DC Shoe Co. Lynx Zero

What I love about DC Shoes are the crazy discounts they offer customers if you sign up for their mailing list. The team and shoes are also a huge plus. Not too long ago, I grabbed two pairs of Lynx Zeros. I encourage you to support a company founded by skaters.

Santa Cruz Skateboards x Jeff Kendall "End of the World"

I've had my eye on this Santa Cruz Jeff Kendall deck since I first saw it on the Switch website months ago. Thankfully, it was still available during the Black Friday sale and nabbed it right when they opened. I wanted to set this up immediately, but might keep this on the wall. This board measures 10" x 29.7" with Cruise Missle II concave and a matte finish. The best truck width I'd recommend is an 8.75" axle.

Support your independent skate shop this Christmas season.

Birdhouse Skateboards x Tony Hawk Complete [Early-2000s Recreation]

For as long as I can recall, I've always wanted to find my first pro complete skateboard in any type of capacity. In the spring of 2001, my mom and I went to two skate shops [bad idea] to build my first setup. It was a 7.75" Birdhouse Willy Santos "Huster Will-E" deck with 775 black/polished Fury Trucks and 55.5mm Spitfire Wheels "Charred Remains," which my mom picked out. Although finding the exact components are impossible today, I still felt like I can create something close. Luckily, thanks to Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, and patience - I was able to scoop this 7.75" Tony Hawk deck and finally complete my first board.

As stated above, I originally had Fury Trucks with a black hanger, silver baseplate, and red bushings. Unfortunately, I sold my only pair years ago, but substituted them for a pair of Thunder Trucks with rearranged pieces. It's a really clean cut/paste.

As for the wheels, they too are impossible to find. Throughout the years, I obtained 2 sets which were either sold, stolen, or given away - I can't remember. So as a quick filler, some generic Scorchers with orange Bronson bearings will suffice.

The deck above was what I owned back in the day. How I departed with it is a pretty crappy story. But with how reissues are going, I won't be surprised if this ever comes out of Willy's Workshop. Below are the trucks and wheels that helped me roll, turn, slide and grind. Maybe I will skate these shoes in the not too distant future.

Vans x Willy Santos

This week ended off with a bang when a deadstock pair Vans Willy Santos pro model shoes were dropped to the front door. These were my first pro skate shoes [albeit different colour] I've ever owned back in 2001 and are definitely not going anywhere. I believe Willy Santos is the first Filipino with their own signature shoe. As a skateboarder though, I'm itching to skate these one more time.

From top to bottom, inside and out, these shoes were definitel a product of the time. Originally released in 1998, they feature a suede and nubuck upper with 3M reflective piping.

The tongue and collar are heavily padded. The triple stitched toe adds reinforcement and the cupsole construction helps reduce impact.

This was a trading card that came with the shoes and actually used it in a presentation for famous Filipinos back in the ninth grade.

Krooked Zip Zinger

Super Duper Skateboards is run by a really great shop owner and I encourage anyone in Toronto to check them out. Throwing it back to the glory days of skate shops, I was able to trade some popsicle shaped decks for a few cruisers. One of them is this Krooked Zip Zinger.

Measuring 7.6" x 30", this is one of the most versatile cruiser decks out there. I may keep this on ice until my nephew feels like skating, otherwise it'll be added to my quiver.

DC Shoes x Kalis Lite

DC Shoes has always been a favourite brand of mine since I started skating. Josh Kalis has always been one my favourite pros when I started skating. When these Kalis Lite shoes went on sale, I quickly grabbed a pair just because the price was right along with the look.

Alien Workshop x Strobe Series x Josh Kalis

Here's a pretty sweet find online, a seller was letting go of a vintage Alien Workshop Josh Kalis deck. It dates around Mindfield era with some other legendary names on the board. Josh Kalis has been one of my favourites for years and I'm very stoked to add this to the collection.

Quasi Skateboards Pickups

Grand Trading, Canada's distributor of Quasi Skateboards, had a contest this winter when you purchase one of their decks. One deck I purchase is an 8.38" Dick Rizzo "Run" and an 8.38" Justin Henry "BIG" deck.
Although I didn't receive the grand prize, they won a very generous "Participation Award."

I was sent two Quasi decks, the above is an 8.625" "A/B" team deck and an 8.5" Gilbert Crockett "Deuce" board seen below.

As for an added bonus, I received a set of 52mm SML Morgan Smith "Lucidity" wheels.