Salman Agah

Early life

Salman Agah was born in Washington, D.C. to Persian and Azeri parents. He started skateboarding at the age of 5. After returning to the United States from living in Iran and Europe, he settled with his family in San Jose, CA.

Career

At the age of 16, Stacy Peralta spotted Agah, who began riding as a sponsored amateur for Powell Peralta. He joined the Powell team in 1989 along with Steve Caballero, Tony Hawk, Tommy Guerrero, Ray Barbee and Lance Mountain. He then went on to skateboard professionally for Real Skateboards (owned by Deluxe Distribution) from 1990–1994 and The Firm Skateboards (now defunct) from 1995-2000. He has been sponsored by Black Label Skateboards since 2000.

During his career as a professional skateboarder, Agah has made significant contributions to the progression of the sport, specifically pioneering switch stance which turned him into the real #SWITCHGOD, which is riding opposite of your regular stance – the skateboarding equivalent of ambidexterity. He has been recognized as an innovator and legend, having been voted Thrasher Magazine’s Skater of the Year in 1993, Transworld Skateboarding’s Most Influential Skater of the Decade in the 1990s and Big Brother Magazine’s Most Beautiful Skater.

From 1993-2001, Vans produced the Salman Agah Signature Shoe. Over the years, Agah has endorsed signature products by leading brands such as Spitfire Wheels, RVCA and Independent Trucks, and traveled the world extensively skateboarding, touring throughout the U.S., Canada, Asia, Australia, Europe, and Central and South America. He participated in the Vans Warped Tour from 1994–2000, was an X Games Competitor in 1997 and a World Cup of Skateboarding Judge from 1995-1998.

Embracing his entrepreneurial spirit, Agah co-founded The Academy of Skateboarding with Dave Metty in 2002. Specializing in staff development, training, team building and video production for the skateboard industry, they consulted and developed programs for city and private skateparks. Their clients included Vans, Element, YMCA Skate Camps, Woodward Skate Camps and various cities in Central and Southern California.

In 2003, Agah established The Skaterade Beverage Co., an internationally distributed functional refreshment specially formulated for skateboarders. Collaborating with artist Shepard Fairey on the package design, Agah acted as President and Managing Director, overseeing sales and promotional marketing, creative direction, production, and warehouse and inventory management. Soon after, he developed Icelounge.com, the very first action sports driven social network and Skatecoverage.com, a skateboarding media monitoring service.

In 2007, Agah teamed up with skateboard photographer, Mike Ballard, to form SkateBook, a quarterly, hard-bound 350+ page coffee table book featuring skateboarding’s iconic moments, individuals, events, eras and brands. They produced and published four acclaimed, limited-edition books before Agah left the company in January 2009. From 2009-2011, Agah worked as director of business development at The Berrics, alongside Steve Berra and Eric Koston.

Agah currently co-owns and operates a pizzeria called Pizzanista! in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles. He has recently opened a new location in Long Beach, CA.

Filmography

Rising Son: The Legend of Skateboarder Christian Hosoi (2006)

Elwood - 1st & Hope (2006)

ON Video - Winter 2004 (2004)

Thrasher - S.O.T.Y. Video (2003)

Black Label - Blackout (2003)

411VM - First Step Skateboarding: Getting Started (2002)

411VM - Issue 46 (2001)

411VM - Stand Strong (2001)

Black Label - Label Kills (2001)

Vans - Learn To Ride (2000)

ON Video - Summer 2000 (2000)

Deluxe - World Wide Distribution (1999)

Real - Kicked Out Of Everywhere (1999)

Thrasher - The Truth Hurts (1993)

Real - The Real Video (1993)

Powell Peralta - Propaganda (1990)

Powell Peralta - Ban This (1989)