Lifetime skater here. You hit the nail on the head with the 'genius-from-restriction'. I call it "the Mullen effect"

Every generation has a handful of those skaters that grew up in total isolation. Instagram and other social media has made it less likely that a skater stays fully separated, but those that do still stand out.

The big one of the last generation was Chris Cole, who grew up skating in his driveway with a little ledge he built himself. Similar to Mullen mastering flatground, Cole mastered every single ledge trick. The term "NBD" (Never Been Done) was coined to describe the tricks that only he is known to have done