ROB DYRDEK PENCIL DRAWING Rob Dyrdek was born in Kettering, Ohio to Gene and Patty Dyrdek.[3] Dyrdek was involved in sports as a child and began skateboarding at the age of 11 when he received his first skateboard from professional skater Neil Blender – known for being the pioneer of bringing art to the skate world.[4] He says of his early interest in the sport "I was a pretty driven young man. I was so focused on becoming a pro skateboarder. I would sit in school and think about all the tricks I was going to do, then I’d get out of school and skate until they made me come inside."[5] At the age of 12, Rob acquired sponsorship from the same company Blender rode for and began his skateboarding career. A few years later, Dyrdek and Blender quit their board sponsor and created Alien Workshop – Rob’s current board company.[6] At the age of 16, Dyrdek decided to forgo his senior year of high school and instead moved to Southern California to pursue his professional skate career. Soon after moving, Dyrdek began to ride for Droors Clothing, now known as DC Shoes – where he also began his exploring entrepreneurship through shoe design and launching various short-lived companies including a Hip-Hop record label and a skate shop.[6] Dyrdek has one sister, Denise, and his cousins Christopher "Drama" Pfaff and Scott "Big Cat" Pfaff (Drama's older brother) are featured in Rob and Big and Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory.[7] He also has two bulldogs named Meaty and Beefy.[8]