Zero Skateboards is a skateboard company located in Carlsbad, California, United States. 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. Subsequently, in 2016, Thomas and Dwindle announced that Zero Skateboards would be operated independently by Thomas.[1]
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.[citation needed]
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, 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]
Zero rider Chris Cole won ThrasherS.O.T.Y. award (Skateboarder of the Year) on two occasions, a feat that has only been achieved by three skateboarders in the history of the award (the other skateboarders are Danny Way and Tyshawn Jones).[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]
^Brian Blakely (June 30, 2016). "20 Years of Zero Skateboards". TransWorld Skateboarding. The Enthusiast Network. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
^"Zero Skateboards skate videos". Skatevideosite.com. Skatevideosite.com. 2005–2013. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
