The game uses a motion-sensing peripheral called the "Motion Pack", which is inserted into the Game Boy Advance game slot as the method of control. As well as skateboarding, the game also provides the ability to use snowboards.
This game only works for the original two versions of the Nintendo DS System, the Original DS and the DS Lite, and will not work on Nintendo's newest system, the DSi or DSi XL, because the game requires the use of the Game Port 2, or Game Boy slot.
Source: Wikipedia, Tony Hawk's Motion, available under the CC-BY-SA License.