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Eric Koston

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Eric Koston
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1975-04-29) April 29, 1975 (age 49)
Bangkok, Thailand
Occupations
  • Skateboarder
  • company owner
Years active1992–present
Height6 ft (1.8 m)
Weight160 lb (73 kg)
Spouse
Ashlee Gaston-Koston
​
​
(m. 2007)​
Children1
Websitetheberrics.com
Sport
Country United States
SportSkateboarding
Turned pro1993

Eric Koston (born April 29, 1975)[1] is an American professional skateboarder and company owner.[2] He has been featured in the Tony Hawk's video game series and the Electronic Arts (EA) video games Skate 2[3] and Skate 3.[4]

Koston co-owns both Fourstar Clothing (with Guy Mariano)[5] and the skatepark/website "The Berrics" (with professional skateboarder Steve Berra).[6][7]

Early life

[edit]

Eric Koston was born in Thailand, in the same hospital as fellow professional skateboarder Alphonzo Rawls (a shoe designer as of 2011).[8][9] Koston was raised in San Bernardino, California, United States (U.S.) and began skating in 1986.[10] His parents are Americans.

Professional skateboarding

[edit]

One of Koston's first board sponsors was the H-Street company that was co-founded by Tony Magnusson and Mike Ternasky.[11] During Koston's time with the company the team included Danny Way and Matt Hensley, but Koston sought a larger entity and later parted ways with the company.[12] Following H-Street, in 1992, Koston joined 101 (a division of World Industries headed by Natas Kaupas) and in 1993 the Girl team and appeared in the videos Goldfish, Mouse, Yeah Right, and Pretty Sweet.[13]

Koston was a leading team rider for the éS brand and an "Eric Koston éS Game of Skate" was held annually over numerous years.[14][15][16] Koston also appeared in the éS video Menikmati in which he returns to his birthplace of Bangkok.[17]

Following his departure from éS, Koston joined the Lakai roster and a video was published onto YouTube to announce the move. After joining the company in 2006, Koston filmed a part for the 2007 Lakai video Fully Flared. Koston's eventual departure for a place on the Nike SB team was accompanied by a YouTube video that parodied the George W. Bush shoe-throwing incident.[18]

Nike SB immediately promoted Koston's recruitment to the brand's team with a signature shoe—the "Eric Koston 1" model[19]—and a contest for consumers, entitled "Mr. Control It All".[20]

A promotional campaign, identified by the hashtag "#thelegendgrows", was launched by Nike to coincide with release of Koston's second signature shoe model the "Eric Koston 2". An advertisement that included other Nike athletes, such as Tiger Woods, and Koston's Nike SB teammates was filmed[21] and a behind-the-scenes video was also published on the brand's YouTube channel.[22] Koston used the Eric Koston 2 design as a basis for a limited edition golf shoe, named the "Koston 2 IT", and a corresponding launch was held in London, UK at the 1948 Stadium store in Shoreditch.[23] During the promotional campaign for the Eric Koston 2, Koston explained his overall experience working with Nike in comparison to the core skateboarding companies he has been sponsored by in the past:

Oh it's…it's crazy. It's completely different, I hate to say it, but it's so much better because of what…not only in the design aspect and the resources…cos I've copied so many Nike shoes, you know, I tried to mimic them as close as possible and using the best those companies, éS and Lakai could do. But we couldn't totally execute it…it was getting as good as I could get it, but it wasn't quite there. But with Nike, I get to use all those bits and pieces that I've always wanted to use, and I have access to a lot of great technology and a lot of, basically cutting-edge shit, that like, it's cool, you know. And I can really, truly, feel like I can innovate. So there's that, but not only that, they actually function; I guess from start to finish, even the marketing side of things it's above and beyond, it's crazy.[24]

In 2016, Nike and Koston would release the "Nike SB Koston 3 Hyperfeel", taking inspiration from Nike's soccer line. This shoe would be one of the first skateboarding shoes to incorporate an ankle collar made of Flyknit material to provide support and stability.[25] Upon the shoe's release, Koston claimed it to be "the most progressive SB [Nike Skateboarding] shoe to date".[26]

In September 2022, Koston and Nike would drop the "Nike SB Blazer Mid" as the "Koston" edition to this line of shoes that was quickly growing in popularity in recent years. Eric took inspiration for these shoes from his more mellow family life now in his late 40's, with Nike stating "the Koston Blazer reflects his newfound passion for beachside time surfing with the fam."[27]

As a sponsored rider for the Oakley sunglasses brand, Koston completed the "Fear and Loathing in Australia" video project that was filmed in early 2013. Accompanied by teammates, Rune Glifberg, Ryan Sheckler, and Curren Caples, Koston appears in a video that was published on June 5, 2013[28] and photographs that were shot by professional skateboarder Arto Saari. Koston revealed the injuries that he has sustained throughout his career on the micro-site for the project: "Nothing major. Few bad ankle sprains, dislocated finger, stitches and tendonitis in the knee. #minor."[29]

Sponsors

[edit]

As of September 2018, Koston is sponsored by the following companies: Nike SB, Skate Mental, Independent Truck Company,[30] Spitfire Wheels,[31] Fourstar,[5] Diamond, Supreme, The Berrics, Oakley,[32] Jessup,[33] and Skullcandy.[6] On Friday, February 20, 2015, he did a promotional spot on his Instagram account for the McDonald's Corporation, making him among the first popular professional skateboarders to advertise for the mega-chain.[34]

Setup

[edit]

In a 2009 video segment, Koston stated that his setup consisted of a Girl skateboard deck (8 and one-eighth-inch wide), Independent 139 trucks (high), 50 millimetres (2.0 in) Spitfire wheels, Bones Swiss bearings, and Bones yellow bushings (medium).[35] Koston does not reveal the type of hardware or griptape that he used at the time, but, as of August 2012, he is sponsored by Diamond (hardware) and Jessup (griptape).[36]

Departure from Girl Skateboards

[edit]

On November 19, 2015, Girl Skateboards made the announcement that Koston, along with professional skateboarder Guy Mariano, would no longer ride for the company. The news was announced through Girl's Instagram page, captioned "Thanks for the memories". Both skaters were original team members of Girl, riding for the company for 22 years. On January 8, 2016, a picture was posted to Skate Mental's Instagram page of Koston's name on a deck.[37] The picture was quickly deleted. Koston has stated in an interview that he will be riding Skate Mental and WKND boards while he and Guy Mariano work on their unnamed company. In December 2016, he announced the formation of Numbers Skateboards, a company with no apparent identity, but an incredibly talented team of top names and new talent.[38]

EDGLRD

[edit]

In August 2024, Koston joined EDGLRD's skateboarding team founded by Harmony Korine and led by Sean Pablo.[39]

Entrepreneur

[edit]

Koston is the owner of Numbers edition skateboards along with his friend Guy Mariano.[38] Along with friend and professional skateboarder Mariano, Koston cofounded the Fourstar clothing brand in 1996: "The year was 1996, Guy Mariano and I had no clothing sponsors, and at that point in our lives we had purchased enough Polo, Hilfiger and Nautica gear to think, hey, maybe we should start a clothing company." As of July 2013, Fourstar sponsors a team of thirteen skateboarders and has released four videos.[5][40] Koston was also a part-owner of the Lakai shoe brand that, like Fourstar, is distributed by Crailtap.[24]

The Berrics is a privately owned, indoor skatepark owned by Koston and Steven Berra. It is also a website that features content filmed in the skatepark, as well other skateboard-related media. The facility's name is a portmanteau of the owners' names (the "Ber" of Berra's surname and the "ric" of Koston's first name).[41]

Founded by professional Australian surfer Josh Kerr and professional US skateboarders Mikey Taylor and Paul Rodriguez, the Saint Archer Brewing Co. is a microbrewery that is co-owned by the brand's "Ambassadors," including Koston.[42] The team of Ambassadors includes professional skateboarders Sean Malto, Brian "Slash" Hansen, and Bryan Herman; professional and non-professional surfers Taylor Knox, Dusty Payne, Laura Enever, and Jeff Johnson; former professional snowboarder Todd Richards; photographer Atiba Jefferson; and surfboard shaper Chris Christenson.[43]

Influence

[edit]

Koston has been described as the "Michael Jordan of skateboarding" by teammate and professional skateboarder Brandon Biebel.[44] Paul Rodriguez has identified Koston as the person that he would most like to model his career after[45] and explained Koston's significance in a July 2013 interview: "This guy to me is the end all, be all. You got to understand, this guy, he's my 100% role model in life. I studied everything he's ever done. You know, I love this guy, he's my favorite skater—period."[46] Rodriguez also stated that his all-time favorite video parts are those of Koston.[47]

Video games

[edit]

Contest results

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Event 1996 1997 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Summer X Games 1, "park" 1st
Summer X Games 2, "park" 3rd
Summer X Games 5, "park" 1st
Summer X Games 6, "street" 1st
Summer X Games 6, "park" 1st
Summer X Games 6, "best trick" 1st
Melbourne Global World Cup, "street" 1st
Vancouver Slam City Jam, "street" 1st
Cleveland Gravity Games, "street" 1st
Summer X Games 7, "park" 1st
Vancouver Slam City Jam/VTC#1, "street" 1st
Boost Mobile Vegas Pro Invitational, "street" 1st
Cleveland Gravity Games, "street" 4th
X Games 8 Global, "park" 1st
Summer X Games 8, "street" 1st
Summer X Games 8, "park" 1st
Summer X Games 8, "best trick" 1st
Goofy VS Regular, "street" 2nd
X Games 9, "street" 1st
World Cup Season Ender, "street" 1st
Dew Tour Season Ender, "street" 1st
Dew Action Sports Tour, "park" 1st
Van's Downtown Showdown, "stair set" 1st
Van's Downtown Showdown, "bank to bank" 1st
West 49 Canadian Open, "street" 1st
West 49 Canadian Open, "rail" 1st
Dew Tour, "park" 1st
X Games 11, "street" 1st
Tampa Pro, "street" 1st
X Games 12, "street" 5th
Event 1996 1997 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]

Videography

[edit]
  • Union: Right to Skate (1992)
  • 101: WWII Report (1992)
  • H-Street: Next Generation (1992)
  • Girl: Goldfish (1993)
  • 101: Falling Down (1993)
  • 411VM: Issue 2 (1993)
  • 411VM: Issue 3 (1993)
  • 411VM: Best of 411, Volume 1 (1994)
  • Etnies: High 5 (1995)
  • Transworld: Uno (1996)
  • Girl: Mouse (1996)
  • Eastern Exposure: Zero (1996)
  • Duck Cinema (1997)
  • Chocolate: The Chocolate Tour (1999)
  • 411VM - Brazilian Vacation (1999)
  • 411VM - The First Step (1999)
  • éS: Menikmati (2000)
  • Big Brother: Crap (2001)
  • Tony Hawk's Gigantic Skatepark Tour (2001)
  • OP King of Skate (2002)
  • Transworld: Chomp on This (2002)
  • 411VM - Vancouver 2002 (2002)
  • éS: Germany Tour 2002 (2002)
  • Thrasher: King of the Road 2003 (2003)
  • Girl: Yeah Right! (2003)
  • Closure (2003)
  • 411VM: Issue 60 (2003)
  • Thrasher: S.O.T.Y. Video (2003)
  • éS: Europe Tour 2003 (2003)
  • Girl: Harsh Euro Barge (2003)
  • Thrasher: King of the Road 2004 (2004)
  • Fourstar: Catalog Shoot (2005)
  • Fourstar: Super Champion Funzone (2005)
  • Girl: What Tour? (2005)
  • Globe: The Global Assault (2006)
  • Girl: Yes We CANada (2006)
  • Chocolate: Hittin' Britain & Oui Will Rock You (2006)
  • Lakai: Fully Flared (2007)
  • The Berrics: Battle Commander (2007)
  • Girl/Chocolate: Badass Meets Dumbass (2007)
  • Fourstar: A Tribe Called Mapquest (2008)
  • Lakai: The Final Flare! (2008)
  • Girl/Anti Hero: Beauty and The Beast (2008)
  • Girl: Yanks on Planks (2008)
  • Girl/Anti Hero: Beauty and the Beast 2 (2009)
  • Nike SB: Don't Fear the Sweeper (2010)
  • Thrasher: King of the Road 2010 (2010)
  • Girl/Chocolate: Der Bratwurst Tour Ever (2010)
  • Girl/Anti Hero: Beauty and the Beast 3 (2010)
  • Girl: Outbackwards (2010)
  • Thrasher: King of the Road 2011 (2011)
  • Girl: Unbeleafable (2011)
  • Girl/Chocolate: Pretty Sweet (2012)
  • Supreme: cherry (2014)
  • Nike SB: "Chronicles 3" (2016)[13]
  • Dime Glory Challenge (2022)
  • Dranochugger III: Hell On Earth (2023)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Eric Koston: 40 facts about the Thai American street skater". Surfertoday. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  2. ^ Daryl Angel (November 23, 2010). "Classics: Eric Koston Menikmati 2000" (Video upload). Thrasher Magazine. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "EA Skate 2 - Koston". Tackyworld. Tacky Products AS. 2007. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Blair Alley (May 10, 2010). "EA SKATE 3 INTRO TRAILER" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Eric Koston; Guy Mariano (2012). "About". Fourstar Clothing. Archived from the original on March 28, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Kelli Hargrove (April 4, 2012). "SKULLCANDY PARTNERS WITH THE BERRICS". Transworld Business. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  7. ^ airborneforever16 (March 30, 2009). "DVS Inside The Berrics Part 2" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved March 18, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[dead YouTube link]
  8. ^ Patrick O'Dell (July 2012). "ERIC KOSTON – PART 1 EPICLY LATER'D". Vice. Vice Media Inc. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  9. ^ "Footnotes Alphonzo Rawls". The Berrics. December 29, 2011. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  10. ^ Cave, Steve (2013). "Eric Koston Profile". skateboard.about.com. Steve Cave. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  11. ^ Ride Channel (August 16, 2012). "Tony Magnusson Loses Fingers, H-Street, Plan B and More on Free Lunch" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  12. ^ YouTube. Perf. Eric Koston. YouTube. YouTube, September 16, 2012. Web. March 17, 2013.
  13. ^ a b "Eric Koston skate videos". Skatevideosite.com. 2005–2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  14. ^ skateboardermag (September 28, 2005). "KOSTON'S GAME OF S.K.A.T.E." Skateboarder Magazine. GrindMedia, LLC. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  15. ^ Chris Custer (April 26, 2006). "P.J. Ladd vs. Eric Koston {eS Game Of Skate}" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  16. ^ REELcompdotcom (March 15, 2008). "ES Game of Skate-C. Cole vs. Nyjah Huston vs.Mike-Mo Capaldi" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  17. ^ bloodyfrenchfred (October 13, 2011). "ÉS MENIKMATI ERIC KOSTON (HQ)" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  18. ^ pat sison (April 13, 2009). "Koston Leaves Lakai" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  19. ^ Jack Lowe (May 2011). "Nike SB Eric Koston & Lunarlon Video". HUH. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  20. ^ nikeskateboarding (March 23, 2012). "Nike SB: Eric Koston - Mr. Control It All" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved February 6, 2013.[dead YouTube link]
  21. ^ nikeskateboarding (March 22, 2013). "Nike SB Eric Koston 2 -- The Legend Grows" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved June 9, 2013.[dead YouTube link]
  22. ^ nikeskateboarding (March 22, 2013). "Nike SB Eric Koston 2 -- The Legend Grows (Behind The Scenes)" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved June 9, 2013.[dead YouTube link]
  23. ^ nikeskateboarding (April 27, 2013). "Nike Skateboarding: Koston 2 IT Launch at 1948 London" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved June 9, 2013.[dead YouTube link]
  24. ^ a b Vinny Tang (March 2013). "INTERVIEW: ERIC KOSTON & SEAN CARBOY ERIC KOSTON AND NIKE SB DESIGNER, SEAN CARBOY, BREAK DOWN THE NEW NIKE SB KOSTON II". Acclaim. ACCLAIM Pty Ltd. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  25. ^ "Nike Page". www.nike.com. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  26. ^ chrisdanforth (January 31, 2017). "Eric Koston Nike SB Hyperfeel 3 Interview". Highsnobiety. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  27. ^ "Koston- Nike SB". Nike SB. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  28. ^ oakley (June 5, 2013). "Fear and Loathing in Australia -- Oakley Skate in Oz" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved June 9, 2013.[dead YouTube link]
  29. ^ "One Icon: Fear & Loathing in Australia". Oakley. Oakley, Inc. 2013. Archived from the original on August 20, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  30. ^ Christian Senrud (August 3, 2012). "FALL 2012 INDEPENDENT TRUCKS CATALOG". Skateboarder Magazine. GrindMedia, LLC. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  31. ^ Spitfire Wheels (May 21, 2012). "Eric Koston Spitfire Ltd Ed. F1 Purple Ball" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  32. ^ "Team – Eric Koston". Oakley. Oakley, Inc. 2013. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  33. ^ "Eric Koston". Jessup Griptape. 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  34. ^ Koston, Eric, I. "Instagram Account". Instagram. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  35. ^ ripzinger (July 15, 2009). "koston's set up" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  36. ^ "Eric Koston Skater Profile". SPoT Skate Shop. Skatepark of Tampa. August 15, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  37. ^ Lucas Wisenthal (January 9, 2016). "Skate Mental Posted a Shot of a Board With Eric Koston's Name on It". The Ride Channel. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  38. ^ a b "Numbers, Eric Koston and Guy Mariano's Company Announced". December 5, 2016.
  39. ^ ShreddER (August 13, 2024). "Eric Koston Joins Harmony Korine's Hi-Tech Edglrd Skateboard AI Brand". ShreddER. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  40. ^ "Fourstar Clothing skate. Four star went out of business shortly before Mariano and Koston left to found Numbers edition videos". Skatevideosite.com. 2005–2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  41. ^ Chris Nieratko (March 18, 2009). "Enter The Berrics". ESPN. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  42. ^ Templeton Elliot (July 29, 2013). "Mikey Taylor For Saint Archer". The Skateboard Mag. Strictly Skateboarding. Archived from the original on August 5, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  43. ^ "Our Crew". Saint Archers Brewery. 2013. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  44. ^ RIDEChannel (September 12, 2012). "Brandon Biebel on Eric Koston, His Medicine, Girl Skateboards and More on Free Lunch (Part 2 of 2)". YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  45. ^ Blair Alley (December 20, 2011). "The 30 Most Influential Skaters Of All Time". Transworld Skateboarding. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  46. ^ Network A (July 9, 2013). "Pro Skateboarder Paul Rodriguez—The Way Up, presented by Target" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  47. ^ "Skate On Film". ESPN. July 1, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  48. ^ TiEmKej (November 25, 2011). "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 - Eric Koston" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  49. ^ "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 – Credits". allgame. Rovi Corporation. 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  50. ^ "Tony Hawk's Underground". Giant Bomb. CBS Interactive Inc. October 27, 2003. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  51. ^ "THUG 2 Featuring Eric Koston Coming Tomorrow!". éS. Sole Technology. October 5, 2004. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  52. ^ RatingTheGames (July 18, 2012). "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD "Eric Koston" Slow-Mo Trailer HD" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  53. ^ Michael McWhertor (May 18, 2020). "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater remaster will be full of rad middle-age dads". Polygon. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  54. ^ Kyle Anderson (May 22, 2013). "Super Rad! A Talk with Christian Jacobs About "The Aquabats! Super Show!"". Nerdist. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
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