Decades-Old Skateboarding Trick Mixes With Virtual Reality

Leave it to Tony Hawk to mix a decades-old skateboarding trick with the latest in virtual reality technology.

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The 50-year-old skateboarding pioneer and entrepreneur is dragging his 360-degree loop ramp out of storage and giving a handful of young skaters the chance to try to nail the near-impossible trick on a live virtual reality broadcast Sunday from his San Diego County headquarters.

There’s no prize money or trophy for any skater who successfully completes The Loop, which Hawk first did 20 years ago.

“No, it’s more sort of a badge of honor in the skate world,” Hawk said.

Hawk will be rampside to provide commentary and coaching while Corbin Harris does play-byplay for Tony Hawk’s Loop Challenge.

The only way to watch will be in virtual reality. Fans can download the free NextVR app from the stores associated with Oculus Go, PlayStation VR, HTC VIVE Pro, HTC VIVE, Windows Mixed Reality, Gear VR, and Google Daydream. A virtual reality headset is required.

This is the first foray into action sports for leading VR broadcast platform NextVR, based in Newport Beach. NextVR will place eight VR cameras along The Loop for the 3D stereoscopic broadcast. Fans will be fully immersed when they’re placed at the drop-in and at the peak of the loop.