Tony Hawk Shares Insights on Health and Recovery

At 58, legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk maintains good health and stays active. He skates regularly and, depending on the season, enjoys surfing or snowboarding. However, monitoring his sleep has proven to be a bit challenging.

“I track my sleep, but to be honest, it can sometimes feel more frustrating than helpful,” he admitted, showcasing his smart ring. “I find this info useful, yet there are days I wonder why I can’t grasp it quickly—like realizing I didn’t sleep enough the night before.”

Hawk, known as the first person to land a 900 (which is two and a half revolutions in the air), often indulges in naps these days. “Naps are great!” he said with a hint of enthusiasm.

He and his wife share their home with their almost two-year-old grandson, Robin Walker Cobain Hawk. “When we compete over how much sleep we’ve had—it’s a competitive spirit over who got more rest,” he noted, recalling their playful exchanges about their sleep hours.

Robin is the child of Hawk’s son Riley and Frances Bean Cobain, the daughter of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love. Hawk found becoming a grandparent to be a bigger adjustment than he anticipated. “It’s a huge change,” he said with a sense of warmth.

Innovative Recovery Techniques

Apart from sleep monitoring, Hawk is keenly interested in advanced health technologies for injury recovery. He expressed gratitude for having access to these new medical advancements. Earlier this year, Hawk tore all three of his gluteal muscles while skating and sought non-surgical solutions.

“Typically, recovering from such an injury requires surgical repair, which means a long recovery time,” he explained. “I ponder, how do I achieve a return to full health? At my age, is full recovery even realistic?”

Instead of opting for surgery, he tried an MFAT transplant, where fat was taken from his back and injected into his lower back. “If all goes according to plan, the muscle should regenerate there,” he explained.

MFAT (microfragmented adipose tissue) is a recent treatment option with studies suggesting its effectiveness for conditions like shoulder strains and hip osteoarthritis.

During the procedure, a small amount of fat is removed through liposuction and immediately processed before being injected into the injury site to aid healing.

“I feel great,” Hawk shared. “I had the treatment three weeks ago, and I was skating just yesterday.”

Supplement Regimen

Hawk stays active with skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding, so he prioritizes his joint and muscle health. His daily regimen includes magnesium for cartilage health, turmeric for inflammation, fish oil, and a multivitamin.

For years, he’s also taken CoQ10, known for its antioxidant properties. “My family has high cholesterol and blood pressure, so my doctor recommended this to help maintain balance,” he explained. He also uses low-dose “baby aspirin” to assist with blood thinning.

Hawk collaborates with Qunol in their “Move Like a Champion” campaign, which encourages folks to increase their activity in ways they enjoy.

Addressing the growing trend of people fixating on optimizing their appearance, Hawk said, “Love your uniqueness.” He recalled his own youth spent skateboarding, feeling out of place. “I was skinny and awkward, and it felt uncool at the time. But those differences turned out to be my advantages.”