Hometown: Gainesville, Florida, USA Stance: Regular, Neutral DOB: August 17, 1966 Also Known As: John, "The Mutt" John Rodney Mullen, born August 17, 1966, in Gainesville, Florida, is widely considered one of the most important and innovative figures in skateboarding history. Raised on a farm, Mullen began skating at age ten in his garage after convincing his strict father to let him try the sport. Despite physical challenges, including a pigeon-toed condition and early skepticism from his family, he became obsessed with freestyle skateboarding and practiced relentlessly. By age 14, Mullen won his first world freestyle championship. Over the next decade, he won 34 of 35 contests, dominating the competitive scene and pushing the boundaries of what was possible on a skateboard. As a member of Powell Peralta’s Bones Brigade, he developed many of the foundational tricks of modern street skating—including the kickflip, heelflip, impossible, and 360 flip. In 1989, Mullen co-founded World Industries with Steve Rocco, helping usher in the era of skater-owned brands. He later joined Plan B, where his part in "Questionable" marked a pivotal moment in his transition from freestyle to street skating. He went on to launch the A-Team and co-found Almost Skateboards with Daewon Song. Mullen also founded Tensor Trucks and has contributed to skateboard product innovation through Dwindle Distribution and Uber Light deck technology. Mullen's contributions go beyond skateboarding. After facing serious injuries, including bone fusion in his hip, he turned to intellectual pursuits and public speaking. He has given TED Talks and spoken at institutions like MIT and Apple, often comparing skateboarding to creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. His thoughtful approach and storytelling have brought skateboarding into new cultural spaces.