The Problem

Few other sports rely solely upon a completely wood-based instrument as does skateboarding. From tennis rackets to hockey sticks, the material used to create sporting equipment has all evolved from wood to newer composites and materials.

A typical skateboard is still made of 7-ply Canadian maple as this produces the best product attributes users demand (lightweight, responsive feel). Manufacturers still use this material mainly due to cost and its relative ease of manufacture but it has numerous drawbacks.

1) Holes meant for mounting hardware concentrate stress.

2) After prolonged use wood grains become fatigued and tear.

3) Thin bottom layer can’t handle friction and repeated abuse.

The accumulation of all these flaws means skateboarders constantly have to replace their boards due to breakage, wearing and fatigue.

DAYS

SKATED

MONEY

WASTED

BROKEN

BOARDS

An active skateboarder replaces four to six skateboard decks per year, with an average retail price of $51.95. These costs add up quickly, often resulting in participants being “priced-out” of the sport they love.

...or at least a lot longer then you're used to.

For the last couple decades, skateboard shapes have standardized to such a degree that never in the history of the sport have skateboards looked so alike. This plateau has happened because manufacturing pressures and constraints have forced manufacturers to narrow their product offerings, an extremely competitive marketplace has caused pricing to flat-line while material, labor and marketing costs have increased. Reduced participation rates have further affected dwindling profits margins.

Skateboarding Participation Trend (Millions)

A study from the Sporting Good’s Manufacturer’s Association indicates that core skateboarding participation has been on the decline for the past six years. This decline has hurt retailers who site lack of consumer confidence and innovation within the skateboarding industry as pain points.

One of our designers was sent to the principals office for drawing the Salba board graphic on his desk. It wasn't the last time a

Jim Phillips design would get him in trouble.

The industry isn't listening to consumers, which has a devastating effect.

“When I used to skate every day I broke boards weekly. They're gonna break, nothing you can really do, all it takes is that one bad landing. Stop buying pro boards, they're a waste of money. Go buy a bunch of blanks.” (baker_skater)

Blank skateboards plague the industry. Blank decks are inferior products whose manufacturers do not contribute back into the sport through sponsorship of amateurs and professionals or through advertising, all of which push the level of innovation and excitement and help generate interest in the sport.