Karl Watson

Karl Watson (born September 22, 1976) is a regular-footed professional American skateboarder, skate video director, and author from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Early life Watson was born in Richmond, California and raised in San Francisco.

Skateboarding Karl Watson was given his first skateboard on Christmas day in 1987. Three years later, Watson received sponsorship, at the age of 13, and at 17, while still at McAteer High School, Watson turned pro for Clean skateboards. The first time Watson's name appeared on a board was with his second sponsor, Think Skateboards, with the Missing Children deck, featuring Watson alongside Nick Lockman, Sam Smyth, and Shawn Mandoli. Released in 1995 on Profile skateboards, Watson's first solo deck graphic was based on an "afrocentric" stick-figure scene Watson appropriated from a work of art his mom had hanging on her wall. Additionally, Watson released a deck with a popular graphic for Mad Circle skateboards depicting a man with dreads.

Watson's first signature skate shoe was released by IPath Footwear in 2000. In 2008, Watson directed Zach & Walker's Concrete Jungle with Matt Daughters for Organika Skateboards.

In 2005, Watson worked with Keith "K-Dub" Williams and Adjoa Murden in advocating for the construction of a skatepark in Oakland, a successful effort that would become Town Park skatepark.

In 2018, Watson and Nick Lockman founded Maxallure. The founding team consisted of Watson, Lil Dre, Jonathan Perez, De Marquis McDaniels, Tafari Whitter, and Marcello Campanello.

Writing In 2017, Watson collaborated with illustrator Henry Jones, writing a children's book: My First Skateboard Book. Watson's book introduces children to the world of skateboarding.

Personal life Watson is a father and a pescatarian.