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“Skateboarding Professor” meme: meaning, origin and rare card

The 'Skateboarding Professor' is an advice animal featuring Tom Winter, a University of Nebraska professor riding a skateboard.

MyMemeCards editorial teamPublished 8 min read
Skateboarding Professor meme
The “Skateboarding Professor” meme, 2012

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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Skateboarding Professor” is a rare card of the Memes World series 73, number 21646 of the collection, and the 31st best-known meme of its 300 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.

What does the “Skateboarding Professor” meme mean?

This meme expresses unexpected dual competence by mixing serious academia with rebellious skate culture. It plays on the contrast between rigorous classical studies and the freedom of movement. The humor lies in the absurdity of a teacher mastering both distinct worlds simultaneously. It is used to illustrate surprising versatility or technical mastery in a formal context.

Where does the “Skateboarding Professor” meme come from?

The original photograph features Tom Winter, a professor of classics and religious studies at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He is shown riding a skateboard across campus while carrying a briefcase. The first documented publication occurred on April 4, 2012, on the subreddit r/pics by user Tr0llzor. However, some sources indicate the photo was taken by a student and posted online as early as 2011, though this exact date remains uncertain. On April 5, 2012, a captioned version appeared in r/AdviceAnimals, following a previous attempt titled 'Hip Professor Harold'. The content quickly spread to FunnyJunk, Tumblr (specifically Pleated Jeans), and then to Yahoo! News and Mashable. No specific broadcast platform or event is identified as the direct origin of the initial capture.

  1. 2011A source suggests the photo was taken by a student and posted online, but the exact date remains unknown.
  2. April 4, 2012The photograph is published on the subreddit r/pics by Reddit user Tr0llzor.
  3. April 5, 2012A captioned version is shared in r/AdviceAnimals after a previous unsuccessful attempt.

How to use the “Skateboarding Professor” meme

  • Overlay technical skate tips onto thesis topics to highlight hybrid expertise.
  • Use the image to joke about the difficulty of balancing serious professional life with youthful passions.
  • Reference the meme to illustrate simultaneous mastery of two seemingly opposite fields.

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  • Hip Professor Harold
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The “Skateboarding Professor” card in MyMemeCards

Skateboarding Professor card
NumberNo. 21646
RarityRare
CollectionMemes World series 73
Fame66/100 · #31 of 300
Recycle value10 MemeCoins (30 in Shiny)
Rarities of the Memes World series 73: 300 cards
  • Common20167%
  • Rare9933%

How to get the “Skateboarding Professor” card

Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Skateboarding Professor comes out of the Memes World series 73 as a rare card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.

Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 10 MemeCoins.

Open your free pack

5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.

Free · no account needed

Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the Skateboarding Professor?

It is Tom Winter, a professor of classics and religious studies at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Where does the Skateboarding Professor photo come from?

The photo was published on Reddit on April 4, 2012, by user Tr0llzor, though it may date back to 2011.

What does the Skateboarding Professor meme mean?

It depicts a teacher mastering both academic jargon and skate slang, creating a humorous contrast.

When did the Skateboarding Professor meme start spreading?

The first captioned versions appeared on Reddit in early April 2012 before gaining traction on other platforms.

How do I get the Skateboarding Professor meme card?

Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Skateboarding Professor” is a rare card of the Memes World series 73. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.

How rare is the Skateboarding Professor card?

It is a Rare card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.

Sources: Skateboarding Professor · Skateboarding · Skateboarding Professor - It's Interesting · checked on October 14, 2026.

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