Andy Macdonald (skateboarder) explained

Andy Macdonald
Birth Date:31 July 1973
Birth Place:Melrose, Massachusetts, U.S.
Sport:Skateboarding
Country: (1994–2024)
(2024–)
Height:5inchesft8inchesin (ftin)
Weight:165lb

Andy Macdonald (born July 31, 1973) is a British-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 Transworlds skateboarding "Trick Tip" video, . 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 Competition2nd in 2009 X Games 15 ParkAndy 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.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Team. Positiv Skateboards. October 16, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101026053349/http://positivskateboards.com/team/. October 26, 2010 . live.
  2. Web site: Rocchio . Christopher . Skateboard's STR8TLK . Newton Tab . October 16, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131020205709/http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/fun/entertainment/arts/x902756335 . October 20, 2013 .
  3. Web site: Quinn . Brendon . Skateboard legend Andy Macdonald, at 51, is getting an unlikely Olympic epilogue . August 7, 2024 . The Athletic .
  4. Web site: Andy Macdonald. Alliance of Action Sports. October 16, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100919002346/http://www.allisports.com/alli/athlete/andy-macdonald. September 19, 2010 . live.
  5. Web site: Linendoll . Katie . Dec 6, 2010 . Flybar bouncing: No walk in the park (hands-on) . 2024-04-29 . CNET . en.
  6. News: The 48-year-old skateboarder eyeing the Olympics . BBC Sport . en.
  7. News: GB's Brown, 15, and Macdonald, 50, reach Paris 2024 . 23 June 2024 . 23 June 2024 . BBC Sport . en .
  8. Web site: 2024-07-25 . Who is Andy MacDonald? The skateboarder ‘representing the old guys’ at Olympics . 2024-07-28 . The Independent . en.
  9. Web site: Sponsors. andymacdonald.com. The Official Andy Mac Website. September 25, 2013. September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130810061225/http://andymacdonald.com/test/sponsors.html. August 10, 2013. dead.
  10. Web site: Pro Team . Theeve Titanium Truck Co . September 25, 2013 . Trevor Ward . September 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130927162112/http://www.theevetrucks.com/team.html . September 27, 2013 .