Bob Burnquist (born Roberto Dean Silva Burnquist)
Brazilian-American
Professional Skateboarder
Instagram: @bobburnquist
Starting his skateboarding training in Sāo Paulo at 11 years old, Brazilian-born Bob Burnquist has become a legend in the skateboard world. He holds dual citizenship – as his father is an American (of Swedish descent), and his mother is Brazilian – and speaks fluent Portuguese.
By the age of 14, Bob won first-place at the Slam City Jam – automatically turning him pro and making his career take off from there! Bob continues to find new ways to make his tricks more creative and difficult, and is capable in all disciplines, especially in ‘vert’ and ‘mega-ramp’. This can be attributed to the practice he gets in Dreamland: a ‘half-pipe’ and ‘mega-ramp’ located in his backyard in Southern California.
Bob is the only athlete to compete in all 26 X Games summer events, and holds the most medals in the history of X Games – 14 gold, 8 silver, 8 bronze. Some of his other career highlights include: being the first skateboarder to land a ‘fakie 900’ (a 900-degree reverse-natural rotation); the first skateboarder to go all the way around a ‘full pipe’; creator of the ‘Burntwist’ and ‘Bob Flip Christ Air’; and winning the Laureus World of Sports ‘alternative sportsperson of the year’ (2002). Other notable recipients of the award include Novak Djokovic (2016), Usain Bolt, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal. His current sponsors include: Hurley, Oakley, Flip skateboards, SKOL Ultra, Ricta, Mob Grip and Audi Brazil.
Interesting fact: in 2001 at the X Games, he produced a flawless run that included multiple tricks that had never been seen before; solidifying a first place win with a score of 98! Watch below.