Val LaForge’s new Carver CX surfskate, The Sunflower, feels like a perfect match between rider, graphic, and ride style. Built around Val’s bright, high-energy approach to skating, the board blends surfskate flow with real park-ready intent. With a shape developed alongside Neil Carver, a compact platform, responsive CX trucks, and a setup designed to pump, slash, and carve with control, this is not just a mellow cruiser with a pretty graphic. The Sunflower reflects the way Val rides: expressive, fearless, stylish, and full of momentum.
Val LaForge has become one of the most recognisable faces in modern surfskate culture because her skating is impossible to mistake. She is widely known for barefoot bowl riding, powerful carving, and a contagious sense of stoke that makes every clip feel alive. Her path into skateboarding is part of what makes her story so compelling. Val has worn many hats over the years, including artist, writer, teacher, and community builder, and that wider life experience comes through in the way she approaches skating. She does not simply bring style to the board. She represents the idea that skateboarding can be expressive, welcoming, and transformative. That is a big part of why this pro model feels earned rather than manufactured.
To understand why The Sunflower matters, it also helps to understand Carver. Founded in Venice in the mid-1990s, Carver came out of the search for a skateboard that could genuinely recreate the rail-to-rail sensation of surfing when the waves were flat. Instead of relying on surf aesthetics alone, the brand focused on refining truck geometry and building a ride that could generate speed through pumping while still feeling smooth and fluid. Over time, Carver became one of the defining names in surfskate by creating systems that let riders carve harder, turn deeper, and carry surf-inspired movement onto streets, paths, bowls, and skateparks. The CX truck in particular became known for its sharper, snappier feel, making it a natural fit for riders who want surf flow with added stability and drive.
That brings everything back to Val. Her skating has always pushed beyond the idea that surfskates are only for casual carving on flat ground. She rides with speed, commitment, and style, taking surf-inspired movement into terrain that demands confidence and control. The Sunflower feels built for exactly that kind of riding. It captures the flow and freedom people love about surfskating while still being capable enough to handle stronger lines and more aggressive turns. It is a board that feels fun and uplifting on the surface, but underneath that easy charm is a very deliberate design.
The GRLSWIRL connection gives this release even more meaning. GRLSWIRL has grown into one of the most important women-led skate collectives in modern skateboarding, built around community, inclusion, and the simple idea that more people should feel welcome on a board. What started as a grassroots movement has become a powerful force for bringing women and girls into skating through events, lessons, videos, and a strong sense of support. GRLSWIRL is not just about image or branding. It is about creating a space where progression, friendship, and self-expression can all exist together. Val fits naturally into that world because she embodies those values every time she skates.
In many ways, The Sunflower is more than a signature surfskate. It is a snapshot of where surfskate culture is heading. Carver brings the deep surfskate history and technical foundation, Val brings the joy, style, and energy, and GRLSWIRL brings the community-minded spirit that continues to push skateboarding forward. Put together, the result is a model that feels personal, purposeful, and very current. For riders who want a board with real surf DNA, responsive CX performance, and a connection to one of the most uplifting personalities in the scene, Val LaForge’s Sunflower stands out as one of the most meaningful releases in Carver’s modern lineup. The Sunflower is the kind of surfskate that captures everything people love about carving, style, and self-expression in one beautiful setup. With Val LaForge, Carver, and GRLSWIRL all behind it, this release feels less like just another model and more like a celebration of where modern skate culture is going.
