Origins in the NHS Universe
When you talk about urethane that shaped generations of skateboarding, OJ Wheels is one of the names that always rises to the top. Born inside the NHS universe out of Santa Cruz, OJ began in the late 1970s as an experiment in bright orange slalom-style wheels designed for speed, grip and the emerging skatepark scene. NHS itself—home to Santa Cruz Skateboards, Independent Trucks and the Speed Wheels family—became the perfect launchpad for a urethane brand built around high performance and bold attitude. OJ quickly distinguished itself with its signature orange formula, setting the stage for what would become one of the most iconic wheel lines in skate history.
The Rise of Super Juice
By 1977, OJ Super Juice wheels had made their debut. Smaller in diameter with a wider footprint than many wheels of their time, they delivered a fast, smooth ride ideal for ditches, banks, backyard pools and the concrete parks exploding across California. That deep orange urethane became a symbol of the new precision urethane era. Through the late 70s and early 80s, OJ wheels evolved alongside skateboarding itself, refining shapes and durometers to support the shift from flowing pool lines to more technical terrain.
The Speed Wheels Explosion
The mid-1980s marked the height of the Speed Wheels era, when OJ, Slime Balls and Bullets lived under one wild, graphic-heavy identity. OJ II wheels from this period—Team Riders, Combos and other classic shapes—defined the feel of skating’s colourful mid-80s boom. Fat, fast and vividly designed, they became essential for vert riders, park destroyers and the earliest street pioneers. Their popularity and unforgettable look have made these shapes some of the most sought-after reissues in the modern collecting world.
Riders Who Defined the Brand
The rider lineup played a massive role in carving OJ’s legacy into skateboard history. During the Speed Wheels heyday, OJs were bolted under the boards of icons like Christian Hosoi, Natas Kaupas and Eric Dressen. Their explosive airs, flawless coping runs and early street power moves pushed urethane to its limits and made OJ part of the sport’s visual fabric. Vintage setups from this era almost always feature bright OJ II wheels anchoring boards that defined 1980s progression.
Slime Balls: The Neon Sibling
Slime Balls share the same DNA, launching in the 80s as the louder, neon-soaked sibling to OJ. With drippy slime graphics and outrageous colourways, they became instant favourites for riders looking to stand out. Long associated with personalities like Micke “Malba” Alba, Slime Balls embodied the attitude of the era just as strongly as OJ. Though distinct, both brands have always been intertwined, emerging from the same NHS creative and urethane culture.
The Quiet Years and the Big Return
As street skating dominated the 1990s, bold wheel shapes and graphics gave way to minimalism, and OJ faded from the spotlight. But the brand never vanished, and by the 2000s and 2010s, reissues and renewed interest in classic skate culture brought OJ roaring back. Reissued OJ II models rekindled nostalgia, while new formulas brought the brand firmly into the modern era with a mix of cruiser-friendly urethane, hard park wheels and advanced double-duro constructions.
Today’s OJ Team and Modern Innovations
Modern OJ is anything but retro-only. Today the brand fuels the riding of heavy hitters like Ace Pelka, Chris Gregson, Chris Russell, Collin Provost, Greyson Fletcher, Erick Winkowski, Jake Wooten, Jon Dickson, Milton Martinez, Nick Boserio, Ryan Townley and Sammy Baca. Their skating spans every terrain imaginable, ensuring OJ wheels continue evolving to match the demands of all-terrain progression. Super Juice cruisers, Elite formulas and classic-shaped park wheels keep OJ relevant for both nostalgic riders and the newest generation.
Slime Balls in the Modern Era
Slime Balls have also surged back into the spotlight, now standing as their own brand once again with apparel, updated wheels and modern takes on the wild 80s aesthetic. Their revival mirrors the rebirth of OJ, showing how deeply both parts of the Speed Wheels heritage still resonate with skaters worldwide.
OJ’s Lasting Place in Skate History
After nearly five decades, OJ’s influence is undeniable. They bridge the early days of precision urethane with today’s era of engineered formulas, serving riders who shaped vert skating, early street innovation and modern all-terrain destruction. OJ survived shifts in style, fuelled the nostalgia boom and continues to thrive as one of the most authentic, performance-driven wheel brands under the NHS banner. From classic orange Super Juice to modern Elite urethane, OJ has always been part of how skateboarding feels—fast, loud and unmistakably alive. OJ’s story is still being written every time a skater drops into a pool, bombs a hill or hits crusty street spots on a fresh set of Juice.
