Krooked Skateboards was born from the creative chaos and legendary status of Mark Gonzales, a figure whose influence over modern skateboarding cannot be overstated. Before founding Krooked in 2002 under the DLXSF umbrella, Gonzales had already carved a path that redefined what was possible on a skateboard. Starting in the mid-1980s, he rode for Vision Skateboards, where his pioneering street skating helped shape the early street scene.
His part in Video Days under Blind Skateboards, which he co-founded with Steve Rocco, became a cultural landmark. Gonz’s style wasn’t just about trick selection—it was about approach, spontaneity, and art. After Blind, Gonzales moved to ATM Click and then briefly to Real Skateboards, another DLXSF brand. This path naturally led to him creating his own artistic playground: Krooked.
Krooked was Gonzales unleashed. A visual and conceptual extension of his mind, the brand embraced his love for hand-drawn graphics, playful motion graphics, and unconventional board shapes. His early video offerings like Krooked Kronichles and Gnar Gnar felt less like traditional skate edits and more like living art projects. Gonz was not only skating but also illustrating, animating, and even filming parts on his old-school fish-eye or 8mm cameras. Krooked became one of the rare companies where art, absurdity, and progression all shared equal space.
Over the years, Krooked has had an iconic and eclectic team. Past and present riders include Brad Cromer, Bobby Worrest, Mike Anderson, Sebo Walker, Dan Drehobl, Ronnie Sandoval, Ray Barbee, and of course, The Gonz himself. Every rider on Krooked has brought something unique to the table—whether it’s Cromer’s clean lines and control or Sandoval’s chaos on transition. Each skater reflects some element of Gonzales’ ethos: style, individuality, and not taking yourself too seriously.
One of Krooked’s most cherished traditions is the release of guest boards, an extension of the company’s artistic reverence for skateboarding’s roots. These guest models have featured names like Natas Kaupas, Jason Jessee, Matt Hensley, and Lance Mountain—paying tribute to legends while connecting eras. These boards are often adorned with graphics drawn by Gonz himself, creating collectible art pieces as much as functional skate tools.
Krooked’s identity is also closely tied to DLXSF (Deluxe Distribution), which houses other legendary brands like Real, Spitfire, and Thunder. The relationship isn’t just about logistics or distribution—it’s about shared values. Deluxe has long fostered brands that let skaters control the narrative, and Krooked fits that mold perfectly. With the backing of DLXSF, Krooked enjoys the infrastructure of a top-tier company while retaining the soul of a garage-born project.
More than two decades since its inception, Krooked remains a living, breathing extension of Gonzales’ imagination. It continues to reject the stale in favor of the strange, the scripted in favor of the spontaneous. In a world of polished graphics and predictable branding, Krooked still feels like a sketchbook that’s come to life—and that’s exactly what makes it timeless.
