Hawk returns to halfpipe, wins first event since '99

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- Looking gnarly in a pink T-shirt and a wavelike hairdo under his helmet, skateboarding pioneer Tony Hawk rolled back the decades and won the "All '80s All Day Vert Challenge," his first competition in more than eight years.

Held on a halfpipe in the back parking lot at Quiksilver's headquarters, the competition was filmed and is being released as webisode clips on ShredOrDie.com.

The 40-year-old Hawk beat out 20 other skateboarding stars to win $1,980 and a custom Gibson Epiphone guitar. He forfeited his cash prize and gave $200 each to the other skaters who did not place.

All skaters were required to ride on original equipment. Hawk showed up with a pink noseless board that he rode in the '80s. Many of the other skaters came with their own signature boards that have since become collectibles.

"We gotta ride the real deal here," Hawk said.

The riders also had to wear '80s styles. Hawk wore the original shirt he wore in the classic skate film "The Search for Animal Chin."

Hawk invented some of the most difficult tricks in skateboarding. He retired as a competitor shortly after landing a 900 (2 1/2 spins) at the 1999 X Games. He branched out into video games and other business ventures, and in recent years has gone on the road with his Boom Boom HuckJam tour.

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