Girl Skateboards: The Story of One of Skateboarding’s Most Influential Companies 

Girl Skateboards is one of the most important, long-standing, and influential skate companies in the history of global skateboarding. The brand was officially founded in 1993 in California by absolute legends of the American scene, including Rick Howard, Mike Carroll, Megan Baltimore, and Spike Jonze.

From the very beginning, Girl Skateboards stood out from the classic skate brands of the era. It wasn’t just a company that produced professional skateboards, but a creative project built by skaters for skaters, with the goal of creating a brand that would endure long after the riders’ competitive careers had ended.

Rick Howard and Mike Carroll wanted to build a real future for their friends and teammates, allowing professional skaters to continue making a living from skateboarding even after their years of competing at the highest level.

The Girl Skateboards logo, inspired by the women’s restroom symbol, quickly became one of the most recognizable icons in global skate culture. Even today, seeing that symbol is enough to immediately associate it with Girl and its history.

Over the course of more than thirty years, the Californian brand has managed to keep its identity intact, continuing to evolve without losing its connection to authentic skateboarding.

The Origins of Girl Skateboards and the Revolution of the 90s

In the early ’90s, the skateboarding scene was undergoing a period of massive change. Street skating was becoming increasingly technical and creative, and Girl Skateboards immediately stood out thanks to an innovative style in both its videos and products.

From the very beginning, the brand began producing professional skateboard decks, skate apparel, and accessories characterized by clean, ironic, and easily recognizable graphics. Girl Skateboards decks quickly became a benchmark for countless skaters thanks to their build quality and an image that was completely different from that of their competitors at the time.

What made the brand special was, above all, its team. During the ’90s, Girl could count on some of the strongest and most stylish skaters in the world, such as Eric Koston, Guy Mariano, Jovontae Turner, Rudy Johnson, Tim Gavin, Tony Ferguson, Sean Sheffey, and Jeron Wilson.

In those years, the Girl Skateboards team represented a true cultural revolution. Their skating style was technical, fluid, innovative, and far more modern than the rougher, more aggressive skateboarding typical of previous years.

The videos produced by the brand also helped completely transform the global skateboarding scene. Iconic videos like “Goldfish,” “Mouse,” and “Yeah Right!” are still considered absolute milestones in the history of skate videos.

The success of the Girl logo exploded everywhere. T-shirts, hoodies, skate decks, and accessories featuring the brand’s famous symbol began appearing in skateparks around the world, transforming Girl Skateboards into one of the most recognizable brands in the industry.

The famous logo was created by graphic designer Andy Jenkins, a historic figure at the company who remained with the project until 2017.

Girl Skateboards in the 2000s: the team conquers the world

By the early 2000s, Girl Skateboards had definitively joined the global skateboarding elite. The brand continued to grow thanks to a perfect combination of team, videos, products, and image.

Mike Carroll and Rick Howard continued to develop the company with a very clear vision: to maintain authentic skateboarding without turning the brand into something artificial or overly commercial.

During this period, “Modus Operandi” was released, one of the most important videos ever published by the brand. The project showcased a new generation of skaters destined to dominate the scene in the years to come.

Riders like Brandon Biebel, Mike Mo Capaldi, Sean Malto, and Jeremy Rogers helped usher Girl Skateboards into a new era of modern technical skateboarding. The level of tricks kept rising, and the brand always managed to stay one step ahead of countless other companies.

Sean Malto and Mike Mo quickly became some of the most iconic pro skaters in the entire international street scene, helping to introduce a new generation of kids to the Girl brand.

Even during this period, Girl Skateboards remained among the most sought-after in the world thanks to modern shapes, excellent pop, and instantly recognizable graphics.

Pretty Sweet and the Modern Evolution of Girl Skateboards

In 2012, Girl Skateboards revolutionized the scene once again with the release of the legendary video “Pretty Sweet,” still considered today one of the best modern skate videos ever made.

The project was directed by Federico Vitetta, known in the scene as “Femar,” and completely transformed the way contemporary skate videos were produced.

“Pretty Sweet” impressed the world not only for its cinematic quality but above all for the incredible level of skill displayed by the team’s skaters. Technical tricks, massive spots, lightning-fast lines, and an innovative style made the video an absolute benchmark for the entire global skate scene.

Among the most memorable parts remains that of Sean Malto, who, following the video’s release, definitively cemented his status as one of the most influential skaters of his generation.

Despite the passing of the years and changes within the team, Girl Skateboards has always managed to maintain its original philosophy. Friendship, creativity, and a genuine passion for skateboarding continue to be at the heart of the project today.

In 2015, two legendary figures, Eric Koston and Guy Mariano, decided to part ways with the brand to pursue new personal and professional paths. Despite the loss of two absolute icons, the company continued to evolve without losing its identity.

Girl Skateboards today: one of the most respected companies in the world

In recent years, Girl Skateboards has continued to reinvent itself by introducing top-tier new riders such as Simon Bannerot, Tyler Pacheco, Griffin Gass, Niels Bennett, and Andrew Brophy.

The brand has continued to produce top-tier skate videos, keeping alive that combination of technique, style, and creativity that has made it famous over the past thirty years.

One of the most acclaimed projects in recent years was the “Doll” video, which showcased the new face of the Girl Skateboards team and the company’s modern direction.

Today, the team also includes Breana Geering, one of the strongest and most stylish Canadian skaters on the contemporary scene. Her presence perfectly represents the brand’s modern evolution and Girl’s ability to remain relevant generation after generation.

To this day, Girl Skateboards is distributed by Crailtap, a historic distribution company founded directly by skaters who have shaped the history of global skateboarding.

Choose Girl Skateboards at Pleasures Milano

For over thirty years, Girl Skateboards has remained one of the most important companies in global skateboarding thanks to professional decks, iconic skate videos, and a team featuring some of the most influential riders of all time.

At Pleasures Milano, we select only brands that have left a real mark on skate culture, and Girl Skateboards is undoubtedly one of the most significant entities ever created in the history of modern skateboarding.

In our skate shop, you’ll find Girl Skateboards decks, complete skateboards, skate apparel, and accessories curated to offer the best for both beginners and experienced skaters.

If you need advice on choosing the Girl Skateboards deck that best suits your style, feel free to contact our team: we’ll help you find the perfect setup based on your skill level and the type of skateboarding you want to do.