

Toronto, ON: The Roarockit Skateboard Company isn’t your average skate shop. They don’t sell any wheels, trucks or hardware. They don’t carry the latest skate shoes or apparel…they don’t even make or sell any decks! So what has this family-run business done for the past 12 years that has allowed them to survive and grow in this cut-throat industry?

When owners Ted Hunter and Norah Jackson first heard that Canadian grown maple was considered to be the best board building material on the planet, they were surprised to find out that it was unavailable to individuals who wanted to make their own custom decks. Not only was the material impossible to get on a small scale, but there was no real cost-effective way for builders to design and press the boards themselves. The invention of the Thin Air Press (TAP) vacuum bag system of laminating and bending skateboard veneers has revolutionized that. Roarockit introduced an inexpensive, simple but effective method to board builders.

Fast forward 12 years and Roarockit has made significant contributions to the micro-industry of independent board builders around the world. They have an expanded product line of materials, tools and technology to help DIY builders make their dream deck a reality. The TAP system is also used by some larger manufacturers to help prototype new designs without the high cost associated with creating a standard 2-sided mold.

Since moving into their new headquarters (131 Sunrise Ave. Toronto, ON) in early 2012, Roarockit has expanded their global reach with a new shipping facility in Upstate New York, an Australian distributor and the recent launch of Roarockit Skateboard Europe. This, along with their dedicated teaching facility in Leaside, ON (home of the annual Swap Meet) has helped to plant the seeds for a new generation of board builder.

You can find out more about the company on these sites:

www.roarockit.com

www.rockitalk.com

www.ministryofwood.com

www.facebook.com/RoarockitSkateboard