Pure crap or Pure Genius? In the late 80’s I wouldn’t have been caught dead on a Variflex board, now I kind of want to make a t-shirt out of this old sticker design. The post on the Variflex XP series still gets a lot of traffic, but I’d never seen a Spittle board… until I googled it after writing that last sentence. I found one from Ebay seller toddtwist, AKA Sean Goff. Turns out the Spittle board looks semi-legit. This one sold for a killing at $280 considering NOS Variflex XP series were going for $70 8 years ago. Art of Skateboarding dates this board to 1988, and they’ve got one in a nice white colorway.
UPDATE: Justin Goetz has a mind like steel trap. He recognized this deck from an old Lance Mountain column in the November, 1989 issue of Transworld. It’s actually a pro model for Michel Spitalhouse. I added scans to the end of the post.
UPDATE #2: Here’s link to a 1989 Variflex ad that features two Spittle decks in it. This was the street version, and there was a vert version too.
Notice the sticker says “XPS Series,” which is technically different from the XP Series. The extra “S” stood for “Signature.” Whoever this Spittle character was, he must have been hardcore, it says so right on the deck! He must have crushed it with those royalties.
The Spittle guy manages to rip off two companies at the same time, or are you blind to the Santa Cruz Slasher and Indy trucks references? Notice the Maltese cross is missing from the sticker design. I wonder if they got a cease and desist from Fausto.
Even these wheels look up to snuff by 80’s standards, and check out that Cell Block knock-off riser pad.
I can’t remember if NMB were legit bearings, but Nash used them as well.
Mr Goff did a nice job on presenting this board for sale.
Spittle sticker in slightly larger version.
Michel Spitalhouse feature in Lance Mountain’s Anyone – Anything. Turns out the Spittle was an actual pro model.
10 comments
kevin
i’m with you on been seen on a variflex .
Arsenio venkman
So that’s where ace trucks got their hanger
Prickly Pete
Not sure if this is the right place to raise the question, but what was the deal with mustachioed/mulleted/Oakley-wearing, late 80s Veriflex skater Jeff Jones? Veriflex (and Shark brand watches) ran adds with him superimposed over rollercoasters and stuff. You never saw or read about the guy in contests or at some random session that got coverage. I mean, whaaat’s the deal?
Arsenio venkman
Jeff jones owned a skatepark in brick nj called the incline club in 1990 till ? I used to go there in 91 to 92. Jeff was real good. It was my first time at a skatepark and I really couldn’t handle anything other than the micro ramp at 16 years old. Jeff was in a gotcha contest in 87 he spun a sick fronside 540…..
david odk
NMB bearings were sold in most skateshops here and were a little bit cheaper than SKF
Kilwag
BUMP. Michel Spitalhouse por model! New pics added.
brian
I don’t know about this model in particular- but I had a Variflex in ’87 and the deck was the least of the problems with that thing.
Wheels wouldn’t slide and the trucks wouldn’t grind on that thing. I would ollie up onto the curb and it was like *insta-stop*
Not to mention heavy.
btw: I learned how to ollie on that board. It took me about 6 months of daily practice on our front sidewalk.
Gina Hughes
What would you value this Veriflex Spittle skateboard at?
Sean
I just wanted to say how much I love your products! I’m a big fan and really enjoy everything your brand stands for. I’d love to show my support, but I’m not in a place to buy any stickers right now.
If you happen to have any free stickers available, I’d be super grateful if you could send one my way!
Thanks so much for your time and for making such awesome stuff.
Bless you guys for all you do
Sean O’Neal
2753 Richmond rd
#230
Lexington ky 40509
Juan Carlos
Yo tengo la misma, (l have the identic skate