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Stuart Claxton

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The Boy Who Landed Skateboarding's First 1080

Posted: 05/16/2012 3:23 pm

He may only be 12 years old, but Tom Schaar from Malibu, California is already big news within the world of skateboarding.

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A heady few weeks has seen the youngster achieve one of the "holy grails" of the sport, by becoming the first person ever to perform a '1080' (three full rotations whilst airborne).

The feat, which Tom has pulled off several times since first performing it in March using a "mega ramp" at Woodward West in Tehachapi, California, drew plaudits from such skating luminaries as Tony Hawk.

As if breaking a new boundary within the sport wasn't enough, Tom also grabbed headlines earlier this month in Shanghai after becoming the youngest ever X Games champion.

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Tom once again managed to pull off a 1080 to win the Skateboard Mini MegaRamp title, beating a stellar list of top names that have defined the sport in the process including Andy MacDonald, Bob Burnquist and last year's champion Pierre-Luc Gagnon.

We caught out up with the double Guinness World Record holder recently at Skatelab, the skate park in California where he honed his prodigious skills, to talk about his amazing achievements and what the future now holds for him.

 
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04:45 PM on 06/14/2012
I love it!! Skating has come so far since I was doing in the 80s. We used to dream of pulling off a 540, but this was back when Tony Hawk was only about 13!

Too cool. Would love to be this kid and that age again.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
happyblackman
Gotta have more cowbell baby!
05:46 PM on 05/17/2012
As an old thrasher, I say cool!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
YeahDonkey
So are you saying I have a small bio?
12:36 PM on 05/17/2012
Congrats Tom, that was sweeeeeeeeet.
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rickyleepotts
A content specialist, author, golfer, and scuba di
12:02 AM on 05/17/2012
My buddy Steve skateboards... And I'm sure he is as impressed as I am. This is an absurd trick and he is lucky he pulled it off. Do you think this will make boarders try to go further?
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Mister President
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11:48 PM on 05/16/2012
Congratulations, kid, on rising above the lawlessness and despair that pervades Malibu to make something of yourself.