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Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Skateboards is the deck brand of NHS, Inc., a company started in 1973 by three Santa Cruz surfers. It is described as the oldest continuous skateboard company in the world and is known for Jim Phillips's graphics, including the Screaming Hand.

History

  • NHS, Inc. was founded in 1973 by surfing friends Richard Novak, Doug Haut and Jay Shuirman; the name comes from their surname initials. [1][2][3]
  • NHS began by supplying fibreglass and surfboard raw materials before moving into skateboards. [2][3]
  • The first skateboards were an order of 500 boards for a Hawaiian company, made using surplus fibreglass. [1][4]
  • In 1974 NHS helped develop Road Rider wheels, which put a precision bearing inside a urethane wheel. [2][3]
  • Jim Phillips designed the Santa Cruz logo in 1978 and created the Screaming Hand graphic in 1985. [1]
  • The company survived the early-1980s skateboard slump, when revenue fell from about $20 million in 1979 to roughly $400,000. [3]
  • Santa Cruz launched NuWood plastic decks in 1994. [4]
  • NHS was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2013. [2]

Catalogues

Also in these catalogues

From NHS, who made or distributed Santa Cruz.

Videos

Decks

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Stocked in the UK by

Independent UK skate shops listing Santa Cruz decks right now, from their online shops (checked every few days).

All UK skate shops

Sources

  1. NHS, Inc. (Wikipedia)
  2. NHS SHoF 2013 (Skateboarding Hall of Fame and Museum)
  3. Santa Cruz Skateboards hits its 50th anniversary as a crucial component in the history of skateboarding (Lookout Santa Cruz)
  4. A Short History of Santa Cruz Skateboards (Slick Willie's Skate Store)