Amateur years

Furlong is known for his talents on vert ramp

Vert ramp

A vert ramp is a form of half-pipe used in "extreme sports" such as skateboarding.Another form of half-pipe is the mini ramp.Vert ramps are so named because they transition from a horizontal plane to a vertical wall....

s. Renowned for his style on his board, he made a name for himself throughout the 90's as one of the best up and coming amateur vert skaters. Early in 1998 Furlong moved from Augusta, Georgia

Augusta, Georgia

Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...

, where he grew up from age 6, to Tampa, Florida

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

, to pursue skateboarding

Skateboarding

Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...

 as the sport was growing. A few months later Anthony won the prestigious Tampa Am vert competition. Later in the year he attended the Goodwill Games in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. While there he won the amateur street and vert competitions. At this same event, he asked one of his idols, 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...

, if he would be his partner in the next days "Pro Doubles contest". To his surprise, Tony said yes. Together, they won first place. Though Furlong didnt accept the money offered from the event for his first place prize, word spread that he had entered a pro event thus forcing him to move into the professional ranks.

Professional career

2000 was Furlong's coming out year as a professional. Starting off the year placing 3rd behind skateboard legends Bucky Lasek and Bob Burnquist at Tampa Pro. In the summer Furlong was a member of the inaugural "ESPN Tony Hawk Gigantic Skatepark Tour" and attended his first X Games in San Francisco. In 2002, Furlong won the coveted Vans Triple Crown Championship. Throughout the years he has been a consistent threat in the top 10 at any competition featuring Vert.