Andy Macdonald (skateboarder)

Andy Macdonald
Macdonald in 2008
Personal information
Born (1973-07-31) July 31, 1973 (age 51)
Melrose, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight165 lb (75 kg)
Sport
Country United States (1994–2024)
 United Kingdom (2024–)
SportSkateboarding
Medal record
Summer X Games
Representing  United States
Gold medal – first place 1996 Newport Vert
Gold medal – first place 1997 San Diego Vert Doubles
Gold medal – first place 1998 San Diego Vert
Gold medal – first place 1998 San Diego Vert Doubles
Gold medal – first place 1999 San Francisco Vert Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2000 San Francisco Vert Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2001 Philadelphia Vert Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2002 Philadelphia Vert Doubles
Silver medal – second place 1997 San Diego Park
Silver medal – second place 1998 San Diego Park
Silver medal – second place 1999 San Francisco Vert
Silver medal – second place 2003 Los Angeles Vert
Silver medal – second place 2008 Los Angeles Park
Silver medal – second place 2009 Los Angeles Park
Silver medal – second place 2010 Los Angeles Park
Bronze medal – third place 2000 San Francisco Vert Best Trick
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Los Angeles Vert Best Trick
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Los Angeles Big Air
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Los Angeles Big Air
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Los Angeles Vert
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Los Angeles Vert
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Los Angeles Vert
Nitro World Games
Representing  United States
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Salt Lake City Best Trick

Andy Macdonald (born July 31, 1973) is an American professional skateboarder. As of September 2013, he holds the record for the most X Games medals in vert skateboarding and won the World Cup Skateboarding competition eight times.[1]

He represented Great Britain at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Early life

Macdonald is originally from Melrose, Massachusetts, and started skateboarding in 1986 when he was 12 years old. He graduated from Newton North High School in 1992.[2] His father, Rodrick Macdonald, was born in Luton, England.[3]

Professional skateboarding

Macdonald became a professional skateboarder in 1994. In 1998 he was selected the "Best Overall Skater" in the "Readers Poll" of Transworld Skateboarding magazine, and was also chosen to host Transworld's skateboarding "Trick Tip" video, Starting Point 2: Transitions. He has received praise for his perennial consistency as he medals in most of the competitions he enters, even beating out a lot of younger skateboarders.

In 1999 Macdonald delivered an anti-drug speech at the White House that was preceded by Macdonald skateboarding down the marble floor of the hallway.[4]

With SBI Enterprises and Bruce Middleton, Macdonald designed the "Flybar 1200", a type of extreme pogo-stick.[5]

In 2022 he announced his intention to try to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics representing his father's homeland of Great Britain, despite the fact that he would be 51 years old at the start of the park skateboard event at the Games.[6] He secured qualification in June 2024 making him the oldest Olympic skateboarder in history.[7] His fellow British skateboarding team members are Sky Brown and Lola Tambling who are both sixteen years old.[8]

Sponsors

As of September 2013, Macdonald is sponsored by Positiv Skateboards, Airwalk, Amazon.com, MovieTickets.com, Clif Bar, GoPro, Bern Unlimited, Killer Pads, PushWood skatepark locator app, and Theeve Titanium Truck Co.[9][10]

Video game appearances

In 1999, he was featured in the video game MTV Sports: Skateboarding featuring Andy MacDonald for the Dreamcast, PlayStation, and PC. He was also featured in the PC game Backyard Skateboarding.

Contest history

3rd in 2009 X Games 15 Vert Competition 2nd in 2009 X Games 15 Park Andy has been involved in promoting skateboarding and its growth, progression and exposure since as far back as his days as an instructor at the YMCA in Peabody MA (1989) right near his hometown of North Andover.

References

  1. ^ "Team". Positiv Skateboards. Archived from the original on October 26, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
  2. ^ Rocchio, Christopher. "Skateboard's STR8TLK". Newton Tab. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  3. ^ Quinn, Brendon. "Skateboard legend Andy Macdonald, at 51, is getting an unlikely Olympic epilogue". The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "Andy Macdonald". Alliance of Action Sports. Archived from the original on September 19, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
  5. ^ Linendoll, Katie (December 6, 2010). "Flybar bouncing: No walk in the park (hands-on)". CNET. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "The 48-year-old skateboarder eyeing the Olympics". BBC Sport.
  7. ^ "GB's Brown, 15, and Macdonald, 50, reach Paris 2024". BBC Sport. June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  8. ^ "Who is Andy MacDonald? The skateboarder 'representing the old guys' at Olympics". The Independent. July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  9. ^ "Sponsors". andymacdonald.com. The Official Andy Mac Website. September 2013. Archived from the original on August 10, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  10. ^ Trevor Ward (September 2013). "Pro Team". Theeve Titanium Truck Co. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
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