, etc.)... if you can get rid of vices and live just from the core passion of learning your passion, that's how do be happy I think.
Juan Beautifully said.
I could quite easily listen to Rodney talk all day.
I was just thinking of that,the way he talks is special:p
He's also extremely intelligent
That is why I love listening to him KopaszJack
absolutely
you should also try listen to steve wozniack
He's like the Aristotle of skateboarding
Almost everything Aristotle said was eventually proven wrong.
Aaron J.S. Pixelbeard oh never mind then xD
Aaron J.S. Pixelbeard He made some scientific errors and believed in both slavery and the subjugation of women, but as a whole his philosophy is still widely studied and extremely influential for the West.
StealthNinjaPie don't listen to this fools... they don't know shit.
Did Aristotle set the ground works for all philosophers after him?
Rodney Mullen needs a podcast of all his stories, thoughts and wise words on life after skating.
Impact theory has done one now with him. It's incredible
He'll always skate
Skateboarding completely transformed the way I look at urban landscapes.
I was just thinking... it's crazy how unnatural skating is. You can't skate dirt, mountains, rivers, forests. We need the developed landscapes, especially in street skating. Kind of fun to think about.
+Jay Flippen I was thinking about that the other day. I say to myself "Okay. Someone else can tell me what my environment looks like but, they can't tell me how to interact with it. That's still MY decision." Skateboarding.
D4NIB4BE I was thinking about that too. I like natural environments but skateboarding is a creative way to interact with and do things in a urban environment. Not just skating with tricks but all kinds.
D4NIB4BE yeah wow, skateboarding depends on the urban environment
Jay Flippen that’s facts man stairs aren’t just stairs to us
How to skateboard:
-Accept failure
-Love success
-Forget your fear
-Believe in yourself
-Know that pain is temporary
-Commit
-Dream
*How to live
Kārlis Veckagans 💪
Sadly, the older you get, the more permanent pain becomes.
@@dabeardedjerf 😂🤣😂.
Don't buydung.
Pain is temporary, chicks dig scares, and glory last forever!!!!! I'm 38, haven't skated in a decade, just bought a new complete and ready to start skating bowls and breaking bones
Rodney makes me cry. He has such a romantic view on skateboarding that he expresses both logically and poetically.
He hasn't just contributed with tricks, he is also an inspiration for all people feeling like outcasts.
When I was 14 I heard him speak, and read his book. I identified so much with him. I was an absolute mess of neuroses from an early age. Disgustingly underweight from anxiety, homeschooled, the list goes on lmao.
His wavering voice and intense expression when it comes to speaking about something he loves. Idk, I could tell that I wasn’t alone in feeling as hard, and thinking as much as I did.
It's not just about how good of a skater he is, it's how much of a skater he is. He has the heart of a true skater, down to the bone. He is what skateboarding is all about. Him being who he is is probably what he made him so amazing: His genius, his understanding of Physics, his lack of fear, his persistence. Truly an inspiration in not just skating, but in living.
Im not so sure he is fearless, I think he just goes for what he wants to do anyway.He did say in the video he is sometimes afraid of being judged just like everyone else is which is ome reason he doesn't skate in public.
I really admire his empathy and passion. Skateboarding would always progress, but, guy is a great human being
King barny said this
Rodney Mullens is a super intelligent jedi master of the board!
FACTS lmao
that guy definitely feels the energy of the universe
this is the way.
Rodney Mullen is the reason I've been skating for 15 years.
me too hehe
Rodney Mullen is the reason I kind of want to skate. If I ever learn, it'll be because I saw him skate in his bio video on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.
Whitefright Rodney Mullen is a reason why I wanted to skate for 15 years but my mom thinks it's on safe 😞
same here :)
He's the reason we all didn't give up on skateboarding or ourselves.
Who the FUCK would ever dislike this video. This dude has thought more in depth about skating and the lifestyle than anyone ever. Most people are talkin about getting better and hes talkin about skater mentality and the philosiphy behind it lol
Raoul Duke That was me after doing psychedelics and n ot skateboarding all winter. My style has been progressing so much and my perspective on skateboarding has changed
rayroxrox
same here dude! I actually said that I give up skating after a bad injury. lots of psychedelics were involved as well and then it became so spiritual. I had visions of me skating in slowmo and it was so beautiful. I always felt I miss something. Just got back on the roads yesterday and cried the shit out of myself, because of its beauty.
Rodney Mullen is an incredible human being.
I remember ever since i saw rodney skate in tony hawk pro skater when i was a kid. He was the guy i looked up to in skateboarding.
thps4 - rodney mullen part...wow...
Yeah dude those little clips in the bonus features
invented the entire platform and never once bragged about it, unprecedented.
old comment but. he never needed too, everybody in the community did it for him, because skateboarding with all its drama, still by far breeds the most respect in competition.
Any time he gets an opportunity to talk about it, he gives credit to someone else
In fact, he often times credits others when others praise him
I honestly don't know why, maybe because i've been a fan of Mullen for as long as i can remember, and maybe its because what he has to say speaks to me on such a spiritual level... i'm not sure. But i'm a 24 year old man, and i almost choked up a couple times watching this. I know that's weird, cause not a speck of it was sad to me...it just spoke to me, at my core.
I know i'm gonna get put on blast, but fuck it.
+LTC Ambrose when the heart speaks truth, it is always enlighten, hence there is a sense of spirituality in Rodney Mullen's articulation on the art of skateboarding.
I'm a 21 year old dude currently tearing up watching this. I really do feel the spirituality in this
No need to feel embarrassed. If listening to Rodney explain why he loves skating doesn't touch you at your core in some way, you aren't a real skater. He views skating the way it should be viewed, and if you cant relate to that, maybe you should just step off the board
LTC Ambrose
authenticity
No reason to be embarrassed man. We were allowed to view an unguarded glimpse into the true joy of this man's soul. In today's culture that has become rare. At 36, seeing this makes me want to go embarrass myself by setting up a new deck and getting back out there. It's been too long since I've had to pick myself back up and try again. When life gets comfortable, it gets boring...
This guy has never ceased to amaze me over the years. People could learn a lot from somebody like Rodney whether they are a skater or not.
The ending is what got to me, I try explaining it to my peers who don't skate and they will never understand. Skating is a part of who I am, I don't skate for money or attention... When i step on the board all opinions go out the window because i can self express in ways that allow me to push through the next week of 9 - 5's. Skating will always be apart of me, it will never change.
Perfectly said.
No one asked for you to be a inconsiderate ass, I guess we all don't get what we want eh?
bellingham Crew Bro you cant even properly kickflip.
bellingham Crew, I perfectly loved hearing his life story. I think what you are really saying is you didn't want to because you couldn't understand that life has some meaning and skating can be part of that. I also think you want to put on a facade of being cool or whatever they call it nowadays. But you can't handle that truth so I may get an antagonistic response, and to you I say "be well". Life is more than what you're living for to have a comment like that. We in community love each others stories. Are you serious? Hit me up if you want to talk...
bellingham Crew no... everyone actually did.
this guy will forever be inmortal in the skate world. a true god.
GreatGregorious a true human*
@@evaennickdontje845 man was made in Gods image. your want to feel good by doing good is the presence of God within u
Hawk may have brought skating to the level it got to,and props to him for that. He also is the vert king,but this man deserves all the respect in the world. He is skating,literally eats breaths and sleeps skating. He invented every modern trick and is one of the best kind hearted dudes alive. There will never be another Rodney Mullen..thank you sir!
On top of that he also pretty much designed/shaped/invented the modern popsicle decks literally everyone is using today when he was at World Industries.
Tony Hawk is the king because he has all the riches. Rodney Mullen is just the god that created the very world they live in.
I like when he says "skateboarding changes you from the inside." it's a meditation.
If only he realized how revered he truly is. He’s so humble and almost hard on himself despite accomplishing more in skateboarding than pretty much any other pro. I would love to see Rodney in public more at whatever level he’s skating at. I bet he’s still elite on flatground. The years and years of muscle memory must still be in there. Love that dude.
Having just turned 44 years old, I know the fear of "losing my skills". Truthfully, they're mostly gone at this point... but the memories and the feeling lives on. I still cruise my neighborhood on occasion, simply enjoying the flow.
Rodney is legend, and is an inspiration to the entire skateboarding community. His legacy will live on in every one who touches a skateboard.
You should check out the part Josh Kalis put out not too long ago. He's 44 and still killin it. Truly inspiring
Yeah man, I get it.
I remember back in the day around 10-12 years ago even as a kid with my friends we were amazed by Rodney Mullen and probably dropped his name while skating a thousand times. I think that is what sets my generation apart from today's generation, we understood that what Rodney was doing, nobody else was doing and would probably ever do again. He didn't have to be flying down stair sets and hand rails, because his skating was so unique and required such technical precision that it required more actual skill than grinding down a hand rail. Gaps and hand rails are more a matter of overcoming fear and adrenaline than skill, but that seems to be the only thing kids respect these days. Don't get me wrong, Nyjah is a freak of nature, but kids should be reminded that Rodney revolutionized skateboarding and without him it would not be what it is today. Thank you Rodney you are a true legend and I agree that skateboarding transcends it's physical nature to a powerful philosophical ideal that if were embraced by more people, the world would be a better place.
No offence but you didn't understand what he was saying. He just said skateboarding as a unity and for some reason you have to tear that apart and start the "when I was young it was so much harder" nonsense. Don't get me wrong I love Rodney Mullen he is an inspiration and a true legend, but you misinterpreted him. Besides pleas try a nollie overcrook down 20 stairs 270 out and tell me that doesn't requires skill -.-
Boris Hagemans You are committing a logical fallacy by assuming I didn't understand what he was saying, just because I went off topic from what he was saying to begin with and spoke from my own perspective of the man and how he impacted me and my friends. I clearly understood what he was saying if you would just go back and read the last sentence of my comment.
rodney reminds me of a zen buddist. skateboarding for meditation. skateboarding is nirvana!
Most skaters i know are so dumb and bad influences but Rodney is not one of them
Ryan if you're a skateboarder, it would be wise not to pigeon hole and stereotype other skateboarders. That is what's called a false dichotomy fallacy. Yes there are some dumb and bad influences, but they are less common than you make it sound. The baker crew is a good example, Dustin Dollin and Jim Greco may be "piss drunks" but look how fatherly, responsible, and humble Andrew Reynolds is. Boom.
He's a fucking legend and such a great guy.
If you compared skateboarding to martial arts, then Rodney would undoubtedly be a Grandmaster.
agreed!
I do compare them, learning bjj is like learning skateboarding, when you fail a skateboard technique you fall when you fail a technique in bjj you get tapped out or lose a dominant position, you also develop yourself over the years and get to create a unique style. the communities are also similar and tight knit, both are misunderstood but will do wonders for you if you stick with them.
Bruce Lee even
@@cappucino108 this 45 year old purple belt who just started skating concures completely.
Rodney Mullen is Skateboarding
Him and Daewon Song are among my favorite skaters. The way they do manuals and their overall innovation are unlike anything I've ever seen.
i was riding around today with a smile on my face because the feel of just riding is awesome. i also went to the skatepark and had a beer and busted some tricks. and fell a couple times. im 25 and had taken a 5 year break from skating. ive been at it for about a month now everyday and i can do tricks i was never able to do. i used to smoke weed and i think skating and smoking have something in common when you see a fellow skater/stoner you know, just like rodney mullen was saying. now come to think of it i restarted skating after watching his ted talks. i can see myself skating for the rest of my life. thanks
Well said dude. Similar to me. im two years younger than you and I remember skating with my buddies in highschool all day on weekends and after school. Then we went our different ways and I put the board down for a bit, which I really regret. But these days I get super inspired by dudes like mullen who remind me to keep doing it simply because its fun and once a skater always a skater. These days even if I do it alone, I love just skatin around town and grabbin some beers. I don't think I'll ever "grow out of" skateboarding
***** right on dude, cheers and happy skateboarding!
I don't really see how drugs and sports are related. I have been skateboarding for 18 years, I am now 31. Never needed to smoke and consequently, never been coughing like crazy as some of my smoker friends do regularly.
Just got back into it after a 4 year hiatus. Never could have imagines how much I missed it. Skate on brother.
i just had a year off and went back last weekend - i had forgotten just how much fun it is, massive grin plastered across face, sweat dripping, legs aching
I'm in love with skateboarding. We love you Rodney
I'm a skater learning to be a chemist. I'll make you proud, Rodney.
Hey me too!
SuperSaltyFries I´m a skater, im studying to be an engineer. I´ll also make rodney proud.
SuperSaltyFries That's cool, but I think you might be missing the point all together.
I am a 37 year old chemist who is buying my first board in a couple of weeks.
Rodney Mullen studied chemical engineering, so I guess you’re in good company :)
This is why Skateboarding will never die. I strongly believe that skating is something that not everyone can do not because they do not have the skill for it but because they do not have the will. We as skaters have have gotten so used to failing that it does not phase us, it only makes us stronger every time we get up and try again. That itself is just beautiful.
I remember trying 360 flips in a parking lot with my crew. Over and over and over.. then finally both feet on the bolts.. then collapsing afterwards..lol. Damn I miss it soo much.
Hugh Mungus same,i know exactly what you mean.
For me. Its s solid grind. Be it 5.0. Crook, or 5050. Just that sound and feel and stick a solid landing. I keep that shit on repeat in my head
This makes me want to skate my whole life do what i love i am 15 years i am not good and i have Been skating for at least 4 months but this week i have found true love in skate i want to Wake up ever y day come back home from school and skate and be better ever y day and do this forever love skateboarding is a lifestyle.
All the positive things about Rodney Mullen have been said, so I won't reiterate them. This talk.. about being alone, it really resonates with my soul, deep down. I can't explain it, but I know what he's talking about and I wonder if that's maybe why I looked up to skaters at a young age. Never had any skater friends or knew any skaters, but I bought my first board two years ago on a whim. I don't regret it, what I continue to regret is not skating because I fear being judged. He's mentioned this, too. And near the end, everything he said is so true. I think from now on, I can throw away my fear of being judged for skating. Going to feel the wind all around and smile. Looking forward to that.
To Rodney Mullen: Thank you for blessing the world with your pure existence.
I've been experiencing a lot of debilitating panic recently at 28 about my place in the world and where I'm going or if I'm going anywhere. This guy has been a major help in keeping my attacks at bay and talking myself down. Doesn't seem like a big deal but trust me I'm very grateful for his talks. He's talking about something way deeper than skating.
Thanks, Berrics and Rodney.
You will be alright , anyone who cares about life and doesn't have a golden parachute has fear like that . I'm 42 and still wake up most mornings with some doomsday thought or fear . The more you try the more you will realize that as long as you count on yourself and work at whatever it is the more the fear will subside and more confident days will shine through . Good luck to you, and what luck to have a guy like Rodney to listen to and draw inspiration from !
If only the people at my local skatepark were as cool as this guy. Our 'park' was actually just a small halfpipe, 2 quarters a box inbetween and a grind rail.
It was always pretty packed with older guys who didn't like the younger ones taking up space so whenever I went there it felt really uncomfortable. People laughing as you fell down even though I picked up skating weeks ago. People picking up your deck and tossing it across the street, as a 11 year old that hit me hard and basically made me quit skating. Now, 14 years later that flame is reignited but I doubt I could still pick it up.
You totally could pick it back up, don't wait until you're 39. Then you'll be as far behind as me
I'm glad he can just sit down and spontaneously speak deep level truth and understanding. Most would have to research and prepare for a month to deliver what he just did straight from his head. Mullen is the Truth.
It's pretty much his stock interview/speech that he always gives...
I wouldn't expect less enlightening words from the most influential skateboarder of all time. Rodeny's genius doesn't just spill into his skateboarding, it's the essence of this man.
I love hearing him speak.
im 15 and just started skating, Rodney Mullen made me love skating, he is the reason im skating now and will be skating till the day i die.
Rodney makes you want to go skate, just by hearing him talk. His level of stoke for skateboarding is off the charts. Inspiring is an understatement. Skating with rodney would be truly epic!
I think I should start to skate again.
Do it!! :D
I think I should probably learn to skate
go for it bro! i skated for 5 years in a row than stopped. after 10 years im back on my board.
***** I think it took everyone about a year to start landing the kick in our park. 60% catching flip in the air success rate . I've broke both my arms riding the thing for 5 years. Can't work out properly, constantly feel pain in my hands nowadays.
+Maksims Ivanovs Do it bro!! I too am thinking its time to get back on it....I'm just a few months shy of my fortieth bday, and the thought kinda scares me as I've been off it for almost a decade but when I really think about it, there is nothing that fulfills me like skateboarding does.
Rodney Mullen needs to be on BATB,
Rodney Mullen VS Daewon Song! Fuck YES! Please, Please, Please Berrics just PLEASE!
+Gabe Lochlin I'd watch that as soon as I saw it was up
someone start a kickstarter to donate to rodney and daewon to convince them to play at the next batb
Rodney Mullen made a vid where he said his body really isn't up to the task anymore. so I don't think I would be fair to him since daewon still kills it. it would've been cool maybe 5 years ago but the dude is aging
Rafioso true i agree though as you said a couple of years ago it would of been great
+The Pants Shieeet, I would preorder that.
If you replace "skating" w/ "Jiu Jitsu" then there are so many parallels.
Mad respect to Rodney Mullen. His truth is universal.
Rodney is truly inspiring. Gotta keep pushing forward no matter what .
Just THANK YOU RODNEY... Thank you for what you gave us.. Thank you for what you gave to skateboarding.... In each and every today's tricks, there is a part of you my friend.... GREAT MAN !!
This guy is awesome. I can't even ollie a skateboard, but he still inspires me. He's just so wise... oh, and he's pretty good at skateboarding too lol
i made my first in 3 days and then i kept going
When I started skateboard I spent at least a month in my parents basement trying to pop a ollie (I was too ashamed to go to the local spot). Then I left 2 weeks on holidays and as I came back the first thing I did was to take my skate back to the basement. FIRST TRY!!!!! It was ugly, it was weak but it was a ollie. One of the best feeling in my 30 years...I wasn't just an outcast...i was a sucessfull outcast :D. Eventually I droped skateboard, got a good job with a good salary...never felt again the same..I still have my last board though....Next time I'm visiting my parent I think I'm gonna drop by the basement...
watch Braille that's how I learned my tricks I started like 8 months ago and I can Ollie backside 180 half cap kickflip and popshuv
It's a long process basically
Every now and then I revisit this video. This man changed my life when I was 11 years old and I'll forever be grateful for his existence. Hope to thank this legend in person one day
When other scientists in their fields and professors want to have the personality and characteristics from skaters in their students or apprentices....THAT is when you know Skateboarding is progressing more in all variations. And having Rodney Mullen being...you can say the ambassador of Skateboarding and describing how skateboarding is to other professions and making it more understandable in simple ways so the professors and scientists can somehow be similar and knowing "hey, he makes great points about how his profession is with ours." Makes you smile and appreciate it more :).
I remember in 2003 when I met Rodney Mullen and was trying to land a double kick flip on a summer trip with my mom side of the family and he saw me trying impress him lol and set there at least 2 hours teaching me how to land it. And it was barely about my foot placement and my power with my ankles and how to not twist my ankle trying so hard. He was telling how I go about with changing my mind set. I will never forget that man I think about all the time. I love this man for that because he didn’t have to do it and I know he had other shit to do because I think he was filming before I got there.
Rodney is such a gem. A truly beautiful mind and an incredible inspirational person, who brought skateboarding to another level. I could easily listen to him for hours. He's so humble and peaceful and lighten up something inside each of us. That mentor and friend most people need in life. The fact it comes down to skateboarding being the tool to expression, mental balance, community, inner peace and life itself for many people couldn't be explained better than by the one who masters this art to perfection and without doubt will be THE best ever on a skateboard (yes you will!). It's an incredible experience to see how he has gone through at least 3 stages; the young and innocent kid struggling through life taking the world with surprise, the older more autonome character still doing what he loves, perfecting a new level of life when creating street skating into a form we still enjoy up till today, to his older now being extremely wise and thoughtful teaching us the whole progress he has been through. The guy really hides something we'll probably never see, but all of us surely know in some sort. It's impressive but also kind of sad. The man is telling the truth with tears in his eyes!! A huge respect and a big thank you Rodney! We love you. Your struggle has created soo much more than you could imagine. We owe you everything! Looking soo much forward to follow you for many more years!
I could listen to Rodney Mullen speak for hours and hours. He is truly enlightened and his innovation and humble attitude should be a strong example for skateboarders and humanity in general. If it were not for individuals like him, this world would be a planet full of drones. Thank you for posting this & thank you RM... skate & destroy. cheers.
After learning about Rodneys philosophy on skateboarding, everytime i go out to skate. It feels different. A lot of things that i never realized. Rodney sees the true potential im skating when others dont. It bothers me that this video doesnt have a lot of views.
Rodney is the reason today's street skating is the way it is. He shaped the path for modern day skateboarding
It doesn't matter how old he is or if he's not as good as he used too be, people will always look up to him
I don't even skate & i'll still thank him if i ever saw him in person
He's such a humble person & will always be the godfather of skateboarding, & people will still talk about him long after he's gone
put a smile on my face at the end haha and 16 minutes is a lot of talking to pick through but he does have a lot of good points to make about this hobby of ours. i'm 20 and i see the other choices my friends and coworkers have for when they need something to help relax or even to pass the free time with. but for me after skating for 14 years i still like an easy skate sesh at a flow park. it's great just to be outside doing something tangible rather than playing video games, other than that i'll keep skating so i'll be ready when we finally get hover boards
I still know the day i found out about Rodney Mullen about 10 years ago. I was already skating for a couple of years on and off in the summers, but after seeing a few video's of him I started watching all his stuff. I didn't know back than he almost invented skating as we know it now and i remember i was so inspired by his personality as much as his skateboarding skills. Still to this day i think about him Every time i go skating and now i work at my local indoor skatepark and i wouldn't ever contiued skating if i didn't found out about this amazing guy. Thankyou Rodney! ♥️
This man is such an inspiration, I love and appreciate his insight.
Rodney Mullen is The Skateboard God. Nothing less.
A true legend. Thank you Rodney Mullen
My heart still skips a beat when I watch his videos. He's such a kind and intelligent man as well as an incredibly talented skater. When I was a kid I aspired to be as gracious as he in life. To this day, 20+ years later, he's still my favorite skater and very much my hero. I would love to shake this man's hand and thank him for his wisdom and innovation in skating and in life.
holy hell this is amazing. A beautiful mind ... holy shit i wana hang out with Rodney. A little philosophy, a little skate sesh. night sesh. mad respect
I'm 27 and might finally give this thing a shot... Never had the balls as a kid to go all in!
I will always come back to this video as inspiration to strive for my goals of becoming a professional skater
Whenever I listen to Rodney Mullen speak, I can't help but get drawn into his space, like he's speaking right through me. He has that ability to get through to you with his passion, his philosophy, and just the way he conveys his thoughts and ideas on life....and skating. In my mind, he's honestly the Messiah of Skating but he can relate to anyone, even outside of skating. He's a national treasure and so humble...just an amazing human being beyond words.
this man was the one who got me into skate boarding in 2003 buy his skate videos. now knowing his mentality, appreciation and love for the community (skaters), makes me admire him more!...thanks Rodney for all your hard work.
by*
I actually shed a tear when I watched this... And I am not even too invested in skateboarding. The world is a very deep and connected place and sometimes if you look close enough you will find those connections.
What a humble guy. He's the father of street and he's just the most humble person ever. Rodney is someone I want to meet someday, just so I can shake his hand and say thanks for everything he's done
I’ve been eyeing my bmx bike for a few weeks now. I threw it in the garage after I got hurt in the military. I used to race and ride park all the time. I turned bitter after I had my shoulder surgery, I just hated that I’m broken so I turned my back on it for a few years. It’s hard to explain, but it wasn’t physical pain that I would feel. It was the loss. I didn’t have what I used to, and it was painful just fumbling around. Heartbreaking. It was a huge part of me. I’m thinking I need to pull that thing out again and put in some work. Rodney Mullen is a legend, I’ve been in awe of him since I saw his bio clip in THPS2. Thanks man, I’ll be making some changes and taking some steps in the right direction.
Always relaxing listening to him speak.
I LOVE Rodney. He's crazy... in a great way. As excited about skating today as he was when he started.
Reminds me of The Marine Corps. I used to love skateboarding also. It's the kid who keeps getting up, the fat kid who got fit, the unpopular kid who kept his morals that ends up being that Navy SEAL and that CEO. Not the high school quarter back. Learned that from experience. It's all about mental toughness and being around a group of elite individuals and not wanting to fail them or be weak. To constantly improve. It's why we (Marines) who pursue higher education are so successful. You're forced to become a leader and I believe skateboardings greats were the ones who became leaders.
I'd just wish more higher educated people and leaders would do something good for the world in their life, instead of becoming fucking navy seals or ceos
This video needs so much more attention than it got. It's good enough to give me the chills and I wish more people could hear this.
Rodney, for me, defines what all skaters should work to achieve, which is to come away with transcendent lessons that can apply to any domain of life. He is such an inspiration to me. I’ve been thinking about this video and the TED talk, and there is one big difference between Rodney and Burce Lee that I think is very important to understand and that establishes a legacy for the true value of skateboarding:
Lee was promoting the power of the martial arts, and Mullen is promoting the power of the community of skateboarding. Lee did not answer the question of what the martial arts are protecting. Mullen answers that question by putting the community above his skill. Lee may have been an incredibly skilled and poetic martial artist, clearly one of the best, but Lee attempted to position himself as the guru in the West, and by diminishing the styles that were different from his, he left a stain on the monastic Shaolin community as a result. Mullen is bringing his community with him as he achieves, elevating his community to above himself, and by the authority that the skating community gives him, he is establishing a legacy for skateboarding that will ensure its life and proliferation in the future.
Rodney, I bow to you my friend.
Eric Klassen
Skate Pass
Forever a legend, but in more than just skating....a true philosopher. I remember trying every sport as a lonely child and then skateboarding came along and it was something that could be mine and nobody elses, and in time I have met some of the most beautiful souls through it....real people.
Favorite skateboarder of all times
I'm 50. I haven't thought about Rodney Mullen in at least 30 years. It's 1 am, I can't sleep, and somehow I ended up watching skating videos. What a gift this man is. I don't skate anymore, but his words are universal. Sage.
Well said good sir....well said.
Agreed!
***** Skateboarding.
I began skateboarding at 8 years old, 24 years later I still watch the same Rodney Mullen videos, thank you for all you invented for us 🛹🖤
im so so scared to get old for real i never wanna quit i can just imagine me sitting in a chair at 70 just thinking to myself i wanna go skate but i can't :(
some 70 year olds run 15 miles, you can do anything you set your mind too. Be the 78 year old dude shredding it up at the park!(:
Jaysnotemo bro that got me hyped to go shred haha I'll always love Skating and I will forever skate till I'm physically unable to
***** I know these people aren't skaters and one of them isn't really a psychical relation.. But its better to have some positive influence than nothing... George Carlin is a comedian, and Seasick Steve is a musician... And they both kept going past the age of 70 with a strong passion to it :P Don't be an boring old fart, be a awesome old fuck lol
yea thats wats up
im never going to quit
I used to be a skater, but about 9 years ago, I got into football freestyle instead. The strive and getting back up is the same in the two artforms (although you don't fall as much in football freestyle) and even though I quit skating, Rodney has always been a hero for me. Being able to create your own style and your own personality through a wooden board with four wheels is art. I am now doing what I can to be able to express myself through juggling a damn football. Big up, Rodney.
Thx Rodney you have been an inspiration, respect and greetings from el Salvador
I totally get what Rodney is saying here and it is absolutely mind blowing because he is speaking a truth that so many could never even fathom or even coming close to even understanding. As I sit here wondering which one of my friends or colleagues I could share this with, I am having trouble. I'm having trouble not because my friends wouldn't like this, but instead so many just wouldn't "get" or "relate" to what he is saying. Wow... that was awesome.
Very inspirational guy! had me trying dark slides when i was like 15 lol and I'm 27 now
We have 2 people that were dropped on their heads when they were born to dislike this. Cheers Rodney is the legend and never will be forgotten.
Love him.... so good and very humble
Man, every few months I watch this along with his other TED talks, I feel a reborn skater. Rodney really catches the essence of skating untainted and pure. Truly, an amazing person.
Thank you Rodney
So much respect to Rodney. More than any of his incredible achievements, Im in love with his authenticity, wisdom and humility. A beatiful being.
Damn! This guy is so simple I like how he expresses himself. Even though I'm not a skater I like listening to this guy because even though he got fame it never got to his head. Really nice guy
Listening to him talk brings tears to my eyes for some reason
thank you rodney we love you :)
This video made me cry. This guy is the reason I got into skating. Thank you Rodney Mullen. You're a true living legend
I teared up a lil during this, I got into dancing and I love it, so much I want to win sytcd... but at the end of the day I will still always define myself as a skater. So thanks Rodney for making me feel great that I'm still skating. (:
Rodney, you have been my role model, my favorite skater, and the impression on me since I was 5 years old, I think you so much for making me the person I am today, you are a genius, and a believer... Thank you for never giving up, and thank you for being who you are, still today. You gave me courage, you gave me confidence to go out and skate, it was because of you I entered competitions, it was because of you I didn't give up, and it was because of you I still skate today. You are a blessed, amazing person, so never quit. :P
Thanks Rodney.
I could watch and listen to Rodney Mullen for the rest of my life, such an intelligent, gentle and articulate person. I just so get off feeling how much he loves skateboarding, I'm getting back on a skateboard at 41, rediscovering that love that skating brings.
Ladies a gentlemen...........the guy who invented the Kickflip
More importantly, the man who brought the Ollie to skateboarding
gatz graffiti
Amen
Slippy yes he did.....along with the heelflip, 360-flip, impossible, and many others
Slippy its still a kickflip dude it was just rodneys style that made his kickflips look the way they did back then
+Rodney Mullen I'm amazed..... Rodney, I remember first seeing you on Gleaming the Cube as Christian Slaters double.. And that was it.... I needed to start skating. Thank you for everything!
12:20 Oh my fucking god he's talking about Cedric Villani, that guy is a fucking genius. For Rodney and Cedric to become friends is a great example of the beauty of this universe we live in. Cedric won his fields medal through his work in mathematical physics, working on plasmas and the Boltzmann equation. Un-fucking-real.
Greeeeeeat interview....