Tony Hawk, skateboarding legend, on keeping in shape at 57: “I’m not Peter Pan”
After a broken leg and lifestyle changes, the skateboarding icon reveals his fitness routine and why he refuses to slow down.
“I won’t quit skating until I am physically unable,” once claimed Tony Hawk, undoubtedly the world’s most famous, and quite possibly coolest, skateboarder.
At 57, Hawk hopes he still has plenty of time left to keep going. But in an interview with USA Today, he admits his outlook on life has changed radically as he’s gotten older.
Tony Hawk’s new approach to health
“I never exercised outside of just skateboarding up until a few years ago,” says Hawk, explaining that he has cut junk food and soda out of his diet as much as possible.
The Californian broke his leg in March 2022. The time he spent away from his board gave him space to rethink his plans and focus on longevity.
“That was literally the hardest lesson, that I’m not Peter Pan, and if I want to continue to do this at a high level, I have to work outside of just skating,” Hawk confesses.
Inside Hawk’s daily routine
The skateboarder’s routine now typically includes two exercise sessions. After a breakfast of eggs and chicken chorizo, Hawk works out and stretches for an hour. He then handles business before heading out on his board in the mid-morning. Not every day, but almost.
And he’s reaping the rewards of his new fitness regime, feeling stronger, more flexible, and more resilient.
Taking preventive health seriously
Hawk’s commitment to health even led him to take a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test called Cancerguard. The blood test flags aggressive cancer signals that might otherwise go undetected. Although he admits feeling nervous about the results, he’s “thankful to live in this age of modern medicine and to get the opportunity to take a test like this.”
Tony Hawk: “I want to stick around”
Approaching his seventh decade, Hawk’s new outlook means he’s still going strong, both on his skateboard and as a grandparent. He regularly looks after his grandson and says, “I want to stick around.”
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