Products from Powell-Peralta
Powell-Peralta
The urge to develop something completely new and to change the market completely - that is the most common reason for which a group of people decides to start a company. That was exactly what drove George Powell to found Powell-Peralta. But that was not the only reason.
The first steps to success
The first push in this direction came from his son. He loved skateboarding but was dissatisfied. The wheels of the old boards just didn't give him the ease he wanted. As luck would have it, George was an engineer and immediately took on the problem. After all, there had to be a solution.
So he started tinkering, because he himself was also passionate about skateboards. Already during his studies, he built his own boards. The task of fulfilling his son's wish, coupled with his own interest, ignited a real fire in him. Exactly what you need to set up a successful company.
George Powell discovered a new material and in 1974 he started making skateboard wheels out of urethane. It turned out to be particularly suitable for the production of wheels, because it made it possible to produce wheels in different degrees of hardness and thus adapt them individually to the needs of the user. He is considered a true revolution in skateboarding history and gave the sport a new boost in popularity. He also worked with aluminium and fibreglass. With the intensive work on the boards, Powell also rekindled one of his old passions - skateboard decks. Powell brought Stacy Peralta on board and the success story began. In 1978, the Santa Barbara brand was born.
The struggle to get out of the slump
However, Powell-Peralta was not the only brand working with the promising material and producing skateboard wheels made of urethane. Many others jumped on the bandwagon of the rising popularity of skate sports, which is why the competition grew and became more and more serious.
In the 1990s, the company's success was finally on the decline. In the meantime, the company had managed to win over a large number of well-known skaters, but they gradually left. Stacy Peralta also left the company in 1991.
But Powell did not want to give up without a fight and continued to work on the brand under his own name. He also founded two other companies: Bones Bearings and Bones Wheels. Both became a real success and so Stacy Peralta joined his old business partner again. Both labels are still successful today.
The stars in the sky of the skateboard world
In the 1980s, the brand managed to put together probably the most successful skate team in the entire history of skateboarding - the Bones Brigade Team. Steve Caballero, Tommy Guerrero, Tony Hawk, Mike McGill, Rodney Mullen and Lance Mountain were the superstars of skate heaven. They inspired with a completely new and unique style and are still true inspirations for the new generation of the scene.
His undeniable influence in the world of skating is shown in his skate films The Bones Brigade Video Show from 1984, The Search for Animal Chin from 1987 and Propaganda, released in 1990 - true legends.
The brand's current team is made up of Brad McClain, Kevin Harris and Kilian Martin. Steve Caballero from the former Bones Brigade team is also back.
From old school classics to the most modern designs
At Powell-Peralta you get everything your skater heart desires in the highest quality. Among them are new editions of old classic motifs of the brand and completely new and modern designs. Bearings, decks, trucks, wheels and, of course, boards are all part of the wide range that you can browse online from the comfort of your own home. You'll also find the right streetwear in the shop.