Originally founded in 1990 by ex-Powell-Peralta riders and 1980’s street pioneers Jim Thiebaud and Tommy Guerrero in San Francisco (with help from Thrasher and High Speed founder Fausto Vitello), Real Skateboards is one of the oldest of the then ‘new brands’ established following the pro skater exodus from the dominant brands of the 1980’s.

Similarly to Tony Hawk with Birdhouse, Thiebaud and Guerrero had formerly been high profile riders for dominant 80’s brand Powell-Peralta but became disillusioned by the slow movement of the larger brand as the 1990’s arrived and street skating drove the industry in a new direction.

With an original team featuring established pros Guerrero and Thiebaud, alongside skaters of the cutting edge of early 90’s technical progression such as Salman Agah, James Kelch and Henry Sanchez, (before his move to Blind Skateboards) Real began life as a skateboard brand on the forefront of the rapid progression within early 90’s skateboarding.

“Real Skateboards are also notable for their direct involvement in skate-related charitable causes across the globe, often releasing fundraising products for a variety of causes from cancer research to DIY skate construction.”

Since then, Real has maintained this ethos, with a team that reflects a progressive approach to skateboarding whilst remaining true to the culture’s roots mixing up ATV rippers such as Ishod Wair and Zion Wright with legacy riders such as Max Schaff and Keith Hufnagel and producing graphics that reflect the oppositional political world view best exemplified by the infamous ‘Lynch the KKK’ Thiebaud graphic created by Natas Kaupas and Kevin Ancell and originally released in 1990.

Real Skateboards are also notable for their direct involvement in skate-related charitable causes across the globe, often releasing fundraising products for a variety of causes from cancer research to DIY skate construction.

This Real Skateboards ‘Heavyweights’ board reflects this legacy with the main bottom graphic emblazoned with the original Real logo and the top graphic reflecting Real’s aesthetic legacy and political outlook with the legend ‘Heavy is the heart who never tried’. Size-wise it comes in at a slightly larger than market-average 8.5” width on a virtually symmetrical popsicle shape with a wide nose and slightly shorter tail.

The Real Heavyweight deck series also incorporates deck construction technology that strengthens the traditional vertically laminated 7 plys with two cross-directional thicker X-band plys at stress points to strengthen the board and hold pop. This means that the deck is slightly heavier than your average skateboard, (hence ‘Heavyweights’), but this is offset by a board that will last much longer.

• REAL – HEAVYWEIGHTS
• RRP: £59.99
• Width : 8.5″
• Length: 32.5″
• Wheelbase: 14.5″
• REALSKATEBOARDS.COM