Growing up the son of a famous comedian, Paul Rodriguez could have avoided a life of primos and heel bruises by simply following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a famous comedian himself. But there was one little problem. Paul Rodriguez isn’t funny. At least that’s what he claims. And he’s not really the type of person to follow in anyone’s footsteps anyway.

Paul grew up in the Los Angeles area where they give skateboards to babies when they leave the hospital. But he somehow managed to avoid getting into it until Christmas of 1996, the week before his 12th birthday. That didn’t matter, because the guy should be in the Guinness Book as the fastest learner of all time. After only two years on the program he was sponsored, and two years after that he turned pro. Then, in 2002, his first year in the big time, he was crowned TWS’s 2002 Rookie of the Year. And he was just getting started.Paul grew up in the Los Angeles area where they give skateboards to babies when they leave the hospital. But he somehow managed to avoid getting into it until Christmas of 1996, the week before his 12th

Since then P-Rod has done whatever he’s set his mind to, like winning the X Games multiple times, becoming the first skateboarder to get a signature shoe on Nike, taking the top spot at the first Maloof Money Cup, getting his own character in both the Tony Hawk and EA Skate video games. He even starred in that crazy Rob Dyrdek movie “Street Dreams.”

In addition to being a marketer’s dream, Paul is the humblest dude out on the streets and can skate them like nobody’s business. His signature trick would probably be doing the hardest thing you can think of, perfectly, moments before you realize that it was switch. Really, after finishing the 2009 Dew Tour in second place, maybe the only thing left for him to do is win it.