Sluggo Boyce
Encyclopedia
Robert Doucet Boyce better known as Sluggo, is a professional skateboarder, snowboarder, break-dancer, gymnast, stuntman, and businessman from Vancouver
, British Columbia
. Sluggo is best known for his skateboarding and is most famous for being the first to land a back flip on a skateboard which is shown on the cover of Transworld Skateboard March 1998. He is also the first person to perform a back flip to fakie on a vertical skate ramp. Sluggo is the only person to complete a back flip in competition to this day. Sluggo currently shares ownership of a skateboarding distribution company, Centre Distribution, and oversees the day to day operations of RDS Skate Supply and Red Dragon Apparel. He has two children Liam and Araya.
He began his skateboard career at the age of 15 on the advice of a classmate. At age 16, a friend suggested the name Sluggo, because of his supposed resemblance to the character in the comic strip Nancy. Sluggo honed his vertical skateboard skills at the Richmond Skate Ranch, owned by Kevin Harris
, a local pro skater for Powell Peralta
. This is where he would also meet his future crew, best friends, and business partners Colin McKay
, and Moses Itkonen. The crew came to be known as the spooky cack likers.
from 1988 till 1990. Later Sluggo would ride for Real Skateboards owned by Tommy Guererro and Jim Thiebaud
from Peralta’s world famous "Bones Brigade".
Sluggo turned pro in 1991 and traveled to the World Championships in Munster, Germany and competed for the first time against his childhood heroes Chris Miller, Tony Hawk
and a long list of highly regarded veteran skaters. Sluggo placed 5th in his first international competition.
Skateboarding took a down turn in the public eye from 1993 - 1996. Sluggo still continued to skate and compete all over the world but the industry had down-sized. Vertical skateboarding had fallen out of favor and street skating had taken over.
The Red Dragons have always prided themselves on being well rounded skaters who skated everything that they had at their disposal which was usually downtown Vancouver, the breeding ground for some of the best skateboarders in the world.
In 1992, Sluggo’s brother younger Dave Boyce introduced him to snowboarding, and he quickly rose to success in that sport as well. After two seasons under his belt, he became one of Canada’s most published snowboarders showing up in almost every snowboard magazine that came out in 1994. This opened the doors to many sponsorship deals and trips all over the world to film and shoot photos.
union stunt performer in the Canadian movie industry. He started his stunt career doubling Dean Cain
in a Wesley Snipes
production, Future Sport. Sluggo has over 60 TV and feature credits to his name either acting or stunting.
He was skate coordinator on the NBC TV series Sk8
.
Sluggo retired from snowboarding professionally in 2000 but continued to skateboard professionally until 2004. He came out of retirement briefly to compete in the Canadian Half-Pipe Championship in March 2005 and won the event.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Sluggo is best known for his skateboarding and is most famous for being the first to land a back flip on a skateboard which is shown on the cover of Transworld Skateboard March 1998. He is also the first person to perform a back flip to fakie on a vertical skate ramp. Sluggo is the only person to complete a back flip in competition to this day. Sluggo currently shares ownership of a skateboarding distribution company, Centre Distribution, and oversees the day to day operations of RDS Skate Supply and Red Dragon Apparel. He has two children Liam and Araya.
Early career
Sluggo was born in Victoria, British Columbia where he started as a gymnast winning the Western Canadian Championships at age 13. Rob also took up break-dancing where he won several competitions and placed 5th in a North American break-dance contest.He began his skateboard career at the age of 15 on the advice of a classmate. At age 16, a friend suggested the name Sluggo, because of his supposed resemblance to the character in the comic strip Nancy. Sluggo honed his vertical skateboard skills at the Richmond Skate Ranch, owned by Kevin Harris
Kevin Harris
Kevin Harris is a professional skateboarder from Vancouver, Canada. He specializes in "freestyle" skateboarding. Harris is known for his fluid style, which incorporated complex manual variations with exceptional footwork...
, a local pro skater for Powell Peralta
Powell Peralta
Powell Peralta is an American skateboard company founded by George Powell and Stacy Peralta in 1978. The company rose to prominence in the 1980s as skateboarding began maturing as a sport. The company featured the Bones Brigade, a team of the era's top competitors...
. This is where he would also meet his future crew, best friends, and business partners Colin McKay
Colin McKay
Colin McKay is a professional skateboarder from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.- Biography :McKay graduated from Handsworth Secondary School in 1992....
, and Moses Itkonen. The crew came to be known as the spooky cack likers.
Mid career
Sluggo caught the eye of Stacey Peralta, director of the Dog-town documentary, and owner of Powell Peralta Skateboards. Stacey introduced Sluggo to Henry Hester, a skateboard legend from Southern California who ran G&S. Sluggo rode for G&SG&S
G&S may refer to:* Gilbert and Sullivan, the famous 19th century comic opera partnership* Gavin and Stacey, a BBC comedy TV series...
from 1988 till 1990. Later Sluggo would ride for Real Skateboards owned by Tommy Guererro and Jim Thiebaud
Jim Thiebaud
Jim Thiebaud is an American skateboarder.Thiebaud was a co-founder of Real Skateboards and Adeline Records. He also controls Deluxe Distribution.-References:...
from Peralta’s world famous "Bones Brigade".
Sluggo turned pro in 1991 and traveled to the World Championships in Munster, Germany and competed for the first time against his childhood heroes Chris Miller, Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk
Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
and a long list of highly regarded veteran skaters. Sluggo placed 5th in his first international competition.
Skateboarding took a down turn in the public eye from 1993 - 1996. Sluggo still continued to skate and compete all over the world but the industry had down-sized. Vertical skateboarding had fallen out of favor and street skating had taken over.
The Red Dragons have always prided themselves on being well rounded skaters who skated everything that they had at their disposal which was usually downtown Vancouver, the breeding ground for some of the best skateboarders in the world.
In 1992, Sluggo’s brother younger Dave Boyce introduced him to snowboarding, and he quickly rose to success in that sport as well. After two seasons under his belt, he became one of Canada’s most published snowboarders showing up in almost every snowboard magazine that came out in 1994. This opened the doors to many sponsorship deals and trips all over the world to film and shoot photos.
Later career
Sluggo is now a full UBCPUBCP
The Union of B.C. Performers is a trade union in the Province of British Columbia and the B.C. Branch of the ACTRA .- Executive Board :...
union stunt performer in the Canadian movie industry. He started his stunt career doubling Dean Cain
Dean Cain
Dean Cain is an American actor. He is most widely known for his role as Clark Kent/Superman in the popular American television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.-Early life:...
in a Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes
Wesley Trent Snipes is an American actor, film producer, and martial artist, who has starred in numerous action films, thrillers, and dramatic feature films. Snipes is known for playing the Marvel Comics character Blade in the Blade film trilogy, among various other high profile roles...
production, Future Sport. Sluggo has over 60 TV and feature credits to his name either acting or stunting.
He was skate coordinator on the NBC TV series Sk8
Sk8 (TV series)
Sk8 is a half-hour teen drama that aired on NBC's TNBC Saturday morning programming block from October 6 2001 to January 5, 2002 with 13 episodes produced. The show continued in reruns until TNBC's dissolution in September 2002....
.
Sluggo retired from snowboarding professionally in 2000 but continued to skateboard professionally until 2004. He came out of retirement briefly to compete in the Canadian Half-Pipe Championship in March 2005 and won the event.