Danny Way

Last updated
Danny Way
Danny Way.jpg
Way in 2007
Personal information
Born (1974-04-15) April 15, 1974 (age 50)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight180 lb (82 kg)
Sport
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Sport Skateboarding
Medal record
Summer X Games
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1995 Newport High Air
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2004 Los Angeles Big Air
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2005 Los Angeles Big Air
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2006 Los Angeles Big Air
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2009 Los Angeles Big Air Rail Jam
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2008 Los Angeles Big Air

Danny Way (born April 15, 1974) [1] is an American professional skateboarder and business person. He has been awarded Thrasher magazine's "Skater of the Year" award twice. He is known for extreme stunts, such as jumping into a skateboard ramp from a helicopter; that was featured on the cover of Transworld Skateboarding magazine. [2] One of his more notable stunts was jumping the Great Wall of China on a skateboard via megaramp. [3]

Contents

Early life

Way was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up in San Diego, California. [1] His childhood was marred by difficult circumstances. [4] His father, Dennis Way, died before Danny's first birthday – Dennis was jailed for failing to pay child support to his previous wife, and after nine days in jail was found hanged in his cell; his death was ruled a suicide. [4] Following his father's death, his mother Mary dated a number of men who abused Mary, Danny, and his brother Damon. [4] Mary subsequently remarried, to Tim O'Dea, who introduced Danny and Damon to skateboarding and surfing. The couple subsequently divorced and Tim died following a surfing session. Danny lost another adult in his life when his childhood mentor Mike Ternasky was killed by an elderly driver who ran a stop sign. [5]

Professional skateboarding

Danny Way became the youngest person (15 yrs old) to win a pro vert skateboarding contest at the World Skateboard Association Pro Vert Contest in Lansing, Michigan sponsored by Modern Skate & Surf in 1989. [6] Way was introduced in the Powell Peralta skateboard company's video "Public Domain" in the late 80's and H-Street skateboard company's videos Shackle Me Not and Hokus Pokus and, shortly afterwards in 1991, co-founded the skateboard company Plan B, together with Mike Ternasky. [7] He has been injured repeatedly, including breaking his neck in 1994, and as of 2009 having undergone 13 operations. [3]

Plan B (1991–1998)

The Plan B company was formed as part of the Dwindle Distribution company, at that time overseen by Steve Rocco and Rodney Mullen, and, like Way, Ternasky was also formerly with H-Street, where he co-managed the company with Tony Magnusson. Ternasky, to the dismay of Magnusson, managed to convince numerous H-Street team riders to resign and assist with the development of the new brand. [8] Ternasky's intention was to create a "super team" with riders such as Way, Colin McKay, Mullen, Mike Carroll, Matt Hensley, Dan Peterka, Rick Howard and Tas Pappas. [7]

Alien Workshop (1999-2004)

After the original iteration of Plan B folded in 1998, Danny was sponsored by Alien Workshop. During his time with the company, Way had numerous pro model boards and was featured in photo advertisements. He also competed in the OP King of Skate competition. Danny was featured in two skateboarding video games: MTV Sports: Skateboarding featuring Andy MacDonald and Evolution Skateboarding.

DC Shoes (1994-present)

Danny was the first pro skateboarder for DC Shoes when the brand was founded in 1994. In the first advertisement for his first pro model shoe, Way stood still because he suffered a neck injury while surfing. DC removed Way from their skateboard team in November 2023.

Plan B (2005–onwards)

Way (far right foreground) with other skaters in 2007 Sean Hayes, Jereme Rogers, Ryan Gallant, Colin Mckay and Danny Way (2046576162).jpg
Way (far right foreground) with other skaters in 2007

Around 2005, rumors emerged in regard to a plan, devised by Way and McKay, to relaunch Plan B. In 2005, with the financial backing of Syndrome Distribution, Way and McKay reformed Plan B Skateboards, maintaining their roles as company co-owners, as well as professional skaters. [9]

Sponsorship

As of 2023 Way is sponsored by Pacific Drive, [10] Plan B skateboards (he is the co-owner with McKay), MegaRamp, Titan Skateboard Tools, [11] Element 115 Botanicals,[ citation needed ] and ASEC. [12] [13] [14]

Way's former sponsors include: DC Shoes, the Independent Truck Company, Nixon, [15] and Capix. [16] Way's brother Damon Way co-founded the DC Shoes company with Ken Block. [17]

Awards and achievements

Waiting for Lightning

In early 2012, a documentary on Way's life, produced and directed by Jacob Rosenberg, [23] was released by Samuel Goldwyn Films. Entitled Waiting for Lightning, the film focuses on the details of the first four decades of Way's life, including his childhood, the development that led to his career as a professional skateboarder, and a major project that was being constructed in China around the same time period that the documentary was being filmed. [24]

Way embarked on a tour in support of the documentary that included presentations in Canada and Australia. While Way was in Australia to promote the film, Australian skateboard photographer Steve Gourlay created a portrait of Way standing at Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia. [25] Way was also photographed at the Melbourne premiere with Australian vert skateboarders Dom Kekich and Tas Pappas. [26]

Music

Way has been involved in numerous musical projects, such as "Escalera", a band formed with fellow professional skateboarder Bob Burnquist. [15] Way revealed in the 2013 Jenkem interview that he had most recently collaborated with hip hop artists such as Mod Sun and Stevie J, explaining that he gravitates towards electronic and hip hop music producers. Way stated that his most recent collaborations have been "a good influence" in an educational sense, as his previous musical experiences have primarily involved guitar and "organic" instruments. An accompanying photograph for the published interview depicts Way seated in front of his home music studio. [27]

Filmography

Video game appearances

Way is a playable character in every installment of Electronic Arts' Skate series. In Skate and Skate It , he owns a fictional mega-skating park. He is also playable in the Konami video game Evolution Skateboarding as well as MTV Sports: Skateboarding Featuring Andy Macdonald .[ citation needed ]

Racing record

Complete FIA World Rallycross Championship results

Supercar

YearEntrantCar12345678910111213PosPoints
2015 JRM Racing Mini Countryman POR
HOC
19		 BEL
GBR
GER
SWE
CAN
NOR
FRA
BAR
TUR
ITA
ARG
40th0

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References

  1. 1 2 Beal, Becky (2013-01-09). Skateboarding: The Ultimate Guide. ABC-CLIO. ISBN   978-0-313-38113-3.
  2. ↑ "When Danny Way Dropped Out of a Helicopter | Parade".
  3. 1 2 3 Matt Higgins (29 July 2009). "Stepping Aside as His Creation Soars". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 "Danny Way and the Gift of Fear Archived 2013-12-31 at the Wayback Machine ", Men's Journal, Bret Anthony Johnston, Aug 2010, p. 4 Archived 2013-12-31 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Leonard, Tod (2012-12-06). "Danny's Way: Film tells story of extreme skateboarder's life". mcall.com. Archived from the original on 2020-10-16. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  6. ↑ "Danny Way's first pro contest win, Michigan 1989". YouTube. May 27, 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12.
  7. 1 2 www.skatesonhaight.com (2008). "Plan B Skateboards". Skates on Haight. www.skatesonhaight.com. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  8. ↑ RIDEChannel (16 August 2012). "Tony Magnusson Loses Fingers, H-Street, Plan B and More on Free Lunch". YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "Plan B Skateboards". Skately. Skately, LLC. 2012. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  10. ↑ "The Team – Danny Way". DC Shoes – Skate. DC Shoes, Inc. March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  11. ↑ "Danny Way Pro Legends Series w/ Exclusive 8th Skate Tool, Gold Finish and Pro Autograph". TITAN Skateboard Tools. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  12. ↑ Frank Scura (2013). "Base Camp". ASEC. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  13. ↑ "Danny Way". Danny Way. March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  14. ↑ "Plan B Skateboards". CCS.com. CCS Direct LLC. 2012. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  15. 1 2 "Danny Way". Nixon. Nixon, Inc. March 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  16. ↑ "Team". Capix Helmets, Protective Gear, and Accessories. Capix. March 2013. Archived from the original on 2009-10-18. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  17. ↑ Kailee Bradstreet (3 April 2008). "DC CO-FOUNDER DAMON WAY TAKES ON NEW ROLE; TRANSITIONS TO INCASE". Transworld Business. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  18. ↑ ThrasherMagazine (14 December 2009). "Classics - Danny Way S.O.T.Y." YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  19. ↑ SeanLewis06 (16 February 2011). "Thrasher Skateboard Magazine's 2004 Skater of the Year: Danny Way" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 23 August 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ↑ AXS Reports (4 November 2011). "An Inteview[sic] With Danny Way". AXS. www.axsgear.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  21. ↑ Crossfire (7 April 2006). "Is There No Stopping Danny Way???". Caught in the Crossfire. Division Media. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  22. ↑ encomintor (17 April 2009). "Danny Way Breaks Land Speed Record". Push.ca. Push. Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  23. 1 2 Camacho, Byron (2012-03-10). "Five Questions with Waiting for Lightning Director Jacob Rosenberg - Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine | Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  24. ↑ Blair Alley (2 February 2012). "DANNY WAY WAITING FOR LIGHTNING TRAILER". Transworld Skateboarding. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  25. ↑ Steve Gourlay (24 May 2012). "Danny Way portrait" (Photo upload). Steve Gourlay's blog o'gram. Google, Inc. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  26. ↑ Allday Pictures (June 2012). "DC Waiting For Lightning - Melbourne Premiere" (Video upload). Allday Pictures on Vimeo. Vimeo LLC. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  27. ↑ Ian Michna; Mike Blabac (January 2013). "THE DANNY WAY INTERVIEW". Jenkem. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
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