loading
reading
writing
saving
searching
SKULL SKATES 26" BMX Cruiser - $1,300 (san mateo)
bicycle type:
bmx
frame size:
26"
wheel size:
26 in
bicycle frame material:
steel
suspension:
none (rigid)
brake type:
cantilever
electric assist:
none
condition:
excellent
make / manufacturer:
Skull skates
QR Code Link to This Post
Its history as follows: Skull Skates began in April of 1978 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It’s founders were the Ducommun brothers(Rick who has skateboarded since the mid sixties & Peter who began skateboarding in 1972)
The original company was “Great North Country Skateboards” & used a black & white Yin & Yang symbol as it’s logo. Shortly after, the name was abbreviated to “G.N.C. Skates” This is when Peter designed the new logo known as Skull Skates. The original version of the logo included the letters “G.N.C” on the left side of the logo, however, skaters looked at the design & immediately called it “Skull Skates” It was then that it was decided to drop the “G.N.C.” & go with Skull.
Actually, the very first version of the skull used in the logo was cut out of grip tape on a skate deck. It was this method that gave the skull it’s hard jagged lines. It only took about five minutes to cut out the design, but one look at it and we said, “that’s our new logo.”
To this day, it is one of the few logos with a built in knowledge detector… by just saying “Skates”, you are revealing apprentice status. The term “Skull Skates” indicates an intermediate level of understanding, while to say, “Skull” shows an accumulation of monk level dedication and any reference to “G.N.C.” or “Great North Country” terminology would mean the same attainment of wisdom as of Buddha.
At the beginning of the 1980’s Skull Skates moved west & relocated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The first retail shop was opened near Stanley Park just in time to take part in the outdoor rollerskating craze. This was the spot to get the latest Skull Skates gear & replace the toe-stops of your girlfriend’s roller-skates.
Next the Skull Skates crew ended up in South Vancouver specializing in skateboards, snowboards, BMX bikes, cruiser bikes & flat top haircuts. This location continued on for a total of ten years, setting up a lot of people with a lot of custom equipment. Since the beginning, there had always been frequent trips to California to keep up on the latest products available. In 1979, during a contest at the Marina Del Ray skatepark, two local skaters, Jimmy Plummer & Billy Yeron, yanked down a sponsor’s banner & replaced it with a Skull Skates banner. The coverage that followed in Skateboarder Magazine was the beginning of international recognition for the Skull Skates logo.
In the middle of the 1980’s Skull Skates had relocated again, this time landing in Van Nuys, California “The Valley” a suburb of Los Angeles. It was here that international distribution & sponsorship of skaterswith production pro models took place. The eighties boom was in full swing & Skull sank deep in the devious entity known as “The Industry”
During the California years Skull Skates had associated itself with some of the following skaters & groups: Steve Olson, David Hackett, Christian Hosoi, Mondo, The Godoy Brothers, Tod Swank, Duane Peters, Jonny Ray, Skatemaster Tate, Gang Green, The Vandals, Social Distortion, & the Red Hot Chili Peppers to name a few.