Style

The 25 Best Skate Decks Of 2011 (So Far)

Counting down the illest skateboards of the year.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

For many of us who grew up skateboarding in empty parking lots and homemade parks, it's impressive to see how far the sport has come. We're on TV now and hold down some of the biggest endorsement deals on the planet, but in the end - we're still just a bunch of geeks who used to drool over the latest CCS and Active mail-order catalogues.

2011 was a great year in skateboard design. From major artist collaborations to cool guy fashion brands, we were treated to an assortment of a creative decks this year. Whenever we're after a new board, we usually check out KCDC, one of NYC's premier skate shops.

If you're not familiar with Amy Gunther, she's an owner of KCDC, WeSC Activist and an authority on the skate scene. Amy and a panel of her finest arranged a list of their favorite skate decks from the year. Join us as we count the very best from 2011, so far.

RELATED: Green Label - 20 Skate Brands You Should Know About
RELATED: Green Label - A Look at the Best Art Made from Skate Decks
RELATED: Green Label - The 10 Best Guest Boards of All Time

Anti Hero. Gerwer Bad Hair Day

"The caption of Bob Dylan’s senior high school photo said he wanted to “join Little Richard” What the hell does that mean?"

Advertisement

Roger. Pink Freud Board

"This pun is so dumb it’s like the blurb on the back of the Fruity Pebbles box that says “It’s berry delicious!”

Anti Hero. Gerwer Country Club

"We’ve all been there."

Advertisement

Creature. Brue Killer

"Skaters are drunk most of the time so the real question is what took this innovation so long?"

Girl. Golden Girls

“All right I’ll do the graphic. But I want to be Blanche”.

Advertisement

Girl. Jeron Wilson

"Everyone has this idea in their head that they deserve to be with someone who looks like one of these people. The problem is these are not people, they are gods and gods only date other gods."

Anti Hero. Andrew Allen

"This is a reference to a fashion phenomenon called 'The Nor Cal Barney'."

Advertisement

Hopps. All Natural

"The guy who owns this company is some kind of ice cream man / guru who can also fly, tutor underprivileged children, pick up cars, draw photo-realistically and land any trick you can think of first try."

Creature. Gore Kebab

"Diner with the in-laws."

Advertisement

Skate Mental. Jesus Shotgun

"Get him in your crosshairs."

Krooked. Max Schaaf Guest Board

"Only Mark Gonzales would draw bricks where an engine is supposed to be."

Advertisement

Alien Workshop. Andy Warhol Series. Steve Berra

"Man these graphics really stand out from the crowd. Probably because Andy Warhol was actually talented."

Santa Cruz X Simpsons Bart Board

"Dude’s been killing it for 23 years. It’s about time he got a board."

Advertisement

Roger. Weed Cobra

"Treat this cobra board like a honey badger would. Destroy it. Save the weed for later."

KCDC. Dylan James Board

"One super hot day over the summer, the majority of our friends were at the beach. I was so bummed I had to work and Dylan could see that. A man of few words, he said “Hey Amy, why don’t we take our shoes off and pretend we are the beach?” We helped customers all day barefoot. I forgot I wanted to be at the beach and had a big smile the rest of the day. Thanks Dylan for this sick board graphic."

Advertisement

5Boro Danny Falla Times Square Board

"Harkening back to a time when Time Square was really classy."

Telegraph. Chainsaw Board

"Nothing says carnage better than a 3.5 horse power, 20” chainsaw."

Advertisement

Joey Pepper Expedition

"You don't want to see this guy in your hood."

Magenta. Quim Cardona Guest Board

"Quim goes native with this tasteful and restrained graphic. Lovely."

Advertisement

5Boro. Fuck Longboards

"If you’re having a midlife crisis just buy a Porsche or something."

Naysayer. Biggie Stardust

"If Biggie were still alive he would probably get roped into doing some duo with David Bowie at the Grammy’s or something so maybe this isn’t that far fetched."

Advertisement

5Boro. Modern Art

"Not to be a snob but I would actually say this is an example of post modern art. The good kind though not the stuff like painting a junked car all white and putting it in a white room for white people to buy for 10 million dollars."

Krooked. Zip Zinger Galaktic

"Space is infinite or something."

Advertisement

Antihero. Balloon Series. Tony Trujillo Model

"Don’t believe what you hear about skaters. We are mature and sophisticated people.

Chocolate. Garvey In Space

"20 years from now, if someone asked me what our generation was all about, I would just show them this board."

Advertisement

Stay ahead on Exclusives

Download the Complex App