I played team sports, but I never felt like I fitted in that well, so this allowed me to be part of a community but to do it in my own way.

The best advice I can give is to believe in yourself and to create new challenges no matter how far you get. Even if you think you earned it all or if you're considered the best in the world, keep challenging yourself because you're only as good as your last trick in the public's eye. But only do it because you love it. Don't do it because you think it's your ticket to fame or fortune. If that's the motivation and you reach any of those goals, you're not going to keep that passion.

My definition of success is doing what you love. I feel many people do things because they feel they have to, and are hesitant to risk following their passion.

I believe that people should take pride in what they do, even if it is scorned or misunderstood by the public at large.

I'm proud that I was able to use my recognition to, maybe, raise the awareness of skateboarding and help grow it, and to help fund public skateparks. That's the legacy, just trying to grow the entire sport.

You might not make it to the top, but if you are doing what you love, there is much more happiness there than being rich or famous.

There were so many things associated with it in terms of music and fashion, and a different way of thinking that, for me, skateboarding represented so much of what I wanted to do with my life at an early age.