What a history loaded deck! The Powell-Peralta Ray (Bones) Rodriguez Skull & Sword deck was the first pro signature deck graphic produced by Powell-Peralta. The graphic was conceived by Ray and Illustrated by V.C. Johnson with art direction from George Powell in 1979.
Powell created a 10″ x 30″ Widetail version and a 10″ x 28.5″ Snub Nose originally. It came in Brite-Lite Dayglo yellow, orange, purple and green. Later, Powell made different colors and added different designs. Finally, Powell removed Ray’s signature and added their own script logo.
Initially released in two distinctly different shapes; a 10″ x 30″ “Widetail” version and a 10″ x 28.5″ “Snub Nose,” it came in “Brite-Lite” Dayglo yellow, orange, purple and green. In years to follow, it was made in various different colors and a Powell-Peralta logo was added. In 1983 Ray’s signature was removed and replaced with a Powell-Peralta script logo.
Here, Powell-Peralta works tirelessly to ensure their re-issue decks are as close reproductions of their 1980’s counterparts as possible. Additionally, these decks feature the original Pro graphics and shape, top graphic logo and concave. As such, Santa Barbara is where all Powell boards have been manufactured, and to this day some original craftsmen are still leading construction!
POWELL-PERALTA RAY RODRIGUEZ REISSUE:
- Deck width: 10″
- Deck length: 31.125”
- Nose: 2.5”
- Tail: 6”
- Wheelbase: 16.625”
- Concave: SP3
- Deck Shape: 160
- Conceived by Ray Rodriguez
- Illustrated by Vernon Courtlandt Johnson
- More here: POWELL REISSUE
Full length Powell-Peralta video Future Primitive!
George Powell dropped by CalStreets Skateshop in Vancouver—one of Powell's earliest Canadian distributors—for a throwback hangout with Rick Tetz, Illya, and Graham. Surrounded by 80s memorabilia and fresh Powell gear, George shared untold stories from the golden age of skateboarding, posing proudly with an Andy Anderson deck, symbolizing the bridge between skateboarding’s roots and its future.
