National Skateboard Championships Patch

Trying to figure out the authenticity of vintage skateboard themed items can be tricky with all digital reproduction methods and relative cheapness in production/reproduction methods compared to yesteryear. These two National Skateboard Championship patches pass the eye test however, and seems date to 1964 and 1965. Theres not really anything out there (online) on these.

The first one showed up on Facebook where Höglund Höglundsson was trying to get more info about it. Tis patch certainly looks old and the embroidery method seems to be age appropriate.

A modern reproduction would look a lot different, even if there was no backing on it. There are no telltale bits of twill sticking beyond the erred edges that are laser cut these days.

Here’s one from 1964 that turned up in animate search but the page it was supposed to be seen on has an invalid SSL certificate and image is missing, otherwise I’d link to it. It’s blurry but it does look vintage, although I’d like to see a detail of the edging before passing a definitive judgement.

Since we’re talking about the 60’s, here’s some old film footage of what was allegedly the first international Skateboard Championship in 1965. These videos seem to be taken down pretty regularly but the source of this an actual ABC affiliate so it should be available long-term.

This low quality transfer of the ABC broadcast that has been featured before on S&A and since been removed has managed to sty online for 3 years… Its kind of hard to watch.