When skateboarding started breaking onto the scene, Banzai was right there. Founded in 1976, Banazai Inc became famous for its anodized aluminium decks on their skateboards. The decks featured the first double kicktails, and sported space-age design elements. Now Banzai is making a comeback, offering a limited edition 1976 skateboard.
“We spent decades preserving one of the largest collections of original vintage Banzai skateboards,” reads a press release regarding the reissue. “The more boards we gathered, the greater the urge became to actually bring this icon back on the streets. 43 years later we are celebrating its legacy by releasing a reissue of the brand’s most original shapes.”
The reissue of Banzai’s iconic skateboard comes in two sizes: a medium measuring 23.5 inches and a large measuring 28.5 inches. The shorter board sits closer to the ground, which requires a more controlled riding technique. The larger board comes with thicker, shock-absorbing riser pads. The decks are offered in four colours and only 50 of each combination will be made. The boards will come in a collector’s box that includes specially designed retro tools as well as a print by artists like David Carson, Jay Nelson, Nathaniel Russel, Tod Glaser, and Cole Barash. The boards are made using a heat-treated and brushed aluminium, which gives the boards their unique texture. The aluminium increases the stability of the boards and allows for increased power transmission. They come with an updated wheelbase and shock absorbers.
The boards come with the kind of treatment that you would only get from those that truly appreciate the vintage history of skateboarding. In this case, that’s Christoph Schmidt of Weekend Heroes and Auxietre & Schmidt. Thomas Schlereth, an avid collector of Banzai boards, also joined the venture. Their vision was to bring back the skating experience of the 1970s—the slalom feeling of short boards, or the urban hovering of the long.
When skateboarding started breaking onto the scene, Banzai was right there. Founded in 1976, Banazai Inc became famous for its anodized aluminium decks on their skateboards. The decks featured the first double kicktails, and sported space-age design elements. Now Banzai is making a comeback, offering a limited edition 1976 skateboard.
“We spent decades preserving one of the largest collections of original vintage Banzai skateboards,” reads a press release regarding the reissue. “The more boards we gathered, the greater the urge became to actually bring this icon back on the streets. 43 years later we are celebrating its legacy by releasing a reissue of the brand’s most original shapes.”
The reissue of Banzai’s iconic skateboard comes in two sizes: a medium measuring 23.5 inches and a large measuring 28.5 inches. The shorter board sits closer to the ground, which requires a more controlled riding technique. The larger board comes with thicker, shock-absorbing riser pads. The decks are offered in four colors and only 50 of each combination will be made. The boards will come in a collector’s box that includes specially designed retro tools as well as a print by artists like David Carson, Jay Nelson, Nathaniel Russel, Tod Glaser, and Cole Barash. The boards are made using a heat-treated and brushed aluminium, which gives the boards their unique texture. The aluminium increases the stability of the boards and allows for increased power transmission. They come with an updated wheelbase and shock absorbers.
The boards come with the kind of treatment that you would only get from those that truly appreciate the vintage history of skateboarding. In this case, that’s Christoph Schmidt of Weekend Heroes and Auxietre & Schmidt. Thomas Schlereth, an avid collector of Banzai boards, also joined the venture. Their vision was to bring back the skating experience of the 1970s—the slalom feeling of short boards, or the urban hovering of the long.
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