When you think of Tony Hawk, you probably picture the first 900 at the X Games or that pixelated character from the PlayStation era. Maybe you think of his current life with Catherine Goodman. But before the video game empire and the global fame, there was Cindy Dunbar. She was there when he was just a kid from San Diego with a high IQ and a talent for riding wooden planks.
Most people don't even know her name.
Cindy was Tony’s high school sweetheart. They started dating when the "Birdman" was still finding his wings, long before he became a household name. They got married in April 1990. Tony was 21. Honestly, looking back at that era, skateboarding was actually dying. It’s hard to imagine now, but in the early 90s, the money dried up. Tony went from making $200,000 a year to barely scraping by. Cindy was there for all of that—the highs, the terrifying lows, and the birth of their son, Riley.
The High School Sweethearts and the Marriage
The Cindy Dunbar Tony Hawk relationship wasn't some Hollywood setup. It was real. They met at Torrey Pines High School. By the time they tied the knot in 1990, Tony was already a pro, but the industry was shifting. The vert skating he specialized in was being pushed aside by the "street" skating movement.
They were basically kids trying to play house while the world changed around them.
In December 1992, they welcomed Hudson Riley Hawk. Most people just know him as Riley. Tony has admitted in interviews that they named him Riley after one of his ancestors. It’s a cool name, but the timing was tough. Tony was traveling constantly, trying to keep his career alive. He even bought a house during his senior year of high school, which sounds successful, but by 1992, he was nearly bankrupt.
He was hustling. She was working. Something had to give.
Why It Didn't Last
They divorced in 1993.
It wasn't some scandalous tabloid explosion. It was just the reality of two young people who weren't ready for the weight of "adult life." Tony has been pretty open about this. He told the Sydney Morning Herald that neither of them was prepared for the responsibilities of a mortgage and a newborn while he was flying across the globe and she was working non-stop.
- They married in 1990.
- Riley was born in late 1992.
- They split in 1993.
That is a lot of life to cram into three years.
The Legacy of Cindy Dunbar and Riley Hawk
Even though the marriage ended decades ago, Cindy’s influence on the Hawk legacy is undeniable. She is the mother of Riley Hawk, who didn't just hide in his father's shadow. Riley became a professional skater in his own right, carving out a style that’s totally different from Tony’s. While Tony is the king of the ramp, Riley is a street skating icon with a gritty, rock-and-roll vibe.
Cindy stayed out of the spotlight after the divorce. Unlike some celebrity exes who chase the cameras, she chose a private life.
It’s interesting how people focus so much on Tony’s later marriages—to Erin Lee, Lhotse Merriam, and now Catherine Goodman—but Cindy was the one who saw him through the most pivotal transition of his life. She saw him go from a wealthy teen to a struggling father to the man who would eventually found Birdhouse Projects (now Birdhouse Skateboards) with Per Welinder in 1992, right as their marriage was ending.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a common misconception that Tony was always rich and famous. He wasn't. When he was with Cindy, he was literally eating at Taco Bell because it was all he could afford. The "Birdman" empire was built on the ashes of that early-90s slump.
If you're looking for drama, you won't find much here. They were just two people who grew apart under the pressure of a dying industry and early parenthood.
Where Are They Now?
Tony is obviously a mogul. He’s 57 now (as of 2025/2026) and still skating. Cindy has remained a private figure, which is honestly impressive in the age of social media. Riley is married to Frances Bean Cobain—yes, Kurt Cobain’s daughter—which makes for one of the most legendary "royalty" pairings in alternative culture history.
It’s a small world.
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If you want to understand the history of skateboarding, you have to understand the people who supported the legends before they were legends. Cindy Dunbar was there for the "lean years." She was there for the birth of a second-generation skating star.
Practical Takeaway for the Curious:
If you're researching the history of the Hawk family or the evolution of 90s skate culture, don't just look at the contest results. Look at the personal stakes. Tony’s career survived because he had a foundation, even if that foundation—his first marriage—eventually shifted.
To really get a feel for that era, check out the documentary Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off. It gives a raw look at the financial stress and personal toll of his early career. It puts the timeline of his life with Cindy into a much clearer perspective than any Wikipedia page ever could.
Insights for the Road
- Acknowledge the struggle: Success isn't linear. Tony Hawk was nearly broke while married to Cindy.
- Respect the privacy: Not everyone wants to be a "celeb-ex." Cindy's choice to stay quiet is part of her story.
- Watch the kids: Riley Hawk is the best evidence of that early chapter of Tony’s life, and his success is a testament to both his parents.
The Cindy Dunbar Tony Hawk story is a reminder that behind every "overnight success" are years of grinding, a few failed starts, and people who knew you when you had nothing.
Next time you see a Birdhouse board, remember it was started in a garage while Tony and Cindy were trying to figure out how to be parents. That's the real history.
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Actionable Steps:
- Watch "Until the Wheels Fall Off": This documentary is the definitive source for understanding the mid-90s struggle.
- Follow Riley Hawk: To see how the Cindy/Tony legacy evolved, watch Riley’s parts in Baker videos. It’s a completely different side of the family talent.
- Research the 1992 Skate Slump: Understanding why Cindy and Tony struggled requires understanding why the skate industry nearly died in 1992. It provides the necessary context for their personal challenges.