You’d be hard pressed to find a more iconic logo than the original 1985 Natas Kaupas Santa Monica Airlines ‘Panther’ penned by legendary artist Kevin Ancell. Over his long career as one of the true innovators of modern street skating, (Thrasher Magazine wallride covers in 1984 no less!), the Natas Panther graphic has seen numerous reiterations by various different artists and has appeared on boards from his original sponsor SMA (Santa Monica Airlines), decks from the ground-breaking 101 Skateboards brand founded by Natas in the early 90’s, right through to his current home on the legends division of Element.
The graphic reissued and emblazoned on the mesh back trucker cap here is the original version used on an early Natas Kaupas SMA pro model deck, which was one of the best selling decks of all time throughout the mid to late 1980s.
“Tighten up your trucker cap, slam ‘Brave Captain’ by fIREHOSE on your headphones and go and pretend you changed everything like Natas did three decades ago.”
The Santa Cruz Skateboards – SMA Natas Kaupas Panther Trucker Cap that you see here is the latest in Santa Cruz’s line of classic reissues featuring Kevin Ancell’s legendary artwork printed on a white foam filled front panel.
The cap’s peak is black, with a black nylon mesh back, featuring a Santa Cruz logo tag on the adjustable plastic closer, along with Santa Cruz branding along the internal ribbing and on the inside seam.
Constructed with ventilation holes across the top and with a mesh back piece, this one will resist sweat absorption whilst you valiantly attempt to recreate the still-impossible Natas hydrant spin from his paradigm-shifting Santa Cruz ‘Streets on Fire’ section released in 1989.
Tighten up your trucker cap, slam ‘Brave Captain’ by fIREHOSE on your headphones and go and pretend you changed everything like Natas did three decades ago.
- SANTA CRUZ – SMA CAP
- RRP: £24.99
- SANTACRUZSKATEBOARDS.COM
