Hawk explained that because Weddle was the first to do the trick, the trick should be named after him. Weddle was often referred to as the “quiet, dumb boy,” Hawk said, and so the dumb air was made. Hawk acknowledged that he and other skaters went by the name in naivety, and did not know that Weddle might not agree with the name.
“In recent years, a few people have reached out to Chris (who is still skating) about this trick and the name it was given,” Hawk said. “He has been very gracious in his response, but it is obvious that another name would have honored his legacy because he has a hearing but no speech is missing. I asked him last year because I was in trick-or-treating ducked and he said he would rather have called it the ‘dove’ than ‘Weddle’ grab when given the choice. “Hawk said the exact words of the Weddle were “I am deaf, not dumb.” When players start up THPS 1 + 2, they will find that the trick is now called the Weddle Grab.
“It will be challenging to break the habit of saying the old name, but I think Chris deserves the recognition.”
You can perform the Weddle Grab yourself in THPS 1 + 2 this Friday when the Warehouse Demo goes live on August 14th. Be sure to check out our THPS 1 + 2 Remaster Warehosue Demo Impressions as you wait for the demo to go live.
Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance writer and guide for IGN. You can follow him Twitter @LeBlancWes.
