Zero Skateboards
Zero Skateboards is a skateboard company located in Carlsbad, California, United States (US). The brand was founded by professional skateboarder and entrepreneur Jamie Thomas, and distributed by his Black Box Distribution company. In late June, 2014, Thomas announced that the brand would be distributed by the Dwindle Distribution company, based in El Segundo, California, US. Subsequently, in 2016, Thomas and Dwindle announced that Zero Skateboards would be operated independently by Thomas.[1]
 | |
| Founded | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Founder | |
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Website | zeroskateboards |
History
The Zero brand was originally a clothing company, formed in 1996, and subsequently evolved into a skateboard company, with Thomas leaving Toy Machine to become Zero's first professional team rider.
In early 2003, Thomas opened a plant in Tijuana, Mexico, named "Edieth and Osuna", to manufacture the skateboard decks of the Black Box brands. Zero team rider Chris Cole was a shareholder of the company from 2011 to 2014.[2][3]
The company has released seven videos,[4] with the premiere of the latest release, Cold War, occurring on November 8, 2013. The premiere was held at the La Paloma theater in Encinitas, California, US and Thomas invited every Zero rider, former and current, onto the stage prior to the showing of the 40-minute video.[5]
Transition to Dwindle
In a June 2014 interview with the Jenkem online publication, Thomas explained that the Dwindle Distribution company—responsible for the Enjoi, Blind Skateboards, Almost Skateboards, Darkstar and Cliché Skateboards brands—will take over "the sales, finance, production and distribution aspects" of the Zero brand. Thomas further explained that the Zero employees will remain independent and will focus on "the team, marketing and creative aspects" of the brand.[6] Zero celebrated its 20-year anniversary with a photo art show in June 2016.[7]
Awards
From 2004 to 2006, Zero won three consecutive Thrasher Magazine King of the Road competitions,[8] beating other teams such as Girl Skateboards, Toy Machine, Darkstar, Element, Flip, Habitat, Real, Almost, and Baker Skateboards. Zero declined defending their title for the 2007 King of the Road to start the "Black and White" tour with the Mystery skateboard team.[9]
Cole won Thrasher S.O.T.Y. award (Skateboarder of the Year) on two occasions, a feat that has only been achieved by two skateboarders in the history of the award (the other skateboarder is Danny Way).[10]
Popular culture
- The graphic of the skull used on their "Small Skull"/"Single Skull Mini" board is nearly identical to the skull seen on the shirt worn by Sid in the 1995 animated film Toy Story.[11][12]
- Soundtrack I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) of John Rattray's part in Dying to Live video, originally performed by The Proclaimers, was twice covered by MxPx and Less Than Jake, not long after video release. Soundtrack Another Girl, Another Planet of Garrett Hill's part in New Blood video, originally performed by The Only Ones, was also covered by Blink-182 and included to their Greatest Hits album, which was also released in the same year with «New Blood» video.
Videography
- Thrill of It All (1997)
- Misled Youth (1999)
- Dying to Live (2002)
- New Blood (2005)
- Promo (2006)
- Strange World (2009)
- Fresh 'til Death (feat. DGK) (2011)
- Cold War (2013)
- No Ca$h Value (2014)[13]
- Damn It All (2020)
Team members
Professional
- Jamie Thomas
- Chris Cole
- Dane Burman[14]
- Tommy Sandoval
- Jon Allie
- Adrian Lopez
- Winsdor James
- James Brockman
- Tony Cervantes[15]
- Chris Wimer
- Gabriel Summers
- Forrest Edwards
Amateur
- Reggie Kelly
- Adam Arunski
- Jonno Gaitan
- Colin Lambert
Former
- Erik Ellington
- Jim Greco
- John Rattray
- Elissa Steamer
- Tom Asta
- Marisa Dal Santo
- Ed Duff
- Ben Gilley
- Ryan Smith
- Jon Allie
- Lindsey Robertson
- Garrett Hill[16]
- Jamie Tancowny
- Nick Boserio
- Sheldon Meleshinski
- Ryan Bobier
- Keegan Sauder
- Matt Mumford
- Damian Worsley
- Tom Karangelov
- Donovon Piscopo
- Ben Hatchell
- Forrest Edwards
- Josiah Gatlyn
- Franky Villani
- Scott Copalman
- Aaron Harrison
- Wade Burkitt
- Jud Ferguson
- Kurt Hodge
References
- Lucas Wisenthal (30 November 2016). "Zero Is Parting Ways With Dwindle Distribution". The RIDE Channel. 900 Films Inc. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- biz_editor (27 January 2004). "OFFSHORE MANUFACTURING ALTERNATIVE – BLACK BOX HAS FOUND A WAY TO LOWER COSTS WITHOUT GOING". Transworld Business. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- michaelgoodwin (25 January 2011). "CHRIS COLE NOW A SHAREHOLDER OF ZERO SKATEBOARDS". Transworld Business. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- "World's Best Premiere: Cold War" (Video upload). Thrasher Magazine. High Speed Productions. 10 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- TWS (9 November 2013). "ZERO 'COLD WAR' PREMIERE PHOTOS". TransWorld Skateboarding. GrindMedia. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- Ian Michna (June 2014). "THE FUTURE OF ZERO & FALLEN WITH JAMIE THOMAS". Jenkem. Jenkem. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- Brian Blakely (30 June 2016). "20 Years of Zero Skateboards". TransWorld Skateboarding. The Enthusiast Network. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- Archived November 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- Archived August 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- Chris Nieratko (5 January 2010). "A Good Year". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- Zero Skateboards products, June 6, 2004 (retrieved from the Internet Archive)
- Fall 2015 product lineup (scroll to page 6 to see "Single Skull" design)
- "Zero Skateboards skate videos". Skatevideosite.com. Skatevideosite.com. 2005–2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- "Dane Burman". Zero Skateboards. 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
- "Tony Cervantes Skater Profile, News, Photos, Videos, Coverage, and More at SPoT". Skateparkoftampa.com. 2012-02-28. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
- "Sponsors". Garrett Hill. Garrett Hill. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.