Celebrating 21 years of Loaded Boards (Barely Legal?)
To celebrate these 21 years of Loaded Boards, we’ve decided to launch a limited edition version of the Vanguard (using one of the OG graphics printed with modern technology), and to create a four-part podcast series for a dive deep into the history, stories, and learnings. Hopefully you’ll find this inspiring, and hopefully it’ll help us all further refine and develop our continuing adventure.
Visit The Loaded Boardcast on Spotify (sign into a Spotify account to watch with video, or follow the links below to watch on YouTube):
In addition to the podcast we’d like to use this space to discuss a few major approaches that we think have allowed us to do this successfully 21 years strong.
Additionally, at the bottom of this page is a list of many major milestones in Loaded’s history.
Loaded’s primary goal is to spread stoke and love. After years of soul searching, discussion, and refinement, we’ve determined that this is the most important effort we can do with our lives–using skateboarding as an enigmatic, powerful and beautiful vehicle for that exploration.
We’re not interested in doing what’s already been done (there’s already a ton of great skate gear out there), but rather to create new and important things to expand how we can explore our bodies in space. We're not doing this to be different for the sake of being different, but rather to expand the boundaries of skateboarding in order to enhance and expand the boundaries of our personal, physical and spiritual experiences.
We focus on building relationships and community. Starting internally and spreading out from there. We’ve worked hard to build a team of like minded individuals who challenge each other daily in constructive ways. We have very close relationships with everyone involved in the creation of our boards. We build strong and lasting relationships with our shops, our distributors and with so many amazing skate industry leaders who we are grateful to call friends. And we’re committed to building a vibrant worldwide skate community filled with friendships, adventure and fun.
Timeline/Milestones:
- 1994-1999: Building all kinds of contraptions to try to emulate snowboarding on the streets of NYC and while traveling the world.
- 2000-2002: Moving back to LA and working on building production quality skateboards using snowboard inspired construction and shapes
- June 21st 2002: Launch of the Vanguard
- 2003: Launch of the Hammerhead and the Fish
- 2004: Launch of the Pintail
- 2004: Setting up completes with the newly released Abec 11 Gumballs and launching the first $200+ skateboard
- 2006: First YouTube videos created by Adam Colton including the original Challenge Series
- 2006: Transitioning the entire lineup to Bamboo cores
- 2007: Transitioning all deck production to Ernie at Capital L in San Diego:
- 2007: Launch of the original Dervish, the first flexy drop-through board.
- 2008: Launch of Orangatang and the original Loaded Dancer
- 2009: Developed the Ambassador program: 150 plus ambassadors worldwide who were focused on spreading stoke.
- 2010: Let Go video released (our first video shot with a DSLR)
- 2012: Launch of the Chubby Unicorn (the first Loaded Downhill board)
- 2014: Launch of the Algernon Snowboards
- 2015-2018: Boosted V1 and V2 e-skate Decks and Wheels
- 2016: Launch of the Icarus
- 2018: Launch of Unlimited x Loaded modular e-skate
- 2020: Covid inspired us to make a large investment in internal product development capabilities
- 2022-2023: Community and event growth. More local events in LA and worldwide than ever in Loaded history
We believe that the love between us is imbued in every deck, every wheel and every other piece of gear we create. We hope it's touched you in a positive way and that you have and will use that to spread the stoke even further!