A Brief History of Z-Flex
Z-Flex is the skate brand born out of the Zephyr surf shop scene in Dogtown. A short history of the brand, its pioneering gear, the Z-Boys who rode for it, and why skating still suits surfers.
In this article, you'll learn
- How Z-Flex grew out of the Zephyr surf shop scene
- What Z-Flex pioneered, including urethane wheels and the concave deck
- Who rode for the Z-Flex team across three generations
- Why skating is good cross-training for surfers
Z-Flex is the skateboard brand that grew out of the Zephyr surf shop scene in Dogtown, and it's tied to one of the most influential moments in skating's history. If you skate, you probably already know the name. Even if you don't, you'll almost certainly have heard of the Z-Boys.
From surf shop to skate legend
A 2001 documentary captured how a crew of surfing free skaters almost singlehandedly created the skate subculture. They attacked abandoned (and not-so-abandoned) backyard pools with a radical new approach, and it carved out a niche for the Zephyr crew. Anti-establishment, aggressive, alluring. That same energy came straight off the water, where the crew were surfing with a low, aggressive style that reshaped how people rode waves too.
Z-Flex was conceived during the era of the Zephyr Surfboard Production surf shop. The brand didn't just make boards. It pioneered urethane wheels and, among other things, the concave deck now seen on virtually every modern skateboard.
The team, across three generations
The Z-Flex team spans three generations. It includes names such as Jay Adams, Tony Alva, David Hackett, Jim Muir, George Wilson, Dennis “Polar Bear” Agnew, Jimmy Plumer, Jimmy Acosta, Butch Sterbins, George Watanabe and Aaron Scott.
The feature video above is worth your time. It's a good one.
Why surfers should care
If you're not already a skater, you're probably here because you're looking to get in on some road action. Skating is good cross-training for wave riders, and it's a hell of a lot of fun. The parallels run deep, and it's part of the reason people still argue over surfing vs skating. If you're after the perfect gift for the surfer in your life (and that may well be yourself), visit zflexonline.com for some eye candy and ideas.
