Top 5 Companies in Skateboard Market to Know in 2025

Skateboarding goes beyond a sport. It has become a lifestyle, a method of self-expression, and a global movement that has spanned generations. Skateboarding has come a long way since its beginning in the 1950s, now being considered a cultural sensation and an Olympic sport. Whether used for street tricks, downhill racing, or casual cruising, skateboarding is constantly evolving in its design, materials, and technologies. Currently, skateboarding is experiencing a renaissance with developments like electric skateboards, sustainable materials, and new deck shapes.

The skateboard market continues to flourish with a myriad of brands, manufacturers, and craftspeople working towards artistry in design, performance, and a sustainability model. In this blog, we will take a look at skateboards in further detail. We’ll explore their history, components, and the leading companies in the skateboard market.

Development of Skateboards

The tale of skateboarding began in the 1950s when surfers in California sought to find a way to “surf” on land. The initial skateboards were often unique, approach-specific assemblies of wooden boards with roller skate wheels attached. By the 1970s, with the incorporation of innovations such as wheels made from PU types available in the polyurethane market, skateboarding began to gain acceptance and popularity as a sport in its own right, and it was still seen as a wonderful pastime. In the 1980s and into the 1990s, street and vert skating began to flourish, with brand names like Powell Peralta and Santa Cruz leading the marketing charge as skateboarding came into its own.

Now, into the 21st century, skateboarding has become a worldwide sport. It made its debut in the Olympics during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, ushering a new era of recognition and legitimacy. Skateboards are no longer just for recreational use in neighborhoods around the world. They are canvases for art, vehicles for non-activism and empowering action, and they remain an ideal form of counterculture.

Skateboard Construction Explained

A skateboard appears simple, but it is an engineered object. Here is a breakdown of the important parts.

Deck: The deck is the flat board, usually made of 7-9 layers of maple wood. There are many shapes and sizes of decks to use for different types of skating, depending on whether you are a street skater, vert skater, or cruising skater.

Trucks: Mounted underneath the deck, these are metal T-shaped pieces that attach to the wheels and allow turning.

Wheels: Skateboard wheels are typically made of urethane and come in various sizes and hardness based on the type of skating. Softer, larger wheels are better for cruising, while smaller, harder wheels are used for street skating.

Bearings: Small, round pieces that fit inside the wheels to allow them to turn smoothly.

Grip Tape: Grip tape is a sandpaper-like material applied to the deck to provide traction for the skateboarder’s feet.

Hardware: The nuts and bolts used to assemble the skateboard.

New Designs Trends and Technologies in Skateboards

Custom and AI-Built Skateboards

Skateboard companies are now using AI tools from the artificial intelligence market to analyze skateboarding data to build skateboard decks that are fine-tuned for specific tricks, conditions, and durability. Customization of board designs is now also more prevalent thanks to 3D printing.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Skateboards

With increased awareness of the environment, skateboard companies are now switching to bamboo for decks, using recycled plastic for wheels, and offering biodegradable grip tape to use natural resources and minimize waste.

Electric Skateboards (E-Boards)

E-boards are definitely one of the hottest trends out there, featuring powerful motors, regenerative braking, and smart connectivity to create a highly enjoyable ride. Companies like Boosted and Meepo are the leaders in this movement.

High-Tech Skateboard Wheels and Bearings

High-tech wheels and bearings are also trending, with features such as self-lubricating bearings, shock-absorbing wheels, and improved, unbreakable urethane compounds. Innovations in the bearings market have helped improve stability and performance.

Key Manufacturers of Skateboards

The skateboard market is home to a mix of legacy brands, innovative startups, and boutique manufacturers. The following are some of the most influential companies in the marketplace.

Powell-Peralta

Founded in 1978, Powell-Peralta is one of the most recognizable skateboard brands. Headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, USA, it is most known for its Bones Brigade team, comprised of Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, and other legends, that changed skateboarding with their decks and wheels. Today, Powell-Peralta remains a progressive brand, as homage is paid to its origins.

Santa Cruz Skateboards

Santa Cruz is another skateboard brand that has become one of the pioneers in the skate industry and was founded in 1973. Known for its over-the-top graphics and artistic collaborations, Santa Cruz remains a top choice among skaters and has not wavered in its popularity for decades. Santa Cruz is also a leader in sustainability, with many products made with recycled or eco-friendly materials. Santa Cruz is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, USA.

Element Skateboards

Element Skateboards is based in Huntington Beach, California and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France. Element Skateboards is a global leader in skateboarding and is committed to being socially and environmentally responsible. Since its establishment in 1992, Element has been associated with progressive design and high-performance skateboards. Element’s “Give Back” program focuses on sustainability goals and supports initiatives such as reforestation and youth empowerment.

Plan B Skateboards

Founded in 1991 and headquartered in San Diego, California, Plan B quickly gained popularity for their elite team riders and technology. After a short hiatus, Plan B returned in 2005 and continues to produce some of the most sought after decks in the industry.

Baker Skateboards

Baker Skateboards is headquartered in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, USA. Baker Skateboards was founded in 2000 and is known for its skateboard decks, which feature quality and graphics that stand out from its peers in the industry. Baker Skateboards has been able to garner a loyal following due to its authenticity to skateboarding culture and its support for rising skateboard talent.

Conclusion

The skateboard market is changing at an unprecedented rate, with product innovations taking place, e-boards gaining interest, and advances in sustainability efforts. Skateboards have become a more advanced piece of technology, spurred on by industry-leading skate brands and higher-end, skilled manufacturing companies. Whether it is for a pro skater, commuter, or novice, there are now skateboards that fit the specific needs of riders.