From Es Footwear in 2005
Eric Koston is a skateboarding classic. He’s one of the most well-known and respected pros of all time, and a tried and true lifer who never fails to deliver the most technical tricks the biggest way with total style.
Koston’s Flawless Career: “Few have produced as many bangin’ video parts, heavy-hitting photos or tech contest lines as Eric. Everybody respects him and he’s done it all without a gimmick.”—Aaron Meza, Skateboarder, May 2001
Eric was born in Bangkok, Thailand and lived there eight months before re-locating with his Thai mom and American dad to San Bernardino, California. After early sessions with GI Joes and Star Wars action figures, Eric started skating back in 1986 at age 12 on a hand-me-down Gonz deck from his older brother. After promptly learning stationary ollies with steady help from a driveway crack, Eric went on to enjoy actual moving ollies on curb cuts and, timidly, off the side of launch ramps.
In 1989, Koston had an unlikely encounter with veteran vert pro Eddie Elguera, who flowed Eric his first free equipment and got him on H-Street at an Upland CASL contest. Eric turned pro in 1991 at Back To The City III in San Francisco and inhabited the thrashed H-Street house in San Diego for six months.
After a slow spell, a move to LA and the 101 team in early 1992, courtesy of Natas Kaupas, came next. Eric was often seen hanging out with Tim Gavin, Jeron Wilson, Daniel Castillo, Chico Brenes, Kareem Campbell, Guy Mariano and Rudy Johnson. Rick Howard and Mike Carroll started Girl in late 1993 and asked Koston to climb aboard, and he’s been there ever since.
You Don’t Say: Eric is owner of Four Star Clothing, and a Vancouver couple even named their baby “Koston” after him.
2000 was Eric Koston’s banner year, when he basically became The Master Of The Skateboarding Universe for 12 months. He got a new dog, bought a new car and a new house, won three major pro contests (The Globe World Contest in Dortmund, Germany; The X Games in San Francisco and The Gravity Games in Providence, Rhode Island), worked on his epic part in the revered éS Menikmati video and even watched The Lakers win the Championship in-person, of course.
Don’t think it’s all over, though, because Eric just keeps charging ahead. For example, he has since claimed yet another win at the 2003 X Games IX Street event in Los Angeles, landed the Worst Trick at the 2004 Tampa Pro and his latest offering from éS Footwear, the K7, is doing very well. Speaking of contests, Eric is so smooth, casual and consistent in the contest arena, his friends nicknamed him “The Champ”.
Keep an eye on Eric Koston in the future. You can’t miss him, winning the world class contest, stealing the show in a video, bangin’ the gnarliest rail with an unheard-of trick in a two-page spread, flickin’ tech moves down a huge set like he’s on smoking break or secretly sessioning red curbs while goofing around with his friends. They don’t call him The Champ for nothin’.
Koston’s Career Highlights
Thrasher Skater of the Year: 1996.
Some Other Contest Wins: 1995 PSL Street Finals, 1996 Tampa Pro, 2002 Tampa Pro, 2004 Tampa Pro Worst Trick.
Choice Video Parts: 101 Falling Down, Girl Goldfish (1994), Girl Mouse (1998), éS Menikmati (2000).
Trick: Fandangle, 1997.
Fandangle? “It’s the most elusive maneuver ever to be done on a skateboard. I can’t really expose the secret, sorry.”
Memorable Demos: “All the ones I do with Rick McCrank. He just goes nuts, so people forget I’m there. It makes it easier for me to hide.”
Fun Contests: “2001 Slam City Jam, the one everyone got ripped-off at.”
Piles: Arko, Jime, Party Boy, Froston, Scooch.
