Karl Watson facts for kids

Karl Watson was born on September 22, 1976. He is a professional skateboarder from the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States. Karl is known for skateboarding with his right foot forward, which is called "regular-footed." Besides skateboarding, he also directs skate videos and writes books.

Early Life and Growing Up

Karl Watson was born in Richmond, California. He grew up in the city of San Francisco.

Karl Watson's Skateboarding Journey

Karl Watson got his very first skateboard on Christmas Day in 1987. Just three years later, when he was 13, he received his first sponsorship. This meant companies started supporting him because of his skateboarding talent.

Turning Professional

By the time Karl was 17, he became a professional skateboarder. He was still attending McAteer High School at the time. His first sponsor was Dogtown skateboards. Karl's first full video part, where he showed off his skills, was in a video called DTS, The Video in 1991.

Signature Skateboards and Style

Karl's name first appeared on a skateboard deck with his second sponsor, Think Skateboards. This board was part of the Missing Children series. It featured Karl alongside other skaters like Nick Lockman.

In 1995, Karl released his first solo skateboard design with Profile skateboards. It was inspired by art his mom had at home. He also had a popular board design for Mad Circle skateboards. Karl is famous for his relaxed and smooth skateboarding style.

Skate Shoes and Teams

In 2000, Karl Watson got his first signature skate shoe. This shoe was released by IPath Footwear. Throughout his career, Karl skated for several well-known skateboard companies. These included Mad Circle Skateboards, Organika Skateboards, and Blind Skateboards.

In 2008, Karl directed a skate video called Zach & Walker's Concrete Jungle. He worked on this video with Matt Daughters for Organika Skateboards.

Building Skateparks and Community

Karl Watson also helps his community through skateboarding. In 2005, he worked with Keith "K-Dub" Williams and Adjoa Murden. They helped push for a new skatepark to be built in Oakland. Their efforts were successful, and the park became known as Town Park skatepark. Karl also worked with Keith Williams on events called the Hood Games. These events combined hip-hop music with skateboarding culture.

Starting Maxallure

In 2018, Karl Watson and Nick Lockman started their own skateboard company called Maxallure. The first team of skaters for Maxallure included Karl, Lil Dre, Jonathan Perez, and others.

Writing Books

In 2017, Karl Watson worked with an illustrator named Henry Jones. Together, they wrote a children's book called My First Skateboard Book. This book helps introduce young children to the exciting world of skateboarding.

Personal Life

Karl Watson is a father. He follows a pescatarian diet, which means he eats fish but not other meat. Karl also manages the Adidas flow team, helping new skaters.