Paul Rodriguez, popularly known as P. Rod, is a legendary skateboarder and entrepreneur born in Tarzana, California, on December 31, 1984. He was born to a Mexican father, Paul Rodriguez Sr., a famous comedian, and his mother, a nurse. P. Rod grew up with exposure to Skateboarding and had an affinity towards the sport.
Naturally, he spent most of his time skateboarding and developed a passion that never went out.
He started skateboarding officially at six and turned professional at only 14. P. Rod’s exceptional skill and talent helped him bag wins at several skateboarding competitions. He won three consecutive gold medals at the X Games. Not only that, but he also won the first series of the Maloof Money Cup in 2008.
This competition was a huge event, and skateboarders from all over the nation participated. This was when his fame increased exponentially, and he began to be regarded as one of the best skateboarders of his time.
However, Skateboarding is only some of what P. Rod is exceptionally great at. He also acted in movies, television shows, and video games. Some movies include “Street Dreams” and “Venus and Serena.” He also made guest appearances on television shows such as “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
P. Rod lent his voice and character to various video games, including Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground and EA’s Skate franchise.
In 2005, P. Rod founded his skateboard company, Primitive Skateboarding, producing high-quality skateboards, apparel, and accessories popular among skateboarders worldwide. The company quickly became a hit, collaborating with several notable brands such as Nike; Vans. P. Rod even designed his signature shoe line with Nike.
P. Rod’s contribution to Skateboarding has been noticed. He has been honored with awards and accolades throughout his career to appreciate him for his work. In 2012, he was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame and featured in several magazines and documentaries about Skateboarding.
Rightfully so, he was also selected for the thirtieth position of its “30 Most Influential Skaters of All Time” list, released in December 2011.
Along with his career, P. Rod has also juggled philanthropy well. He used his platform to give back to the community and established a foundation to empower underprivileged youths through Skateboarding.
Despite facing several challenges throughout his career, including injuries and personal struggles, P. Rod has remained dedicated to his craft and has continued to inspire many skateboarders worldwide.
The details of his struggles are unknown as P. Rod has also managed to remain private. His passion for Skateboarding and entrepreneurship has made him an icon in the skateboarding community, and his impact on the sport will continue to be felt for years to come.
He continues to push the limits of Skateboarding, empower the community, revolutionize the sport, and remains one of the best skateboarders ever. Rodriguez once said in an interview that he aspires to be a full-time professional actor and is inspired by the work of many, including Johnny Depp.
I’m an aged skateboarder and I still shred responsibly. I started skateboarding 25 years ago but also love surfing, snowboarding, or anything that involves a board.