Miki Vuckovich
Awesomizing Planet Earth, Skateboarding, Cycling in San Diego, California
Since embracing the then subculture of skateboarding in 1980, Miki Vuckovich has traveled the globe to skate and has worked for a number of manufacturing and media companies in the skate industry. Through these experiences he has learned one essential truth: Regardless of their native culture, youth the world over seek the very challenge and excitement that skateboarding and action sports offer.
After witnessing the closure and demolition of his local Winchester Skatepark in Northern California in the early 1980s, Miki moved with his family to San Diego, where he settled in at the Del Mar Skateboard Ranch—one of the few remaining skateparks in the world. There he met many of his future colleagues and lifelong friends, including Tony Hawk.
Comprised of a diverse range of characters, the skatepark community was tight-knit and unique. Unfortunately, by the end of the decade, they no longer had the Skate Ranch, or anywhere like it, to congregate. So, Miki and his fellow skateboarders did the only thing they could—they hit the streets.
During more than a decade as an editor and photographer at TransWorld SKATEboarding magazine, and later as a producer with the celebrated ON Video Skateboarding documentary series, Miki was able to share the stories he collected in his travels with broad audiences, and remind readers and viewers that skateboarding is what you make it, and never the same thing to two different people.
But it’s been with his work as Executive Director of the Tony Hawk Foundation that Miki has found the greatest reward—helping Tony spread the word about the importance of giving kids free access to quality skateparks, and working with cities and community groups across the U.S. to get concrete in the ground.
Miki served as a founding member of the Board of Directors, from 2002–2008, and since 2004 has been the organization’s executive director.
The Tony Hawk Foundation provides critical technical support as well as financial grants to stimulate the proliferation of public skateparks where they’re needed most—in low-income communities where youth have limited access to recreational opportunities.
Having experienced first-hand what skateboarding—and a local skatepark—can do for youth, Miki’s committed to his work promoting the truth about skateboarding and action sports—that they represent a vital and positive force in the lives of those who are naturally drawn to get on a board and go.