Known as the godfather of street skateboarding, Rodney Mullen is considered one of the best and most influential skateboarders in history. Having begun his professional career as a freestyler, he made his mark on the sport through the many tricks he invented and his work as an inventor and entrepreneur.

Mullen is a member of the Skateboard Hall of Fame, and his board is part of the collection at the Smithsonian, where he received a professional fellowship.

Born John Rodney Mullen in 1966 in Florida, he began skateboarding in 1974 at the age of 8 and began competing just three years later. He won his first world skateboard championship at the age of 14. He turned professional in 1980.

Rodney Mullen's Skateboarding Style

Mullen is easily the best street skateboarder the world has seen. His skateboarding style is comfortable and relaxed, making the incredible tricks he has done look light and simple. Mullen often smiled and laughed while pulling off trick after trick. He had an inventive, creative, confident and easy-going manner when he skated in competition.

Among his favorite tricks are Front-Side Crooked Grind variations, particularly the Munkey Flip Out, or Nollie Hard Flip. He also likes Darkslides.

Skateboarding Tricks That Rodney Mullen Invented

Mullen revolutionized skateboarding with the tricks he invented, most notably the Flat-Ground Ollie, the Heelflip, the Kicklip, and the 360 Flip. Here are some of the other tricks he invented:

Godzilla Rail Flip

540 Shove-it

50-50 Saran Wrap

Helipops (360 Nollie)

Gazelles

No Handed 50-50 Kickflip

Double heelflips

Ollie Impossible

Sidewinders

360 Pressure Flip

Casper 360 Flip

50-50 Sidewinders

One-Footed Ollie

Backside 180 Flip

Ollie Nosebones

Ollie Fingerflip

Airwalks

Frontside Heelflip Shove-It

Switchstance 360 flips

Helipop Heelflips

Kickflip Underflip

Casper Slides

Half Flip Darkslide

540 Double Kickflip

Caballerial Impossible

Half-Cab Kickflip Underflip

Handstand flips

Rusty slides

Rodney Mullen Skateboarding Career Highlights

In 1977, Rodney Mullen won the first freestyle contest he entered. He was just 11 years old. Other highlights of his career include:

1980 — joined the Powell-Peralta Bones Brigade

— joined the Powell-Peralta Bones Brigade 1984, 85, 87, 88 — featured in the Bones Brigade Videos 1-4

— featured in the Bones Brigade Videos 1-4 1988 — appeared in the feature film "Gleaming the Cube"

— appeared in the feature film "Gleaming the Cube" 1992 — began World Industries with Steve Rocco

— began World Industries with Steve Rocco 1990-2014 — featured in videos by Plan B, A-Team, Globe, and Almost

— featured in videos by Plan B, A-Team, Globe, and Almost 2002 — won the Transworld Readers' Choice Award for Skater of the Year

— won the Transworld Readers' Choice Award for Skater of the Year 2002 — created the Almost skateboard company

— created the Almost skateboard company 2003— wrote The Mutt: How to Skateboard and Not Kill Yourself

Mullen lost only one freestyle contest. Ever. In his entire life. And in the contest he lost, he came in second, because he was sick. He's even won one vert contest.

Personal History

Rodney Mullen's father, a doctor, only allowed Rodney to skate if he always wore pads and would quit after his first serious injury. The younger Mullen avoided injury, obeyed his father, and got sponsored nine months after getting his own skateboard.

Freestyle skateboarding faded from popularity, but Mullen took his creative skills and continued to be featured in skate videos even into his 50s. He no longer skates in competitions, but still skateboards two hours a day.