Stevie Williams facts for kids
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Williams in 2023
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 17, 1979 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Professional skateboarder |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Skateboarding |
| Turned pro | 1999 |
Stevie Williams (born December 17, 1979) is a famous professional skateboarder. He was named one of the "30 Most Influential Skaters of All Time" by Transworld Skateboarding magazine in 2011.
Contents
Early Life and Skateboarding Journey
Stevie Williams grew up in Philadelphia, U.S. When he started skateboarding, he and his friends were called "dirty ghetto kids." This name later inspired his own company. At 14, Stevie left Philadelphia and traveled to California, U.S.
When Stevie was 12, he met Jeff Pang, a skateboarder for the Element brand. Stevie wanted to join the Element team. He filmed a video part for the 1994 Element video Fine Artists Vol. 1. In the video, he was called "Lil' Stevie." All his skateboarding in this video was filmed in Philadelphia.
Becoming a Pro Skater
After appearing in the 1999 Zoo York video Heads, Stevie joined both the Chocolate Skateboards and DC Shoes teams in the same year. He filmed a full part for the 1999 Chocolate Tour video. He also released his own special shoe with DC in 2000.
Stevie was in the 2003 DC Shoes video The DC Video. After this, he started his own company with his business partner, Eli Soto. They had already worked together on the Gold Wheels brand. Later, they formed a bigger company called Kayo Corp with Troy Morgan.
Kayo Corp released its first video in 2004. In 2006, Kayo released It's Official. This video introduced the four main brands of the company: DGK, Organika, Expedition, and Gold.
Sponsorships and Collaborations
Around 2009, Stevie got a sponsorship from Casio's G-Shock brand. He has released two special watches with G-Shock. In a 2012 video, Stevie explained why he liked G-Shock. He said he liked their toughness, street style, colors, and history. He felt it matched his career. In January 2013, Stevie visited Berlin, Germany, as a G-Shock ambassador. This was for the brand's 30th anniversary.
After his partnership with Reebok ended, Stevie didn't have a shoe sponsor for a while. He released a special shoe with the ALife brand during this time. In early 2011, he signed with the Supra brand. Stevie released his first signature shoe for Supra, called the "S1W," in mid-2012. A video came out with the shoe.
In 2014, Stevie worked with Supra again on the "Estaban" signature shoe. He said it was his most stylish and new design since his first pro shoe. He explained that he always liked wearing mid-top shoes because they looked best when he skated or hung out.
DGK: Stevie's Skateboarding Company
Stevie Williams is the founder and co-owner of Dirty Ghetto Kids (DGK) skateboards. This is an American skateboard company. Kayo Corp, a company Stevie helped create, distributes DGK products. This partnership started because of Stevie's friendship with Troy Morgan from Kayo.
In 2004, Stevie's manager, Peter Golden, made a deal with Reebok. This meant Reebok sponsored Stevie. Golden and Stevie worked with Reebok to design a full line of products. This included DGK skate shoes and clothing, called "RBK-DGK." Stevie was the first professional skateboarder to be sponsored by Reebok. He also helped design the "Flipside" Air Jordan skate sneaker for Nike, Inc..
In 2011, Stevie opened "Da Playground," an indoor training facility in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Its main goal is to give the DGK team a place to skate. However, other skateboarders have also used the facility.
The Spirit of DGK
In a 2013 interview, Stevie talked about the spirit of DGK. He said that fun, friendship, and community are very important. He likes to remember what made him excited about skating as a kid. He feels that many videos today only show how hard skateboarding is, not how fun it is. He believes the DGK video was successful because the team skated together and had a lot of fun.
The DGK team won the "Best Team" award at the 15th Annual Transworld SKATEboarding Awards in 2012. This followed a big feature in TransWorld SKATEboarding magazine and their video Parental Advisory. Stevie said in 2014 that he considers DGK his "biggest accomplishment" in skateboarding.
Stevie's Sponsors and Influences
Stevie Williams is sponsored by many companies. These include DGK, Supra, G-Shock, 9five Eyewear, Gold, Grizzly Griptape, Venture, Diamond Supply Co., Beats by Dre, Bones Bearings, and Asphalt Yacht Club (AYC).
Skateboarding Heroes
When asked about the most influential skateboarders, Stevie named five. He said Rodney Mullen was "number one" because everyone owes their technical skills to him. He also mentioned Daewon Song, Guy Mariano, and Henry Sanchez. When asked to pick just one, he chose Rodney Mullen again, out of respect for what he created.
In 2013, Stevie said Curtis McCann was his favorite European skateboarder. He also said he still watches older skateboarding videos from his youth for ideas and enjoyment.
Stevie's Impact on Skateboarding
Stevie has talked about his own influence on skateboarding. He said he was always just a skateboarder. He and his friends used to get teased for wearing certain brands. He feels he helped other "urban kids" see that they could be themselves and still be skateboarders.
In 2013, Stevie shared a unique way he grips his skateboard. He uses only four bolts to attach the trucks to the board, instead of the usual eight. He also puts the griptape over the bolts, not under them. This makes the board lighter.
Keelan Dadd, a DGK professional, spoke about Stevie's influence in a 2013 interview. He said Stevie was one of the first skaters he could relate to. Keelan saw himself as a kid with baggy clothes, just doing what he wanted. He said Stevie is one of his favorite skaters.
Stevie as a Business Owner
In 2006, Stevie opened a skate shop called L&K Limited in Oceanside, California, U.S., with Nick Lockman. In 2008, he opened another skate shop called Sk8tique in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Sk8tique was described as a "skate boutique" that mixes urban and skating styles. It sells gear from DGK, The Kayo Corp, and other brands.
In 2013, Stevie started a clothing brand called Asphalt Yacht Club (AYC). It launched in July 2013 with a team that included Stefan Janoski and Nyjah Huston.
In 2023, Stevie launched SK8PES, a digital art project. It focuses on urban anime and a web3 lifestyle. The project has worked with other digital art projects like YogaPetz.
Helping the Community
Stevie's mother, Susan Williams, started an organization called "Save A Heart, Save A Mind." She holds charity events at skate parks in California, U.S. The DGK website explains that Susan helps young people in the Los Angeles area. In 2011, she held an event at a North Hollywood skate park. In 2012, her organization visited Pedlow Park in Encino.
The DGK team also helped launch a program by the Next Up Foundation. This foundation helps kids and teens in communities that need support. They provide guidance through action sports, athletic equipment, and mentoring. DGK team members helped the foundation on January 22, 2013, at the "Boys and Girls" club of Long Beach, California, U.S.
Video Game Appearances
Stevie Williams is a character in many video games. These include: Evolution Skateboarding, Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, Tony Hawk's Project 8, Tony Hawk's Proving Ground, Tony Hawk: Ride, and Tony Hawk: Shred. He was also a secret character in NFL Street 2. In that game, he was the captain of his own team, "Team Reebok," with his DGK Logo. He played as a wide receiver. Stevie also appeared in MTV Sports: Skateboarding Featuring Andy Macdonald.
Video Chronicle
On February 23, 2021, X Games released "BEING STEVIE WILLIAMS." This video tells the story of his journey from the streets of Philadelphia to becoming a successful business owner and icon.
Images for kids
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Stevie Williams in 2023
