Tony was born in Edmonton, Alberta on May 4, 1973. His early years were spent in Ottawa, Ontario where he began skateboarding at age 12. His family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1990. By 1994 he was living in Los Angeles, California. His first sponsor was the Tommy Guerrero and Jim Thiebaud-owned Real Skateboards where he stayed from 1990 to 1992. In 1992 he was asked by future Girl founder