CalStreets – Since 1978
Born in the golden era of urethane and rebellion, CalStreets Skate Shop opened its doors in 1978, carving its way into Canadian skate history from the heart of Vancouver. More than just a shop, CalStreets became the west coast’s skateboarding nucleus—a place where riders, rebels, and innovators found their tribe.
Back in the day, we weren’t just slinging boards—we were official Canadian distributors for the biggest names in skate history: Powell-Peralta, Sims, Santa Cruz, Alva, Dogtown, and Brand-X. If it was iconic, we had it first.
At the center of it all is Rick Tetz, CalStreets’ founder and lifelong skater. Rick rode for Hobie and Sims, earned 3rd place at the Oasis World Freestyle Championships, and took 1st in Canada in 1980 for Freestyle Skateboarding.
Rick also managed Skateboard World Skatepark in Burnaby, one of Canada’s original skateparks that helped define the country’s skate culture. Rick’s legacy isn’t just carved into the pavement—it’s built into the DNA of the shop itself.
From the early days of fiberglass decks and backyard ramps to today’s resurgence of reissues, surfskates, and fingerboarding, we’ve always stayed ahead of the curve.
And if you ever dropped by our shop in the heyday, you probably played a few games on our original Black Knight pinball machine—a staple of the shop that’s eaten more quarters than any snack bar ever could. It's still here at CalStreets HQ, and yes, it still works.
We don’t just sell gear—we live and breathe skateboarding. From freestyle pioneers to street soldiers, bowl carvers to vert chargers, CalStreets has always been more than a shop—it’s been a launchpad for legends. Our team riders and local scene helped shape Vancouver’s skate identity with a DIY spirit that still fuels every session today.
Today, CalStreets lives on through our brick-and-mortar location and online under the BoarderLabs banner—serving collectors, skaters, and culture junkies who know that the real ones never left. Skater-owned. CalStreets – Holding it down since 1978.Â
Marcel killing it as Dr. Gnar during the Boarder.Labs / Landyachtz Kitsilano Days!!! Artwork by Mike Nielsen way back in the day, Dr. Gnar represents the raw stoke for longboarding / skateboarding and now is one of the classic CalStreets artworks! We identify with Dr. Gnar so much that we asked Grominator to paint a huge one on one of our walls. 
