

A skateboarding prodigy who turned professional at 13 and used reality TV fame to build a lasting action sports empire.
Ryan Sheckler didn't just enter skateboarding; he exploded onto the scene with a preternatural talent that made him a household name before he could drive. Turning pro at 13 for Plan B Skateboards, he quickly became the youngest X Games gold medalist, captivating audiences with his technical street skating and fearless approach. His MTV reality series, 'Life of Ryan,' offered an unprecedented, sometimes uncomfortably intimate, look at the pressures of teenage fame, blending skateboarding with personal drama. Rather than fading after the show ended, Sheckler matured into a savvy entrepreneur, founding the Sheckler Foundation to support injured athletes and children in need, and cultivating his 'Sheckler Sessions' web series. He evolved from a wunderkind into a pillar of the skate community, balancing business, philanthropy, and a continued competitive edge.
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ryan was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
The world at every milestone
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Euro currency enters circulation
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
He has a signature skateboarding video game, 'Ryan Sheckler's Skateboarding,' released in 2009.
Sheckler is an avid fisherman and often shares his fishing adventures on social media.
He was featured on the cover of the video game 'Tony Hawk's Proving Ground.'
“I just want to be remembered as someone who skated for the right reasons and helped people along the way.”