Eric Koston facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Eric Koston

Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(1975-04-29) April 29, 1975 (age 50) Bangkok, Thailand
Occupation	Skateboarder company owner
Years active	1992–present
Height	6 feet (1.8 m)
Weight	160 pounds (73 kg)
Spouse(s)	Ashlee Gaston-Koston ​ (m. 2007)​
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Skateboarding
Turned pro	1993

Eric Koston, born on April 29, 1975, is a famous American professional skateboarder. He also owns several companies. You might know him from the popular Tony Hawk's video games or the EA Sports games Skate 2 and Skate 3.

Eric Koston is also a business owner. He co-owns Fourstar Clothing with his friend Guy Mariano. He also co-owns a skatepark and website called "The Berrics" with fellow skateboarder Steve Berra.

Early Life and Start in Skateboarding

Eric Koston was born in Bangkok, Thailand. He grew up in San Bernardino, California, in the United States. Eric started skateboarding in 1986 when he was about 11 years old. His parents are American.

Eric Koston's Professional Skateboarding Journey

Eric Koston's first skateboard sponsor was H-Street. This company was started by Tony Magnusson and Mike Ternasky. Other famous skaters like Danny Way were also on the H-Street team. Eric later left H-Street to join a bigger company.

In 1992, Eric joined 101 Skateboards. Then, in 1993, he became part of the Girl team. He appeared in many of their popular videos, including Goldfish, Mouse, Yeah Right, and Pretty Sweet.

Sponsorships and Signature Shoes

Eric was a top rider for the éS shoe brand. They even held an annual "Eric Koston éS Game of Skate" contest for many years. He also appeared in the éS video Menikmati, where he visited his birthplace of Bangkok.

After éS, Eric joined Lakai shoes in 2006. He filmed a part for their 2007 video Fully Flared. Later, he moved to the Nike SB team. Nike SB celebrated his arrival by releasing his first signature shoe, the "Eric Koston 1."

Nike launched a big campaign for his second signature shoe, the "Eric Koston 2." They even made an advertisement with other famous Nike athletes like Tiger Woods. Eric also used his Koston 2 design to create a special golf shoe called the "Koston 2 IT." In 2016, Nike and Koston released the "Nike SB Koston 3 Hyperfeel." This shoe was one of the first skateboarding shoes to have an ankle collar made of a special material called Flyknit. Eric said it was the "most progressive" Nike SB shoe yet.

In September 2022, Eric and Nike released the "Nike SB Blazer Mid" as a "Koston" edition. Eric got ideas for these shoes from his relaxed family life, especially surfing with his family by the beach.

Eric is also sponsored by Oakley sunglasses. He filmed a video project called "Fear and Loathing in Australia" in 2013. He shared that he's had some minor injuries in his career, like ankle sprains and a dislocated finger.

Current Sponsors

As of September 2018, Eric Koston is sponsored by many companies. These include Nike SB, Skate Mental, Independent Truck Company, Spitfire Wheels, Fourstar, Diamond, Supreme, The Berrics, Oakley, Jessup, and Skullcandy. In 2015, he even did a promotion for McDonald's on his Instagram, which was a big deal for a skateboarder.

Skateboard Setup

In 2009, Eric shared what his skateboard setup looked like. He used a Girl skateboard deck that was 8 and one-eighth inches wide. He also used Independent 139 trucks, 50mm Spitfire wheels, Bones Swiss bearings, and Bones yellow bushings. He is sponsored by Diamond for hardware and Jessup for griptape.

Leaving Girl Skateboards

On November 19, 2015, Girl Skateboards announced that Eric Koston and Guy Mariano were leaving the company. Both skaters had been with Girl since the very beginning, for 22 years! Later, Eric said he would be riding Skate Mental and WKND boards. In December 2016, he announced his new company, Numbers Skateboards.

Joining EDGLRD

In August 2024, Eric Koston joined the skateboarding team of EDGLRD. This team was started by Harmony Korine and led by Sean Pablo.

Eric Koston as an Entrepreneur

Eric Koston is not just a skateboarder; he's also a successful business owner.

Numbers Skateboards

Eric is the owner of Numbers Skateboards, which he started with his friend Guy Mariano.

Fourstar Clothing

In 1996, Eric and Guy Mariano started the Fourstar clothing brand. They realized they were buying so many clothes from other brands that they decided to create their own! Fourstar sponsors many skateboarders and has released several videos.

The Berrics Skatepark and Website

The Berrics is a private indoor skatepark and website. Eric Koston owns it with his friend and fellow skateboarder, Steven Berra. The name "Berrics" is a mix of their last names: "Ber" from Berra and "ric" from Eric. The website features videos filmed at the skatepark and other skateboarding content.

Saint Archer Brewing Co.

Eric Koston is also a co-owner of Saint Archer Brewing Co., a small brewery. He is one of the "Ambassadors" for the brand. The team of Ambassadors includes skateboarders, surfers, a snowboarder, a photographer, and a surfboard shaper.

Eric Koston's Influence on Skateboarding

Many people see Eric Koston as one of the most influential skateboarders ever. His teammate, Brandon Biebel, even called him the "Michael Jordan of skateboarding."

Paul Rodriguez, another famous skateboarder, looks up to Eric Koston a lot. He said Eric is his "100% role model in life" and his "favorite skater—period." Paul also said that Eric's video parts are his all-time favorites.

Video Games Featuring Eric Koston

Eric Koston has been a character in many popular video games:

• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (2000)
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (2001)
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (2002)
• Tony Hawk's Underground (2003)
• Tony Hawk's Underground 2 (2004)
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD (2012)
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 (2020)
• Skate It (2008)
• Skate 2 (2009)
• Skate 3 (2010)

Eric Koston's Contest Wins

Eric Koston has won many skateboarding contests throughout his career. He has won multiple gold medals at the X Games, which is a huge competition for action sports. He has also won events like the Melbourne Global World Cup, Vancouver Slam City Jam, and the Tampa Pro.

Film and TV Appearances

Eric Koston has appeared in several movies and TV shows:

• Ultimate X: The Movie (2002)
• Jackass: The Movie (2002)
• Jackass 3D (2010)
• The Motivation (2013)
• Jackass Backyard BBQ (2002)
• MTV Cribs (1 episode, 2003)
• Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory (three episodes, 2009, 2010)
• Maloof Money Cup (2008)
• The Aquabats! Super Show! (2013) (with Tony Hawk)
• Knife Fight (1 episode, 2013)
• Jablinski Games (1 episode, 2020)

Skateboarding Videos

Eric Koston has been featured in many skateboarding videos throughout his career. These videos often show his amazing tricks and skills. Some of his notable video parts include:

See also

In Spanish: Eric Koston para niños