Since the early days of skateboarding culture, several juvenile and insensitive terms have been used to describe different tricks, but it looks like the Birdman himself is taking a stand with the upcoming Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 Remaster.
Tony Hawk took to his Instagram page to announce that The Mute Grab would be renamed The Weddle Grab in-game, to properly honour the first person to pull the trick off, Chris Weddle.
Around 1981, a deaf skater and Colton skatepark local named Chris Weddle was a prominent amateur on the competition circuit,” Hawk explained. “The ‘Indy’ air had just been created and named so somebody proposed that grabbing with the front hand should be known as the ‘Tracker’ air. Others countered that Chris was the first to do [it], so it should be named after him
– Tony Hawk via Instagram
After discussing the origins of the move with Weddle, Hawk decided it was time the name, which stemmed from Weddle being known as the “quiet, mute guy”, was changed to honour his fellow skating legend properly. Weddle requested the trick be named the ‘Weddle’ or ‘Deaf’ grab which at the very least would be more accurate – as Weddle put it “I am deaf, not mute.”. As positive and well-meaning as this move is, Hawk acknowledges it will be difficult to change the current lexicon which has become baked into skate culture.
“It’s going to be challenging to break the habit of saying the old name but I think Chris deserves the recognition.”
The Weddle Grab isn’t the only trick being renamed to honour Weddle, with the Weddle Backflip and Reacharound Invert also being renamed, much to the pleasure of Weddell, who is reportedly ‘stoked’.
So are we dude, so are we.
The Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 Remaster will be kickflipping into our hearts on September 4th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. For those who have already pre-ordered the game digitally, a demo will be available from August 14th.