The naked 540º is a legendary trick in skateboarding, a piece of folklore that combines skill, audacity, and a touch of the absurd. This daring feat was popularized in the 1980s by Bill Weiss, who you might recognize from Opera Skateboards. Weiss brought the stunt to the forefront by performing it at random skate events, quickly turning it into his signature party trick. While some might have chosen more conventional crowd-pleasers, Weiss’s commitment to this potentially painful maneuver cemented its place in skateboarding history.
Years of photos have circulated, making the naked 540° an iconic part of skate culture. But how did it all start? To get the full story, we interviewed Bill about the origins of this audacious move.
Bill Weiss performing a naked 540
The Genesis of the Naked 540
When did you first do the naked 540º?
“It was around 1988 or 1989. Back then, the only way to get noticed as a vert skater was through the NSA am series. In ’89, I went to a contest in Huntsville, Alabama, and we got there two days early. We were drinking beers and skating the vert ramp. The locals were doing ‘Circle K speed,’ whatever that was. It had just stopped raining, and someone suggested I do a naked 540º in my run. I was a bit drunk and thought, ‘Why not?’ So I did it, and everyone was totally shocked.”
How old were you then?
“I was about 16 or 17.”
Did that first naked 540º lead to any opportunities?
“Shortly after, I got my first ad for Dogtown in Thrasher. I wanted to do something that would stand out. Not many pros were doing 540ºs at the time, so I figured a nude 540º would break the monotony. But when I did it, it kind of had the opposite effect. Everyone was like, ‘What the f*ck?’ And after that, everywhere I went, it was, ‘Do a nude 540º.'”
As vert skating declined, many skaters moved on, but Weiss couldn’t quit. “So everywhere I went, if there was a vert ramp, and of course, we were pretty lubricated with Coors Light, it was a given that it was going to happen.”
The Trials and Tribulations of a Nude Trick
How many times have you done it, and how often did it work out?
“I’d say at least 20 times, on almost all continents. About 80% of the time, it worked on the first try. But when it didn’t, there were usually four or five slams before it did, and they were pretty significant. I remember driving back from Vancouver with masonite burns from my knee to under my arm. My pants had adhered to my cuts, and I had to soak them off in the tub. Masonite is disgusting, so those burns ooze because the fibers get in there. I would tell people it’s safer to skate with clothes on. You kind of forget you’re naked, except when you slam and you’re lying in an arena, and the whole place is dead silent.”
Did you ever have reservations about getting naked?
“Not with the Coors Lights. I really only thought about it later. I remember doing one for the Rob and Big show. Rob Dyrdek was pushing me to do it, and Jeff Tremaine, the producer, was offering to throw out $5,000 in ones. I hadn’t skated in seven years, so they were banking on something that might not work. They gave me a twelve-pack, headphones, and a robe. I had James Craig as my towel boy. I sat in the parking lot, pounded some beers, and then did it first try. I just saw the money flying and people diving for it.”
Bill Weiss mid-naked 540
The Anatomy of a Risky Trick
I’ve heard you have unusually long balls. How does that factor into everything?
“It’s ironic that I never ran them over. I think in the moment, they coil back up as a self-defense mechanism. It would be awful if my sack caught a screw sliding down the ramp.”
If you bailed one, did you have a way of falling to avoid getting hurt?
“If the flip goes bad, it sends you into an awkward spiral. I’d try to land on my feet and hands, avoiding sliding on my ass cheeks. If I knew I wouldn’t make it, I would try to fall on my hip, so the brunt of it would go to my ass cheek.”
What kinds of scrapes would you normally get?
“Definitely burns. I remember a series of contests in Europe, from England to the Netherlands, then Amsterdam and Germany. After the England event, the Girl team took me through Europe. Inevitably, we ended up at the Amsterdam ramp near the Van Gogh Museum, a big metal ramp. I did a naked 540 there, and there’s a really good photo in Transworld. It was a coping level trick for me, but this one was a good four feet out. Everyone in the photo had the same disturbed smile. Afterward, I tried a nude 720º and just bailed. I had these burns from the metal, and then some dude with a Heineken van gave us beer.”
A graphic of a naked 540
The Most Brutal Slam
What was your worst naked 540º slam?
“The one at Pat Duffy’s in SF. Duffy had this big party with a band on top of the ramp. I was hammered and dropped in, landed right on my femur bone on the coping, and flipped to the flat bottom. I thought I broke my leg. The party went silent, but the drummer started hyping it up. I got up, Duffy gave me a beer, and then I did it again. That was definitely the weirdest one.”
Do you feel like this kind of maneuver could exist in skateboarding today?
“I saw Jaws try a melon at El Toro nude, so there are definitely people who live in that vein. People are doing the most random stuff now, and it’s all built on ‘likes.’ There’s a lane for everyone now, love it or hate it.”
Mastering the 540
Were 540ºs always an easy trick for you?
“I saw Tony Hawk do one in 1985, and from that moment on, I was always chasing that trick. To be honest, a 540º properly done was easier for me than a frontside grind. I just skipped certain fundamentals to learn that.”
After any of the naked 540ºs, did any women hit on you?
“Probably at the bar, but the only thing I ever got was at the Tampa one. Some derby girls came over with a helmet filled with cash, but I told them to keep it.”
Bill Weiss smiling
The Price of the Naked 540 Today
What would someone have to offer you now to do another naked 540º?
“Minimum $10,000. I’ve had three major surgeries in the last few years. If I re-injured something, I’d need compensation. If someone offered me $20,000, I’d give it a whirl. I’d need a good vert ramp, some Coors Lights, or maybe some seltzers to stay light on my feet.”
How do you want the naked 540º to be remembered?
“Hopefully, it’s not remembered! But if it made people laugh, that’s all I could hope for. If a ridiculous situation can make people smile, then mission accomplished.”
The naked 540° is more than just a trick; it’s a testament to the spirit of skateboarding – pushing boundaries, embracing the absurd, and having fun in the process. Bill Weiss’s legacy lives on as a reminder that sometimes, the most unforgettable moments are the ones that break all the rules.
Header photo by: Pete Thompson
Interview by: Ian Michna
Intro by: Ben Komins
Share this with a nudist on Facebook
Scroll your life away on Instagram and Twitter
