Pro Skater Paul Rodriguez

• Nickname: P-Rod
• Gender: Male
• Hometown: Northridge, California
• Current residence: Los Angeles
• Date of Birth: Dec. 31, 1984
• Family: Single
• Occupation: Pro skater
• Began skating: 1996
• Began competing: 1996
• Turned pro: 2002
• Favored discipline: Street/Park
• Stance: Goofy
• No.1 Sponsor: Nike

Paul Rodriguez looks as relaxed and comfortable on a skateboard as anyone could. He's consistent and almost never falls. On top of that, he's able to bust out with some incredible tricks. Rodriguez is one of those rare, gifted skaters who is obviously born to ride.

Rodriguez skates anything he can find. In an interview with ESPN, P-Rod said it's not so much what he can do, but where he likes to do it. "My favorite things to skate are ledges, rails, stairs, pretty much anything you can skate." 

2002 -- TransWorld Skateboarding Rookie of the Year
2003 -- Appeared in the movie "Grind"
2004 -  Became first pro skater sponsored by Nike (Nike P-Rod)
2004 - Won gold in X Games (Street) 
2005 - Won first in FTC Flatground (Street Best Trick)
2005 - Took third in Dew Tour (Park)
2005 - Won gold in X Games (Street)

P-Rod's father is the famous comedian Paul Rodriguez. At the age of 12, P-Rod's dad bought him his first skateboard for $30 (his dad said that it was one of the best investments he's ever made!). P-Rod got his first sponsor at age 14 and was a pro skater at 18. He's happy with his life and feels like he's already achieved his dream. P-Rod is a proud Christian and has a tattoo of Jesus on his arm. "God's not waiting for me to be perfect ..." he told ESPN.

As befitting a star in his sport, P-Rod has his own signature skate shoe by Nike. The Paul Rodriguez Nike SB shoes have Flywire and Air Zoom technology and come in many colors for men, women, and kids. I guess you say this means P-Rod has arrived, big time. 

Rodriguez has a pet chihuahua named Uma.

"My goal, my dream has already come true. Every kid's dream is to become a pro skater, you know? Not only have I become a pro skater, but to me personally, I ride for the best sponsors there are. That's even more than I ever expected ... I didn't skate to please everyone else. I started skating because I love to skate. You gotta watch out because there will come a point where you'll forget that."  -- Skateboarder Magazine, September 2004