Passion Struck with John R. Miles

Skateboarding Legend Tom Schaar on How to Fall 999 Times and Still Win | EP 603

Apr 25, 2025
Tom Schaar, an Olympic silver medalist and skateboarding pioneer, shares his incredible journey as the first to land a 1080. He reveals the mental discipline behind his success and how he has turned 999 failures into growth opportunities. Mindset shifts from prodigy to pro, handling fear in competition, and the importance of balance in life are key themes. Tom emphasizes embracing challenges and the power of micro-improvements, inspiring anyone facing personal hurdles to push their limits and keep striving.
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ANECDOTE

First 1080 Landing Story

  • Tom Schaar was the first to land a 1080 at 12 years old after five attempts.
  • He barely remembers the moment but it drastically changed his life and skateboarding career.
INSIGHT

Managing Fear with Confidence

  • Fear is constant but managing it well is crucial in skateboarding.
  • Confidence and breaking tricks down into smaller parts enable overcoming fear.
ADVICE

Embrace Failure to Learn

  • Failure is inevitable, so embrace it as part of learning new tricks.
  • Keep trying because each fall teaches valuable lessons leading to eventual success.
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