Thanks

thanks for staying out of the box
thanks for black and white
thanks for nostalgia
thanks for encouragment
thanks for brotherhood
thanks for old school
thanks for the fun shape
thanks for the eighties
thanks for wearing pants that fit
thanks for holding out
thanks for holding on
thanks for not selling out
thanks, for Skull Skates...

P.D.
I remember going to a free concert you guys hosted at the store down town after closing. It would have been sometime around '88 or '89? I think the band was Gorilla Gorilla or something like that, and if my foggy memory serves me correctly, Bif Naked was just a kid singer for one of the bands, before the corporate pop producers latched onto her. Maybe she owes her new-found success and career to a favor from P.D.'s Hot Shop back in the day? Or maybe the old-school "hydro" was too much, and I've got it all wrong. Anyway, that was a cool thing for you guys to do for us "kids", and I imagine there was more work involved than anyone thanked you for at the time, so here you go - thanks dudes. Some things have changed, and others haven't; thumbs up to everyone who kept things real, and never sold out their conviction, truth, or belief.
G.N.C. SKULL!!!
RF

(No Subject)

hey skull skates. I saw your piece on concrete wave, i just wanted to say that its awsome that your all about incouraging kids just to skate for fun not to get caught up in all the comotion about sponsorships.I am 15 yrs old and have been riding for 2 yrs and i feel that skating is a feeling and style relative to each individual skater. skating is an art form. a form of self expression. skating is something u don't have to be good at, its something u love! I am the only person out of my friends who skates. I skate because I love the feeling and excitment it sends threw my vanes! not because anybody else does it, or because I have my hopes up about sponsorships. Untill your piece on concrete wave i never knew that "skull skates" originated in Regina,SK. I am from Swift Current,SK! just 2 hrs away. I just thought i would write you to tell you what a great job "skull skates" is doing, and that I support your ideas and thoughts about the skating world.

sincerly: a skater just in it for the thrill!
Jason Mann P.S. I would greatly appreciate a response.but if not im just glad u heard my thoughts. you can e-mail me at ****@hotmail.com or the address wich i sent this email to you from. Once again thanks for making skatingso awsome!

Hey Pete, how the hell are ya mon.....it is Blake here, your friendly luge man. Well, after an awesome winter in the mountains its time for us to start ripping Cypress road again. We have made two efforts this year already , both fucked up by third parties thus, no luging. First was the unruly parks board woman who didn't think what we wanted to do was right so, we left thinking "there will be another day " second , was the idiot motorcyclist who thought he was Kenny Roberts or somebody until he hucked it off in the middle of the upper lookout corner and brought out every kind of uniform imaginable up the mountain , foiled again. I will keep in touch to let you know when we are headed up the mountain (should be soon) in the past, you had mentioned pictures to be taken or an article for your magazine.

Great web site Pete,

talk to you soon.

Hi PD my name is Myron & I'm Halifax, NS I bought one of your BMX frames from Jerry and Sonny at Pro Skateboards. I think you designed the best bike I've ever rode … strong, stiff and responsive as hell. I've been riding for about 6 years and your frame kicks ass. Anyway, just wanted to send you props on great craftsmanship. Again great job all of my friends love it too and it looks so damn bad ass.

Myron.

pd, lisa

stumbled upon computer,got yer info fer longboard shred+jaks e van comp via wenj connection....one a these summers....herd yer surfin the chill, pretty damn cold down here in s.d....coupla sicky south swells so far...gone lefty no goof..+ got on the roof some rusty metal cylandros,and celebrated the l.b. roll fer miles on smooth black desert snake canyons floor,12 miles as the coyote howls to soak in gibous moon hot spring spoolz...talked to alva bout '76 fer a minit at all girl skate jammie but he was all '99 and 86ed me fer the eye candi...he's mc'n...what about adams,,shogo,,biniakhumpstonmuir??? Never nuff time fer the past.. lake?? constantineou..wuddubout kent senatore & valdez!!! ran into old shred master from the day eerily in the same condoplex i'm chillin,, bill caveman...gronk of the n .j. flamecrew (original flamebuoyyyzz) born again christian as bent on savin me as i am now on savin him gave up the shred life at the age a forty "cuz it wuz to hollow" can ya picture his mug{my mug}when i sed "but dude thats when it's the BEST....."now we're both playin hide and seek with the truth and each other...but anyway it's all just blah blah blah as shirai would say I'm headin back to frisco to work for a month and will be up yer way in mid november....still got a souldier round? if you do dust it off for me and i'll make plans to $$$ it from yu whilst I'm in s.f. burnside wudn't be right widout it..knowadamsayi'n...

peace evgato

PD,

What the hell has been happening?

I took off from the NYC are two years ago and have been living in the Northwest - Portland, Oregon more specifically.

I came out here to skate and snowboard. It has been a bit rough. I blew out my knee olleying off a loading dock and over a dumpster.

Major surgery, complications, and now for the last year slow recovery. I am feeling the years. I now have pins and bolts in my knee and hand. Other than that it has been great in the wet NW. I am getting back into doing Martial Arts to gain my flexibility to skate.

It is weird to be looking at your web pages and drifting back to NYC in 1985-1990. So many good memories.

Have you kept in touch with any of the old timers from the NYC scene? Lots of the old gang got cracked up and whacked out.

Your web-page is killer. I am glad to see your still at it. I get ill sometimes skating with the little dweebs today - It always seemed like the '80's scene was so much more counter culture. But I guess that is to be expected with the wholesale commercialization & personification of the "skater" image.

I'm just getting old - really.

I am living in this house I bought in what Portlanders, (whitelanders) consider to be a bad neighborhood in Portland. This town is so white it is amazing. Skinheads and all.

Hey I remember a trade show in Atlantic City and you had just shaved your head and some locals were vibing you because they thought you were part of the AC skinheads or something like that.

Portland is nothing compared to Newark, New Jersey. Occasional gunfire can be a bit distracting but I was able to buy a house that's near downtown and still have a yard to keep my Rotweiler and do some serious organic gardening. It is styling - NYC area was way to expensive for my reaches, just a bunch of rats - however with some of the best skate-spots and women the world has to offer.

Adios,

PVO

K.B.

Your truly: Gnarly Guy. Time for a warm beer.

Oak & 67^th, shopping for Sims Lester Kasai's and Powell Allen Gelfands. Numerous SC Bevels and Rampages on the walls. After dark Planetarium sessions. Expo banks. Seylynn. Bentall. Throwing sparks off the pedal in the tunnel at roll '96 the wrong way around Stanley Park seawall. Jaks banks. Jimbo at Granville Island. Sluggo at China et elsewhere. McKay at The Ranch. McCoo at Wang Banks. Various Bones Brigadeers at the first Richmond. Way back - ready for this? - Whale Pool up in Cypress Park Estates, West Van - super tight steep & deep kidney - you were there. Always glad to see the O.G. Van man rockin' it. Haven't lived in Van for a year, but will always be close to the Hot Shop at heart.

See ya soon Pete.

Missing Van. And trying to stay right.

You older skoolers need to throw away those tight jeans, and moldy old vans high cuts and your gay-ass Skull Skates t-shirts. And get some phat DC's and some shorty's jeans. You need to get rid of those huge wheels, and fat boards and stupid old school tricks that know one does anymore, like early grabs. You need to start doing switch crooks down handrails. Welcome to the 90's skating is hip hop, and u guys suck !!! Go back to 1970 when someone might have cared.

Reply:

What up B? Thanks so much for your deep insight and fashion tips ... you are obviously a smart and talented kid. We did like you said and threw away all our stupid clothes, wheels, tricks and stuff because we want to be down with smart kids like you. Thanks for taking the time to send us an e-mail explaining that no one cares.

Keep your jeans baggy an your gat loaded yo.

Peace, God.

My friends are gay

Sorry buddy, I had a couple of friends over and they where fucking around on my computer. To me I honestly don't care what your style of skating is or what type of clothes u wear. Skating is all about having fun weather it's doing bones drops, or nollie heel flips. Sorry my friends are kind of ignorant when it comes to skaters like yourselves. Oh yeah did u guys sponsor Steve Olson from the shorty's team ?

Hello. I was really surprised when a buddy told me about this web site.

I thought you guys were long gone. It's funny because I used to own every single one of those boards on you "Our Story" page except the prototype decks.

So here's my big question, why aren't you bringing back the classics?

Why do you have street graffiti with a punk Skull logo on it? This doesn't make any sense to me? If you have old stock of some of your classics, I'd love to make a bid on them. I understand times change and so do you're products, but $80 for a deck that's only two color graphics? Is that Canadian price? That would make sense then. I can't wait to get my catalog and save up to buy punk products that are twice that of chumps like Rococo and such. Seriously, I mean no disrespect, I've got a Skull tattoo on my right calf and I used to live for the Dead Guy deck and the Teapots.

Keep rockin.

I want to thank you for your site, for publishing (a bit of) your history and for starting and faithfully sustaining the "Skull" - mystique

I first walked into PD's Hot Shop maybe 15 years ago …. and I stepped out in awe. I was kinda interested in BMX at the time but I quickly acquired an interest in all those weird skateboards on the wall. When I started skating, the only other guys / gals skating in my town (White Rock) were 3 "punks". On numerous occasions I encountered these souls. We would never speak a word to each other …. just skate. I developed a great respect for those guys (I think their names were Digger Dan, Jane and Brad).

I continued skating into my University years. I can definitely relate to your characterization of some "skateboard - owners" who referred to "Skull" as "Skates". It makes me feel a bit sick to the stomach.

The image that 98% of the population who knows me, has of me now, is very different from those days. I have held jobs of "Senior Management Consultant", "Manager of Strategic and Technology Services" and others in New York, Toronto, Bangkok and now Tokyo. But, to end this e-mail, I continue to lug around to whatever my current city is, a "Skull" sticker and T-shirt.

Thanks. PD's Hot Shop, Skull Skates and related things have made a distinctive impression on me … an impression that has shaped a certain aspect of me. That aspect, is one that will always stay with me and one that I am very proud of and grateful for.

Hey, it's Stephanie in Oregon. Got the gear yesterday or the day before, I'm not sure, haven't been home in days. But I can't thank you enough for you willingness to help me get this stuff. My friend is stoked on the, "Harder Crimes" shirt. Her mom is thinking about ordering one, she's on the Portland Police force and wants to wear it to work! Oh, and my friend wants a sweatshirt, do you have them in Yellow? What colors do you have? Well, I might send in an order for her soon. We also want to get a baby tee for our friends new little boy. Anyhow, thanks again, you guys kick ass up there!

Dear Hot Shop,

On Tuesday, August 13^th - after a long bus ride - I finally approached your store with twenties flying out of my ass & I purchased a complete skateboard and a sweatshirt. The cool thing about your store was the guy that was working there was so fucking nice to me. I worked my ass off for two damn weeks to get the money and I was happy to throw it away at your store. Now I can do fake front side kickflips and shit and I owe it all to your store with your fine skateboards, I thought you'd like to know.

Sincerely,

T.M.

Oh yeah, I'll be back.

Skateboarding Business
10/01/2000
To: Product / Promotions Manager

This Thursday, October 5 is the deadline to send us your latest news, press releases, and team updates for TransWorld SKATEboarding Business Volume 12 Number 3. It will be in your mail box in mid November. SKATE Biz Assistant Editor Eric Sentianin will be out of the office this week, so send your info to Miki Vuckovich this time.

Thank you,
Miki Vuckovich.
Editor, TransWorld Skateboarding Business.

Reply -
Press Release For Immediate Release
Urgent notice. The Skull Skates Mega Corp. wishes to express it's deep concern regarding the recent loss of any soul within the skateboarding industry. Also, please check out our new cargo pants with zip off legs, two turntables and a microphone along with a collapsible aluminum scooter which is sewn into the reflective mesh lining. We will preview our new shoe line with segmented logo soles that are guarantee to leak and fall apart the first time they are worn .... you can't miss our booth which will take up the entire Long Beach Convention Center. Please plug us in your product reviews as we will be purchasing four page full color ads in TWS to create market demand.

Sincerely,
P.D.
Head of Marketing And Promotions Dept.
Skull Skates Mega Corp.

Re-Reply -
I like the part about the scooter-mesh lining. -Mik

I get comments from people walking down the street ever time I wear my Skull Skates shirt - from these older guys (I'm 25). It's cool to see that it's not just a fad, but more of a movement and that movement is really identifiable by your logo. All the kids can wear their DC's and whatever is cool for the moment, but to have a symbol encapsulate a time in skateboarding when it wasn't a commodity, it wasn't smiled upon and only a select few people did it is really amazing. All the jocks can copy the baggy pants, all the rich older folks can wear Airwalks and feel like they're part of an 'oh so cool sub culture' (if they only realized that Airwalks are damn uncomfortable and they look silly) - what I'm trying to say is that time tests everything. You can buy your way into something, but your not accomplishing anything for having done it. When you are recognized for a purer time, you've accomplished something.

MD

Ottawa, ON.

Dear Skull Skates,

My name is Justin B. and I am 16 years old and I would just like to thank you for making such great and durable products. I live in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and as you know Saskatchewan is home to the coldest weather in Canada. But one day it snowed and snowed and snowed and I accidentally left my board (skull skates board) that I had just purchased, outside. And when I was shoveling one day I found my board, and since it has been in the snow for 2 and a half weeks I thought my board would be toast, but surprisingly still good, and I still have it. (Although my trucks and bearings were ruined)

So I'd like to thank you for making such good products and I'll pick your board over any board in the world, because your boards and accessories are worth it. Thank-you.

A dedicated skater

-Justin B.

(No Subject)

As a kid, I grew up in the eighties , and as a kid in Vancouver it was almost taken for granted that you were into skateboarding, at least in my neighborhood. Being young skaters, we all knew about skullskates and PD's Hotshop. The two were kind of revered, and had a legendary status. We knew Skullskates was the shit and PD's was the place to go even if we weren't really sure why or even where PD's was.

When I found out about PD's on Oak street I took my shitty Woodward's board that I got as a present from my mom and rode all the way down. I lived on Woodstock St., just off 41st and Main, so that was a pretty good distance for an eight year old. When I got there, it was closed. I was bummed. I starred through the window for about half an hour then went home. I came back the next day. It was open and I spent hours in there looking around at everything. I eventually was kicked out by the girl who worked there, but not before asking to see almost every type of truck, wheel and deck in stock. When I saw the Hosoi Hammerhead, I found the board I wanted. The problem was that it was too damn expensive for an eight year old to buy.

I saved like Scrooge for about a month to buy a reject deck (it was slightly warped and had a good size chip on the bottom) and I put the trucks and wheels from my Woodwards board on it.

I spent a lot of hours riding that thing through the neighborhood. We use to skate the Oakridge mall parking garage, sometimes ripping hood ornaments off of Cady's, Benz's and Beamers. Basically just good kid fun.

I did eventually get a proper set up. I saved for a new deck (Hosoi), tracker ultralite trucks and some slimeball wheels (I think that's what they were called), and over the years had quite a few different boards, but that one was always my most prized.

My skating days ended when I was thirteen years old. We moved from Vancouver to Cape Brenton, Nova Scotia. There was literally two paved roads, no parking lots, nothing to skate and no skaters in the town I lived in. I was stranded and had no way to keep in touch with what was going on in skating. So I watched from far away, when I could, picking up the occasional copy of Thrasher and Transworld when I could get to a town with a newsstand.

I didn't like what I saw for the most part. Skating became more and more about image and big companies making lots of money, and I hated those new school trick boards. Most of all though, it just didn't look like it was about having fun anymore; just hanging out with friends and thrashing. It was getting to be (still is?) just another corporate sport.

I have just in the last year or so taken up skating again and I am now trying to design and build my own boards in the styles that I grew up with as a kid. Looking for information on the web, I came across a link to your web site. Looking though it has been such a great nostalgic trip. I was so glad to see you guys are still going and never changed your thinking after all these years. Your website makes me want to get out my old"Licensed to ill" tape, put on some black Levi's and a pair of Chuck's and go thrashing again.

Thanks for what you do.

Mike

PS Bring back the Hosoi Hammerhead!

Reply-

Mike:

It's thanks to eight year old kids and kids of all ages that Skull Skates and PD's Hot Shop is still around today. Your story is a piece of our story and for that we are grateful. My feeling is skateboarding is what you make of it ... if you are a new school tech. kid or an old school shred dog, as long as it holds a special meaning for you, it doesn't matter your style. If you strip away the corporate nastiness, what remains is the essence of skating itself, which cannot be diminished as long as there are skaters who feel it. Stoked to hear you are taking up the from again ... after over 29 years of skateboarding myself, I can't seem to put it down.

Steep hills and cheap thrills,

-PD