In the last two decades when the question is posed, “Who is the greatest skateboarder ever?,” the answer from skate professionals and fans has increasingly been, Danny Way. This legendary athlete continually pushes the boundaries of what is possible and has earned a reputation as an innovator and ambassador for his sport.
WAITING FOR LIGHTNING is the inspirational story of visionary skateboarder Danny Way. The film follows the journey of a young boy from a broken home in Vista, CA, whose passion for skateboarding would one day bring him fame and a lifetime of accomplishments. Those that are aware of Way’s accomplishments will flock to theaters for this one but for folks getting their first exposure to Way, you need to leave any preconceptions you may have about skateboarding at the door. This is a movie you must see. Way’s drive has no limits as exemplified by his creation captured on screen, a ramp of prodigious and dangerous proportions, across many cultural and ideological boundaries to attempt the impossible: jump China’s Great Wall on a skateboard.
It’s a film about how much abuse the body can sustain, how deep you have to dig to survive the challenges life presents, and how high and far dreams can fly. Danny Way has not only proven himself to be an incredibly talented skateboarder but also the sport’s greatest innovator. In his quest for greatness, Way continues to shape the very sport which helped save his own life.
Having introduced the MegaRamp at the X Games, in July 2005 Danny took the biggest skateboarding structure ever created to the other side of the globe. The challenge: to jump over the Great Wall of China. On day one, during his first drop in, he clipped the edge bounced upside down and tore ligaments in his ankle and possibly his ACL. The next day, with a swollen ankle and barely able to walk, let alone skateboard, Danny became the first person to jump the Great Wall on a skateboard. His feats were seen by one of the largest television audiences in Chinese television history, over 100 million viewers, as well as viewers worldwide.
From the producers of “ACT OF VALOR”, “STEP INTO LIQUID” and “DUST TO GLORY” comes “WAITING FOR LIGHTNING”, a Bandito Brothers production in association with DC Shoes, directed by Jacob Rosenberg, written by Bret Anthony Johnston, edited by Carol Martori and produced by Max Leitman, Darryl Franklin, Jacob Rosenberg and Hana Ripperger-Suhler. The film features interviews with some of Action Sports biggest names: Travis Pastrana, Laird Hamilton, Rodney Mullen, Matt Hoffman, Ken Block, Rob Dyrdek and Tony Hawk.
A lead creative consultant on EA Games’ successful game franchise “Skate,” Danny is also an inveterate surfer and snowboarder whose passions include playing guitar in his band Escalera and spending time with his three children. Watch this video as people try to describe Danny Way with one word and then take a look at some of his accomplishments.
Danny Way Facts:
- 2004 and 1991 Thrasher Magazine’s Skater of the Year (the first skateboarder to ever be awarded this honor twice)
- Transworld Skateboarding’s Vert Rider of the Year 2003, 2004, 2006
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Multiple world-record holder (distance jumped on a skateboard 79 feet; height out of a ram 23.5 feet; Bomb Drop 28 feet (off the top of the Guitar outside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas NV); land speed record on a skateboard 74.5 mph)
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Multiple X Games Gold Medalist (Big Air x 3 MegaRail)
- The only person to have ever jumped out of a helicopter on a skateboard
- The only person to jump the Great Wall of China on a skateboard (July 5th, 2005)
- 2008 Subaru Athlete of the Games as voted by ESPN viewers of the 2008 X Games
- 2009 Inducted into Skateboarding Hall of Fame (1st round of inductees along with Tony Hawk and Tony Alva)
- The All Time Greatest Action Sports Athlete Ever voted for by 49 other athletes in Spike TV’s The 50 Greatest.
Danny’s accomplishments, persistence, drive and “what if” attitude make his story compelling and the feats he attempts are visually mind boggling. This was a great year for movies. With blockbusters like The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, The Hunger Games, Twilight and others all hitting theaters this year, Waiting For Lightning is hands down, one of MY most anticipated films of the year.
On December 7th, RUN, don’t walk, to theaters to watch this movie. It deserves to be seen on the big screen for this larger than life person. (The movie will also be available for digital download as well.) Head over to the movie’s website HERE and check out their FACEBOOK page while you are at it. You can also follow Danny on TWITTER to try and keep up with everything he has going on.
Tagged: action sports, Bandito Brothers, DANNY WAY, DC Shoes, Ken Block, Laird Hamilton, Legend, Matt Hoffman, Movie, Rob Dyrdek, Rodney Mullen, Skateboarding, Tony Hawk, Travis Pastrana, Waiting For Lightning
