Legendary Skateboarder Switches to Surf for a Collaboration with Shinola

The handcrafted boards pay homage to SoCal surf culture.

Growing up in Santa Monica, Natas Kaupas took naturally to both skateboarding and surfing. And while he steered toward skating for most of his life, his new collaboration with Detroit-based Shinola reveals the influence surf culture had on his aesthetic sensibilities.

According to The Journal, “His latest creations are limited-edition surfboards and beach towels. The two share a similar design—two Ws that pay homage to West Washington Boulevard, the previous name of what is now Abbot Kinney Boulevard and the location of the Shinola Venice store. Natas describes the style as a bit looser, drawing inspiration from traditional 1960s boards with a resin tint and acid splashes.

“These sports are very expressive, and a lot of people consider it an artform. There’s a lot of creative people involved in surfing and skateboarding. And you have this perfect canvas,” Natas says. “You have this tradition of silk screening and adding graphics to skateboards and colors on surfboards. I find it inspiring.”