Daewon Song

Daewon Song
Song in Guanajuanto, Mexico on May 14, 2007
Born	Daewon David Song (1975-02-17) February 17, 1975 (age 42) Seoul, South Korea
Residence	San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
Nationality	Korean-American
Occupation	Professional skateboarder
Height	5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight	160.6 lb (73 kg)
Children	Adonis

Daewon David Song (born February 17, 1975) is a Korean-born American professional skateboarder, recognized for his skillful technical street skateboarding. He is a co-owner of Almost Skateboards, along with Rodney Mullen, and also skates for the company alongside other sponsored team riders. Song was named the 2006 "Skater of the Year" by Thrasher magazine, an award that is widely considered to be one of the most significant honors in skateboarding.

Song, a Korean American, was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Gardena, California, following a year spent with his grandmother in Hawaii, US. During the first half of his life, Song was raised by his older sister, who also raised Song's brother. Song revealed in a "Milestone" interview for The Skateboard Mag that both of his parents were perceived as "insane" by their neighbours due to their constant fighting—Song explained that, on occasion, he would need to telephone the police. Song's mother, who once shot her husband in the face, died in 1999, predeceasing Song's father.

When he was fourteen years of age, Song started skateboarding during a two-month period when his parents were separated—he was given his first skateboard by his mother and was later sponsored by a skateboard shop in the South Bay area of Los Angeles, California called "Sporting Ideas". Prior to this, Song received attention for his artistic abilities, winning drawing contests and engaging in the commercial art field at a very young age. Song provided insight into his family life in a 2005 interview:

You know Asian parents, man; they’re gnarly. They want you to become some lead pianist in an orchestra or, like every parent, they want you to become a doctor. I was really into art when I was a young kid, and I won a lot of awards, so my parents thought that’s what I’d pursue. Then I got picked up in skateboarding and started getting free stuff. They were tripping, like, “Where are you getting all this free stuff?” They thought I was stealing money from them.

Song attended the 135th Street school in Gardena, known for its aggressive reputation, and has explained the challenges that were present while he was growing up in the area, where gang activity was prolific: