Top 10 Defunct Skate Brands

Though it’s probably safe to say that skateboarding is forever, the same sentiment is hardly true for skateboard companies.

Through the years there have been hundreds of big names brands that came up, killed it for years, but soon died.

Here’s a list of 10 brands that made an amazing impact on skateboarding before meeting their demise far too soon.

1. 101

Started by Natas Kaupas and fittingly run under Steve Rocco’s irreverent World Industries umbrella, 101 was one of the most respected brands in the history of skateboarding. Some legendary riders called 101 home through their years of operation including household namers like Gino Iannucci, Eric Koston, Jason Dill, Kris Markovich, Gabriel Rodriguez and plenty more. Watch SNUFF & Falling Down for a valuable lesson in skate history and some sweet 90’s nostalgia.

2. Menace

It was the first real thugged out West Coast company in skateboarding. Run by Kareem Campbell, the original Menace line-up was nothing but classic. Fabian Alomar, Joey Suriel, Eric Pupecki, Billy Valdez and Steven Cales all repped Menace hard and LA gangster swagger. Such a rad company. Menace’s 20 Shot Sequence section is still one of my all-time favorite video parts ever.

3. Mad Circle

No other company in skateboarding was more ahead of its time than Mad Circle actually was. Amazing graphics, rad conceptual ads and a team that consisted of some of the best street skaters of the time. Scott Johnston, Moses Itkonen, Cairo Foster, Bobby Puleo all made there way though the MC pay role at one time or another. For a quick glimpse of MC’s amazing, aesthetic feel, watch Let The Horns Blow, the company’s first video effort.

4. Life

Started by Ron Allen, as a branch of H-Street, Life Skateboards hit the industry ultra hard with their all-star line-up first and only VHS drop, “A Soldiers Story”. The video was amazing, featuring historically critical skating from dudes like John Reeves, Donger & of course, Sean Sheffey.

5. Shorty’s

Known strictly as a hardware brand, Shorty’s stepped things up when they entered the deck market. After acquiring the star power of the iconic Chad Muska, the company when on to stack serious riders during their relatively short existence. Peter Smolik, Sammy Baptista, Brandon Turner and Torey Pudwill all were once Shorty’s riders. The brands first video, “Fullfill The Dream” is still one of those classic videos that still holds up even today.

6. Blockhead

http://www.retroskatestickers.com/gal/blockhead/eye.html

A staple in the industry for years, Blockhead was one of the raddest companies ever. Sick graphics done by legendary artist, Ron Cameron, and a team of top dudes like Laban, Omar Hassan, Jeremy Wray, Rick Howard and Jason Dill, who all got their start riding for Blockhead. Check Adventures In Cheese and Debbie Does Blockhead for a history lesson on two separate, but equally as important, eras in Blockhead history.

7. Santa Monica Airlines

Santa Monica Airlines was one of the heaviest brands of the late 80’s. Natas Kaupas, Julien Stranger and Jim Thiebaud all called Santa Monica Airlines home at one point. Amazing graphics and team to back it up, the original S.M.A. helped bring groundbreaking street skating to the surface.

8. The New Deal

Picking up where Schmitt Stix left off, New Deal Skateboards instantly became one of the coolest brands in skateboarding in the early 90’s. Rad graphics, a sick DIY image and insane riders like Ed Templeton, Mike Vallelly, Andy Howell, Rick Ibaseta, Chris Hall and so many more. Anyone looking to get a brainful of classic skateboarding, YouTube Useless Wooden Toys and 1281, two timeless New Deal video drops.

9. A-Team

Formed to be a team of some of skatings elite at the team, Rodney Mullen steered the ship known as the A-Team. Marc Johnson, Gershon Mosely, Dave Mayhew, Chet Thomas and Rodney himself made up the squad of the short-lived brand.

10. H-Street

Founded by Tony Magnusson and the late Mike Ternansky, H-street was once one of the biggest brands in skateboarding. The company’s graphics, style and innovative videos like Shackle Me Not and Hokus Pokus changed skateboarding forever. Danny Way, Matt Hensley, Mike Carroll, Eric Koston, Josh Kalis and so many more rode for H-Street at one time or another.