Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk takes in Esports World Cup in Riyadh

RIYADH: From skateboarding in drained swimming pools to becoming the global face of skateboarding, Tony Hawk has been at the center of an industry he has seen grow from a backyard hobby to featuring in the Olympic Games.

And in a similar way, gaming and esports have rapidly grown into global phenomena, capturing the hearts and minds of millions worldwide. And while the world’s most famous skateboarder has seen and been part of some incredible spectacles, he has been stunned by the scale of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh.

“This is my first time ever in Saudi Arabia and in Riyadh at the Esports World Cup. I think the most surprising thing is the size of it,” said Hawk. “I thought it would be one arena and games coming in and out. It’s multiple arenas, thousands of competitors, it kind of takes over the whole city and it’s very impressive.”

Arriving in Riyadh, Hawk took the opportunity to tick another country off his skating bucket list, breaking out his board to carve the streets of Saudi Arabia and check out the local skate scene.

“I think there’s a lot of potential here, especially in skateboarding or action sports,” he said. “I see a growing passion for skateboarding. They could really seize the opportunity and create a thriving skate scene very quickly.”

Soaking in the atmosphere and touring the Esports World Cup Festival, Hawk has garnered huge attention from local fans eager to interact with an icon of the skateboarding world.

“I am surprised any time I get recognized, especially in foreign countries that are not very skate centric. It’s always a shock because I never got into skateboarding to be famous; no one was famous in skateboarding, in fact it was the furthest thing from fame you could do when I