Early Years

Tony Alva was born on September 2nd, 1957 in Santa Monica, California to Refugio Alva Jr. and Neeltje. Alva has a sister, Kathy Alva, and a brother, Mark Alva. Alva's biggest influences growing up were Torgen Johnson and Bunker Spreckles. At eleven years old, Tony began his life-long passion of skating and surfing. In 1972, Alva joined the Z Boys, a local skating group, which included other skating legends such as Stacey Peralta and Jay Adams. Alva became famous because of his free-form surf  style of skating, which very much differed from the traditional style that was introduced in the 1960. He is said to have been one of the originators of pool skating, the indroducer of vertical skating, and the first skater to master a frontside air. Tony's style became a revolution to the "norm" of his time. In 1974 Alva began working with the popular skate brand Vans, and at just age 19, Alva started his own company, Alva Skates. Tony became the first skater to ever own and operate his own successful company.