Karl Watson
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 22, 1976[1] Richmond, California, U.S. |
| Home town | Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Sport | |
| Country | USA |
| Sport | Skateboarding |
Karl Watson (born September 22, 1976) is a regular-footed professional American skateboarder, skate video director, and author from the San Francisco Bay Area.[2][3]
Early life[edit]
Watson was born in Richmond, California and raised in San Francisco.[4]
Skateboarding[edit]
Karl Watson was given his first skateboard on Christmas day in 1987.[5] Three years later, Watson received sponsorship, at the age of 13, and at 17, while still at McAteer High School, Watson turned pro for Clean skateboards.[3] Watson's first sponsor was Dogtown skateboards and his first full skate video part was in DTS, The Video (’91).[6][7] The first time Watson's name appeared on a board was with his second sponsor, Think Skateboards, with the Missing Children deck, featuring Watson alongside Nick Lockman, Sam Smyth, and Shawn Mandoli.[8] Released in 1995 on Profile skateboards, Watson's first solo deck graphic was based on an "afrocentric" stick-figure scene Watson appropriated from a work of art his mom had hanging on her wall.[9] Additionally, Watson released a deck with a popular graphic for Mad Circle skateboards depicting a man with dreads.[9]
Watson is known for his laid back skate style.[10]
Watson's first signature skate shoe was released by IPath Footwear in 2000.[3] Throughout his career, Watson skated for Mad Circle Skateboards, Organika Skateboards, and Blind Skateboards.[11] In 2008, Watson directed Zach & Walker's Concrete Jungle with Matt Daughters for Organika Skateboards.[12]
In 2005, Watson worked with Keith "K-Dub" Williams and Adjoa Murden in advocating for the construction of a skatepark in Oakland, a successful effort that would become Town Park skatepark.[4] Watson also worked with Williams on the Hood Games, a mixing of hip-hop and skateboarding culture.[13]
In 2018, Watson and Nick Lockman founded Maxallure.[14] The founding team consisted of Watson, Lil Dre, Jonathan Perez, De Marquis McDaniels, Tafari Whitter, and Marcello Campanello.[15]
Writing[edit]
In 2017, Watson collaborated with illustrator Henry Jones, writing a children's book: My First Skateboard Book.[16] Watson's book introduces children to the world of skateboarding.[17][18]
Personal life[edit]
Watson is a father and a pescatarian.[11] Watson had a tumor on his Pineal gland.[11]
Watson currently manages the Adidas flow team.[19]
References[edit]
- ^ "Karl Watson Profile < Skately Library". skately.com.
- ^ Smith, Jonathan; Harris, Zach (December 12, 2017). "A Pro Skater Has Written the First Good Skateboarding Book for Kids". Vice.
- ^ a b c Whiting, Sam; Writer, Chronicle Staff (June 22, 2000). "Skateboard Central / A new park opens in Milpitas, but the mecca remains Pier 7". SFGate. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
- ^ a b "Oakland skateboarding mecca a beacon for East Bay youth". The Mercury News. April 14, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
- ^ Mary (February 7, 2010). "Skater world: an interview wit' pro skater Karl Watson". San Francisco Bay View. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
- ^ "Dogtown Skates". TransWorld SKATEboarding. May 14, 2002. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
- ^ "Not the New Venture Video (91), Part 1 Plus Greg Carroll Interview". TransWorld SKATEboarding. September 3, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
- ^ "Think, Missing Children AM deck". bobshirt.com. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
- ^ a b "Karl Watson and Prof. Neftalie Williams continue the conversation". Pushing Boarders. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ "Speakers 2018". Pushing Boarders. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Vice Versa: Karl Watson". TransWorld SKATEboarding. December 15, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ "Organika Skateboards - Zach & Walker's Concrete Jungle (2008) < Skately Library". skately.com. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
- ^ Swan, Rachel (July 16, 2008). "Hood Games and Pipe Dreams". East Bay Express. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
- ^ "Maxallure Skateboards Launch Party". www.thrashermagazine.com. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ "MAXALLURE -- Skateboard Company". The Berrics. February 23, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ "'MY FIRST SKATEBOARD' -- Karl Watson & Henry Jones Interview". The Berrics. December 12, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ Watson, Karl (September 22, 2017). My First Skateboard. Primedia eLaunch LLC. ISBN 9781641364157.
- ^ "Readers meet writers at the festival's free outdoor fair". SFGate. April 19, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
- ^ "Karl Watson and Prof. Neftalie Williams continue the conversation". Pushing Boarders. Retrieved June 11, 2019.