For the past 30 years, the popsicle has been the standard and agreed upon best shape for skateboarding. The shape is a skateboard stripped down to the bare essentials, making it a good tool for flip tricks, high pop, switch skating and anything else the modern skater may encounter. Only one board needed. But these days, according to Damon Thorley of Deluxe Distribution, "it seems common for skaters to have two at least: one regular board and one cruiser/mess around set up and some times even three or four."
Many, like boards from Welcome, Surprise, and Black Label are designed to be practical and fully functional for nollie flips and frontside airs. Along with these functional shaped boards has come a crop of less-than-functional board designed that put aesthetics fully ahead of functionality. CNC machines have been brought into the board-making process, allowing for intricate cuts that traditional hand cutting with a template would not allow. Boards shaped like guns, knives, and popular recording artists are popping up from a wide variety of board companies. Read on for a collection of the most insane shaped boards out there.
For the past 30 years, the popsicle has been the standard and agreed upon best shape for skateboarding. The shape is a skateboard stripped down to the bare essentials, making it a good tool for flip tricks, high pop, switch skating and anything else the modern skater may encounter. Only one board needed. But these days, according to Damon Thorley of Deluxe Distribution, "it seems common for skaters to have two at least: one regular board and one cruiser/mess around set up and some times even three or four."
Many, like boards from Welcome, Surprise, and Black Label are designed to be practical and fully functional for nollie flips and frontside airs. Along with these functional shaped boards has come a crop of less-than-functional board designed that put aesthetics fully ahead of functionality. CNC machines have been brought into the board-making process, allowing for intricate cuts that traditional hand cutting with a template would not allow. Boards shaped like guns, knives, and popular recording artists are popping up from a wide variety of board companies. Read on for a collection of the most insane shaped boards out there.
Zero
Zero made a wide variety of shaped boards including a bullet and a jack knife. Jamie Thomas put all of them to the test in his Battle Commander at The Berrics video, proving that these boards are good to go in any situation as long as the right person is riding.
Blind
Blind has cultivated an image of being that rascally punk kid and their cruisers reflect that. The middle finger is like totally flipping off The Man, and the bong board is classic high school rebel. "Let's rip after a few bong rips."
Alien Workshop
After the sale to Burton, Alien Workshop expanded its product offering to include a cruiser shaped like their Warrior logo. A custom griptape job makes the shape stand out from any side.
Habitat
With some imagination, a leaf can resemble a skateboard, so Habitat used that as the inspiration for some of its cruisers. With Habitat's green image, the leaf cruisers are a perfect fit.
Krooked
The Zip Zinger from Krooked led the way for modern shaped boards. Since then there have been several variations of of the Zip Zinger made to look like other objects. There was the Krooked Krayon, The Rocket Ship, and the Zip Zinger with a snake wrapped around it. They're all very ridable compared to most of the boards on this list.
Element
With an outdoorsy image, Element has gone with a fish and a saw for its cruisers. The jagged teeth of the saw and intricate outline of the fish would not have been possible before the introduction of CNC machines into the skateboard manufacture process.
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz has a giant quiver of oddly shaped boards and why not? The company has been making boards of all shapes and sizes for decades. Its collaboration with The Simpsons brought us a family of boards shaped like the main characters. Its AK-47 shaped board for Jason Jessee looks fragile and imbalanced, but this video proves that in the right hands, even the AK-47 is a viable trick sled.
Vans
Vans and Lakai are not traditional board makers, but they stepped up to the wood with boards in the shape of soles. The Lakai team had no problem adapting to this unconventional shape for a 2012 commercial.
Deathwish
Deathwish made a name for itself on the image of debauchery and hard living, so its cruisers match the totems of that lifestyle. A 40oz, a blunt, a beer can, and at the end of the road, a prison-made shank. The party life can lead down a dark path. Enjoy the ride on one of Deathwish's controlled substance cruisers.
Creature
Although the shape is odd, this video proves that the Creature Wrench board is fully rippable. What better way to put in work?
The Good Company
Great minds think alike, and it seems Cock Fight Skateboards out of Huston, Tex. and The Good Company out of New York both found inspiration in a slice of pizza. With an ultra pointy nose and extra wide tail, this board lacks much in the functionality department, but it sure looks tasty. Henry Gunderson did manage to take The Slicer from The Good Company out for a ride and get a few basic tricks on the hills of San Francisco.
All Timers
All Timers out of New York is leading the way in ridiculous boards. The asymmetrical shapes of a Lamborghini, Rihanna, and Marisa Tomei are bold statements about form leading functionality.
