Skate and Annoy: Galleries

The History of Makaha

 

The history of MAKAHA is The history of skateboards

As just about everybody knows, skateboarding grew out of the sport of surfing . . . it was a way to let everybody enjoy the thrills of riding waves.

What most people in Britain probably don’t know is that the most famous surfing beach in Hawaii is called Makaha, and so when Larry Stevenson decided to start making skateboards back in 1963 he chose this name to symbolise the fun and excitement to be had from this new sport, and act as a continual reminder of its roots.

MAKAHA’s skateboards are the result of 15 years of continual development.

When MAKAHA started manufacturing, most boards were made of cannibalised roller skates and decks were just whatever came to hand. Larry Stevenson decided that this needed to be changed, and set out to create a range of boards that could be used, by beginners and experts and also for the many different styles of riding that were fast developing all over the States.

MAKAHA — the first to introduce urethane wheels

He tried and tested many different materials, and was, in fact, the first to introduce individually poured urethane wheels, now the universally accepted material for skateboard wheels. But that wasn’t all, he looked at the decks and decided again to go back to the origins and incorporate the surfboard shape, another first for MAKAHA! This too has remained a ‘standard’ ever since.

MAKAHA – the first to incorporate the surfboard shape

Then Larry concentrated on tricks and techniques and became the first manufacturer to introduce the Kicktail feature, virtually indispensible for 360s and kickturns, and once again, there’s hardly a range that hasn’t taken up the idea.

MAKAHA were also the first complete range to have shielded precision bearings on all models showing just how seriously they take the business and their reputation within the sport.

All this might seem enough but it isn’t the end of the story, even now, further research is being carried out and new ideas being developed. You can trust MAKAHA to be right at the front with today’s boards.

MAKAHA – the first to introduce thee Kicktial feature.

Play safe-Pick a MAKAHA

Makaha

The Original Source since 1963

0 comments.  

Leave a Comment

Leave the first comment

Buy Stuff

Help support Skate and Annoy and keep the updates coming!

Recent Comments

  • Raymon D White: Man this brings back memories. It was strictly Vans, and Nike high tops before Vision came out with their shoes. I gave them a shot as my first deck was a Gator, then a Gonzalez. Loved Vision, and ...
  • Whane: Jason is still alive and well (he's not THAT old haha). A few years back his mom passed and he managed the sale of her property but he himself lives further North now. We found some super old and grai...
  • PiNG!: LoNG TiME SNA FaN, THaNKz So MuCH, MuCH RESPeCT !!!...
  • Michiel: You’re doing the lord’s work. Fantastic job....
  • Dave: I'm a bit late to the party here bit I've been packing for a move and come across my old skateboard. The plexiglass ThunderBoard. When I started looking it up l, this blog came up and I found the ar...
  • Kilwag: Mom was looking out for you!...
  • Justin: Doz’r, so bad… kinda glad my mom ignored my request for one....
  • BritSkateMuseum: Just wanted to say I love it when S&A comes up when I google something, thanks for all the work this last 20 odd years 👍...
  • Ciao, incredibile... io ne ho a casa uno uguale, mi era stato regalato da piccolo, quanto può valere?: Ciao, incredibile... io ne ho a casa uno uguale, mi era stato regalato da piccolo, quanto può valere?...
  • John Meaney: Hi by any chance do u have any others and would you be interested in selling one...
  • william mcgill: i am wearing that shirt right now...
  • Deborah: Feel free to reach out i can share info about my grandpa Cecil Schertz. And yes Aaron created the Native logo for him...
  • Eddie: Found this in 2026, so I recently acquired this gonz first model board through an uncle that got it at a thrift. I knew it was old but needed the verification and this article helped me out a lot. Kne...
  • Ashley Harris: I'd like a free catalog please...
  • Szin napalm: My girl has one of these and I put some monster truck style offrad wheels on it the thing is beast. I'm trying to get her to put longboard trucks on it like these reverse style 😀 I got...
  • Matt Be: Those were great starter boards. So many kids got one after graduating from the plastic banana boards. After wearing out the Executioner, it was time for a "Pro" board....
  • Kilwag: Thanks for the update....
  • iDL: Silverstar was a subsidiary of Nicotine Wheels/East Coat Urethane. Originally Ricky Oyola set up Illuminati as a subsidiary of Zoo York but had to close the company due to an existing copyright on ...
  • Matt O'Connell: Turtles was near my house, got demolished in 98 or 99. My friends and I were the last to skate it with Charlie Wilkins and Vinnie Ponte, next day it was demolished after an insane session. Last peop...
  • Kilwag: You're going to love this - the original packaging: https://skateandannoy.com/blog/2014/06/long-rider-mania/...
  • Muppy: 2026 and I’m looking at one in my new band prac room right now. Cheers for this info guys!...
  • J.C.Hoogendijk: was my first deck 40 years ago...
  • Lee: Like Jason already said, the Conquering Warrior was a real complete and it was also my first proper skateboard (I don't consider it my first proper pro board). It was sold in sporting goods stores in ...
  • Ciaran gallagher: Friend me on Facebook Ciaran Gallagher Long Beach I will give you more info. Just seen message...
  • wes: I have a few of these....
  • Kilwag: Well this is funny. I while digging through my basement getting ready for a skate swap, I discovered I already had this game, buried in sea of plastic tubs filled with skate toy ephemera....
  • SEAN GOFF: Thats amazing...
  • Sandokanpedro: Salve ,anche io posseggo le due versioni.... imbullonati e l'altro perni fusi di Il primo nero con adesivo ed era accessoriato con ruote long ,recuperate le sue originali adesso è completo. L'altro...
  • Kilwag: Sorry, it's not our video. looks like it has been removed....
  • Dan: I realize this is a couple years old now, but I really wanna watch this video again. Any chance you can make the YouTube video public again and share the joy?...
  • Seth: These are dope af....
  • Ken: This is a great write up about Surf MC’s. Totally terrible. Wow. I don’t remember them in the 80s, but I grabbed the Surf or Die 12” single from Goodwill the other day. I may file a law suit aga...
  • Maria: This was my Dads company!!! He started it in our garage in Del Mar. I was 14 at the time. Thought I was the shit when we’d go to the competitions!...
  • Harry Rivenburgh: I have one. Contact me if you're still interested...