Science Skateboards - Company canvas
April 09, 2008 @ 9:34 AM
Joe Sivell - Back 50 to back lip, front revert
Illustration: Christian Ward, Seq: Chris Morgan
As the generations move forward, the past can get lost in all the excitement of the present. But not for the owner of Science Skateboards who feels strongly about bringing back the feeling of ‘golden era 90’s’ skateboarding by representing it in a modern way through creativity and pureness.
Chris Morgan skated through times when skate videos were on VHS cassette and digital didn’t exist, he was fortunate enough to have started his skateboarding education before ‘The Search for Animal Chin’ was released which unknown to him at the time was the video responsible for installing an attitude that has been core to his being ever since.
Chris Morgan - Back tail
Photo: Taylor Fitz-Gibbons
Hooked throughout the 90’s, surviving the times when skateboarding was seen as uncool and for the dysfunctional, (differing from today where it sometimes gets used by the youth to gain acceptance and ‘normality’) and remembering from first hand experience the wealth of ridiculously skilled artwork, the experimental approaches to videos and concepts, and the crazy fads and fashions when the culture was finding its way and through pouring the absorbed memories and colour of these great moments directly into his long labour of love, Chris has established Science Skateboards.
Dan Tomlinson - Back Flip
Illustration: Christian Ward | Seq: Chris Morgan
As Chris puts it, “We bring out quality products and do not solely rely on marketing techniques like some like some companies over the years but focus on a genuine passion for skateboarding, hard work and strong design to make the company work...We’re not looking to be the biggest company out there, but we are looking to do things correctly by injecting soul into everything we do.”
Dan Tomlinson - Front nose grind
Photo: Chris Morgan
Having gotten early breaks designing for 50:50 skate supplies and various club nights then followed by a move to London to be a head designer of a successful independent music company, Chris was convinced that these two elements, the freedom and creativity of nineties skateboarding could be united in a modern day company, something he felt has been watered down in some ways over the years. So with this in mind he finally left the security of a ‘normal job’ behind and after years of working towards it felt that the time was now right for him to fully focus on making his decade long project into a legitimate company.
Scott Howes - Back tail
Photo: Styley
On board feeling this freedom and growing together with the company are Scott Howes, Joe Sivell, Dan Tomlinson and Paul Regan. The London chapter is also part of the infamous ‘Hold Tight London’ collective made up of London’s finest skateboarding talent producing high quality edits each and every month. Both Scott and Joe have First Lights under their belt and are both currently filming for the upcoming Slam City Skates video each week without fail.
Paul Regan - Ollie Tweaker
Photo: Hairy Rob
Paul Regan, the company’s Northern ambassador represents Science and DVS shoes with a smooth style, huge pop and well rounded skills. Regan has just had his Haunts in the April issue of Sidewalk and is a very humble, talented skater to boot. Paul can be seen skating and placing in best trick comps at jams around the U.K. He also makes an appearance in Ben Powell and Ryes recent Northern scene video, ‘Baghead Flats’.
The stroke of artistic expression decorating the current range of products has come about through collaboration with the likes of: Ilovedust, four designers based in Southsea whose list of clients range from large corporates such as Nike and Levi’s through to the likes of Metronome and Southsea’s very own Bored skate shop. Koa, the French artist’s whose work captures a spirit of those classic retro zombie flicks whilst also taking inspiration from classic skateboarding artwork. And finally up and coming and highly productive illustrator MrGauky who has a type of style that would suit a twisted darker, Brothers Grimm fairy tale.
New boards available for summer have been designed by Jon Burgerman, a renowned UK artist whose busy doodle style gives a feel of a modern day Miro, truly one of a kind and highly unique. Stevie Gee aka Dusty Wolf, an accomplished UK artist who has completed work for bands such as the legendary Led Zeppelin through to fashion label Paul Smith in Japan. Jethro Haynes, a very hard working UK artist whose art draws heavily from the imagery of nature’s power. Jethro is part of the Moving Units collective and has produced work for other London based companies such as Pointer Shoes and Suburban Bliss and has recently completed decorating the downstairs of Slam City Skates with his unmistakable style.
As Chris stated, “It’s important that we go that extra mile with the graphics, focusing on creating ‘skateboard graphics’ rather than graphics that get put on a skateboard. It’s all about that golden era feeling but done in a modern way.”
As Science is a London based company the majority of the people involved can be found skating down by the river. They are also a part of a bigger family; the South Bank Community. Who will hopefully stay strong and survive in the face of big business that is threatening to destroy the spiritual home of UK skateboarding.
Dan Tomlinson - Noseblunt
Seq: Chris Morgan
Looking forward Science is planning to get more involved in the South Bank struggle, doing their bit to make sure that future generations of skateboarders can enjoy and grow up with skateboarding there. While Science still continues to nurture up and coming skateboarding talents and by giving up and coming creatives a platform for their work to be seen, but why do all these things matter to him so much?
In answer to this Chris tells me, “We skate these boards on a daily basis, it’s basically all or nothing. I don’t understand why any skater would ride a blank or something that’s covered in half assed graphics or made in China from substandard materials. We are all about quality aesthetics and quality products as well as supporting our skaters and up and coming artists, keeping the fire burning for true skateboarding in the UK.”
By Mark A. Silberstein
Find out more about Science
Joe Sivell - Switch backlip pop out
Seq: Chris Morgan
