NHS Skate Museum 2023

The NHS Skate Museum, located in Santa Cruz, California, is a testament to the rich history of skateboarding, particularly focusing on the journey of NHS, Inc., a veritable empire in skateboarding founded in 1973 by Richard Novak, Doug Haut, and Jay Shuirman. A skateboarding enthusiast visiting this museum is, in essence, exploring their history too, traversing through the ups and downs of early skate culture from the 1970s into the late 1980s. The museum is curated in a way that not only captures beautifully the history of NHS since its inception but also encapsulates the evolution of skateboarding as a sport and a lifestyle​¹​​²​.

The museum, much more than a display of skate history, is skate history itself. The displays are hung on upended skated ramps, complete with wheel and board marks, forming the actual pathways that guide visitors through the exhibits. This design element, alongside the artifacts and the old school footage, offers a tactile connection to the past, transporting the visitors back to the early days of skateboarding. The museum, in essence, serves to remind us of the significance of what has already been and the roots of skateboarding, for even the current generation of skateboarders’ journey began long before they put their prints on it​³​.

One of the key figures behind this epic museum is Bob Denike, the CEO/President of NHS and a former pro skateboarder. Denike, alongside others, has worked tirelessly to put this museum together, personally going out in search of fragmented pieces of skateboarding history. His dedication to the craft and love for skateboarding can be seen in every detail of the museum, a testament to his character and commitment​¹​​³​.

The museum highlights the history of the specific brands that NHS has developed, which includes iconic brands such as Independent, Flip, Krux, Ricta, Mob Grip, Nor Cal Clothing, OJ Wheels, Creature, Santa Cruz Skateboards, Santa Cruz Surfboards, Santa Cruz Snowboards, Bullet Skateboards & Safety Gear, Skateboarding Is Not A Crime, Banana Board, Gold Cup, Road Rider, and strangenotes.com. It traces back to the innovative inception of NHS when a man named Tony Roderick presented the idea of putting a precision bearing in a urethane wheel, leading to the creation of the legendary Road Rider, a milestone in skateboard product innovation​²​.

The mid-70s marked some of skateboarding’s most game-changing products ever, and for the first time, it seemed as if a legitimate industry could be born. This ethos of innovation and fun continues to be the driving force behind NHS, and this spirit is encapsulated within the walls of the NHS Skate Museum. It’s a place that celebrates the sport, supports pro riders, promotes skateboarding, and advances product technology. The museum stands as a reminder of the glorious past that created it, with a hope that the future of skateboarding will be worthy of its past​²​​³​.

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