We got such a good response from our first installment of the "Small Company Field Guide", that we decided to make it a regular feature here at The Solitary Life.
We really go out of our way to support all small companies here at The Life. They are truly the grass-roots of skateboarding. They're almost always owned by skaters, and those skaters work really, really hard to make these companies the very best that they can be. They are also some of the most "responsive" companies out there... by that, I mean that they are responsive to the needs and tastes of skaters. Which makes perfect sense, given they they're actually owned and operated by skaters...
So, if you're sick and tired of the same-old, has-been, mass-marketed bullshit that the "Big Guys" are pumping out... give one of these guys a call, send them an e-mail... or better yet, support them by actually buying a board. Guaranteed, It'll be the best purchase you've ever made. It might even be one the best boards you'll ever ride. Made by and for skaters, not by cheap labor for some corporation's bottom line. Here goes:
Circle A Skateboards
The Circle-A Skateshop in San Jose, CA. Nice looking place...!
Home Base: San Jose, California.
How We Discovered Them: I was on the phone with Skinny, and he was talking about how Gershon Mosely's riding for Circle A. I had no idea that they were still around...
Team: Gershon Mosley, JJ Rogers, Mitch Mendez, Mike Griffin, Jay West, and Shawn Connolly.
Website: www.circlea.com
Some Products:
The JJ Rodgers model. If you don't know, he was a pro for Dogtown around 1990 or so. Heavy, heavy skater. 9 1/4" × 32 1/2", with a wheelbase of 15 1/4". I love it when manufacturers actually put full dimensions on their website...!
Gershon Mosely model, 7 3/4" × 32", wheelbase 14 1/4".
Summary: Great little company from "back in the day"... it's good to see them still hanging in there.
Embassy Skateboards
Home Base: Texas Proud... I'm guessing, somewhere near Houston (see below).
How We Discovered Them: I think I heard about them on Skull and Bones...?
Team: John Gibson, Lee Leal, Ken Fillion, Todd Prince, Troy Chason, Gene Hare, Max Peterson, Ben Johnson, Edward Sanchez, Gary Morris, and Priscilla Lee ("from California"!). You'll recognize a lot of these guys as being old "Skatepark of Houston" locals that regularly graced the pages of TransWorld back in the day...
Website: www.embassyskateboards.com
Some Products:
This is so rad... this is why we do these things. A killer Jeff Phillips Tribute Deck! I need to get one of these, straight away...
John "Tex" Gibson model... another fuckin' winner, in my book...
When does the radness end with these guys...? Hey, John! Keep me in the loop, willya buddy...?!
Summary: If Texas-sized vert skating is your bag, then this company is definitely for you! They also make a wide array of standard popsickles, too, for you Texas-sized street shredders out there.
Cockfight Skateboards
Home Base: Texas Proud, all over again... but, where exactly...?! I can't say fersure...
How We Discovered Them: I'm pretty sure I heard of these guys on Skull and Bones as well.
Team: Adam Wiggins, Jeremy Smith, Heath Cherryhomes, Billy Fortier , Wes Meadows, Brett Roper, Jesse Davis , Dave "Shaggy" Palmer, Jon Comer, Dan Wilkes, Dave Donalson, Oliver Bradley, Peter Furnee, Chris Schlag , Mike Niemann (the owner), Kevin Lane , Angry Andy Humphrey, Dirty Joe Chopek, Matthew Niemann... whew! Some heavies in there... the "team" page is well worth checking out on this one.
Website: www.cockfightskateboards.com
Some Products:
Maybe some of the best boards I've seen in quite a while, graphically-speaking... these guys make some beautiful planks. Left to right, two Dave Donalsons, the Dave Palmer, and the Jesse Davis. The whole lineup is definitely worth a look...
Summary: Big, burly boards for big, burly skating... what else needs to be said?
Front Porch Skateboards
Home Base: Bloomington, Indiana.
How We Discovered Them: I heard about them from some local down in Bloomington last time I was skating Upper Cascades (I think...?).
Team: Hard sayin' not knowin'.
Website: www.http://www.myspace.com/frontporchskateboards
Some Products:
Although I don't know a whole lot about this one, I can say that their art direction is pretty damn good. You can probably check them out for yourself at Rise in Bloomington... but, where else? Anybody on the 'Net stocking these...?
Summary: We're gonna keep our eyes open for more on this one, because if nothing else, the art looks killer. So I'm guessing that everything else is buttoned down pretty tight, too.
Broken Skateboards
Home Base: Canada, eh!
How We Discovered Them: Skull and Bones, again...!
Team: Jamie Darragh, Soren Chrintz, Caleb Lilly, and Francois Heroux.
Website: www.broken-skateboards.com
Some Products:
Masterpieces...!
Summary: This one is interesting, because this company is a Canadian not-for-profit, and according to the website, their woodshop is "just up the road". "Can your microwave dried board made in China say the same?" Uhhh... no...? The website goes on to elaborate:
"Everyone at Broken volunteers their time from the graphic artists to the sales team. It’s not about making money; it’s about having fun and doing what we love. We pass along the savings to you without sacrificing quality. Any profits are put towards hooking up riders in your community and making sure we can do it all again next year..."
A noble cause, and an interesting business model. Might be the best of both worlds.
