Skateboarding Legend Tony Hawk Makes Surprise Appearance in Small-Town B.C.

Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk surprised the northern B.C. community of Smithers this week with an unannounced visit to help launch the town’s expanded skatepark.

Hawk, considered one of the most influential figures in the sport, appeared in a video posted to social media teasing his appearance:
“Hey, what’s up Smithers? It’s Tony Hawk. Someone told me there’s a skate demo happening at your new park? That’s pretty cool — I may have to check it out.”

And he did.

The town of roughly 5,000 residents — located more than 660 kilometres northwest of Vancouver — has spent years raising nearly $1 million to expand its original 1996 skatepark, which was the first of its kind north of Kamloops. The project, led by the Smithers Skate Park Society, added new ramps, rails, lighting, benches, signage, and a deep eight-foot skate bowl.

To celebrate the upgrade, the society had been promoting a pro demonstration event but kept the identity of the guest skater under wraps until the big reveal.

The Thursday celebration includes a live skate demo by Hawk, a public “learn to skate” session, and community festivities throughout the afternoon.

For local residents — many of whom grew up playing Tony Hawk’s video games or watching his record-breaking tricks — seeing the legend skate in their small-town park is nothing short of surreal.