Monday, June 20, 2011

Assault Skateboards Made in U.S.A.

I had a long conversation with Assault Skateboards owner and founder Ned Hadden yesterday. We talked a lot about the touchy subject of how most decks found in skate shops today are made in China or Mexico, and the fact that most graphics on these boards are applied by a heat press (thus compromising quality even more). The reason most companies are having boards made elsewhere is to save money. When you are producing literally thousands of boards for mass distribution it increases profit to have them produced for as little money as possible.

At Assault things are done in a different manner. The boards are produced in limited quantity runs in a southern California woodshop where Ned has complete control over quality. The decks are screen printed by hand at Screamin' Inc. in SoCal as well and are not heat pressed. The end result is a quality American made skateboard deck, handcrafted from start to finish. As a company owner, Hadden pays more to produce his boards this way but the difference in cost is not passed along to the consumer. The quality of this production method is evident in the feel of the deck, both in hand and in the ride. But don't take it from me, try one for yourself.

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