ABOUT US
After a series of conversations in 2007 between the entrepreneurial Gregson family and Ron Stebenne, an old family friend, the foundation was laid to pursue bamboo skateboards to add to the bamboo line of products. Despite most people saying it couldn’t be done, BambooSK8 has been optimistically determined to find a way since day one. Today, we now have a provisional patent in both the USA and other key countries to protect our application and design of our 100% bamboo skateboards.
In late 2007, after discussions with a host of skate factories and consulting with top board makers, we started the initial building and testing – 86% hybrids and 100% bamboo models. Unfortunately, the hybrids didn’t match the strength and consistency that the 100%’s were demonstrating so we pulled the plug by June 2008. We decided to go truly eco/green with 100%, 3 ply to start and based our first initial large-scale production run on this first version. By 2009, we tried furthering the technology with 4, 5, 6 and even 7 ply, although it was found to be too heavy at a whopping 3 lbs.
Needless to say, most of 2008 and beginning of 2009 were mostly focused on research and development, and not necessarily sales and marketing as we would have liked but we had to win over the industry one fan at a time, which takes tremendous effort. Nonetheless, we were still very active in the industry despite operating on a very limited budget.
We made our industry debut at the Action Sports Retail (ASR) tradeshow in San Diego in January 2008, but made a small mistake by going under the name BambooBuddy, the parent company name, which confused a few folks. Nonetheless, we received huge applause for our environmental initiatives towards sustainability – being featured on NBC TV and recognized by Action & Sports Innovators (ASI). Thanks to ASI, we later joined CONNECT and were assigned a business mentor who continues to help us shape our business model to this very day.
Late in 2008, Ron suggested to the owners to interview Geoff Koboldt for the position of President. Ron had worked with Geoff on a philanthropic/charity x-mas event in downtown LA at the Hollenbeck Youth Center, along with Governor Arnold and Kobe Bryant. Since Geoff had left Dark Horse Distribution as V.P. of Strategic Operations and was looking for a solid executive role where he could build a brand from the ground up, the timing was impeccable.
Our primary marketing focus was on building a strong logo so we hired Creative Deployment , who also helped us develop the general framework for the website. Furthermore, we utilized the web expertise of Runningfish to finish the web programming and help us manage the IT side of it. Oh, and we chose the name BambooSK8 – plain and simple, no gimmicks! We then took the decks to the streets to get real credibility including guerilla marketing the X-games where we nearly got ticketed. Ironically, Bob Burnquist won the mega ramp on a bamboo hybrid deck…hmmm, whose bamboo veneers?
During 2008, we joined the International Association of Skateboard Companies and attended the first IASC summit at Camp Woodward. At this event, we met Pierre, the owner of Sole Technology who kindly allowed us to test our decks in his amazing STI lab. We also joined the Action Sports Environmental Coalition and attended their 2nd summit in Laguna Beach in August, as well as many ASEC events around southern California. In September, we exhibited at the Action Sports Retail trade show and received even more enthusiasm for our newest 100% bamboo caramelized decks. Our booth made a bold statement as it was completely done in bamboo – walls, chairs, table, etc. along with a 25’ bamboo pole/art piece.
At the beginning of 2009, we launched the Eco Tribe on Loopd. This allowed thousands of skate kids an opportunity to promote our brand while learning how to promote themselves and become little entrepreneurs as they learned how to sell decks and establish relationships with their local shops. By the fall, we had over 4000 Eco Tribe sponsored athletes, 150,000+ brand hits, etc.
By April 2009, we took a trip overseas and started developing 100% longboards after an incredible demand for them. By June, we were testing them with great success before showcasing them at ASR in September and finally introducing them in November.
By May 2009, we thankfully sold out of the initial decks (version 1). What was left were decks with blemishes that we could not use for production, so we offered them to artists to be used as a canvas, as well as having donated some to various orphanages and charities around the world including India, Nicaragua and Compton.
As of September 2009, we were on our 5th group of interns-in-training and are always amazed to see the great ideas they bring to the table. We take pride in helping these talented individuals get a leg up on the competition out there. We are confident that many of these individuals will go onto great careers in the action sports industry. From class 1, Kenny is now working with Dark Horse Distribution; class 2, Mark was hired by us as an office manager; class 3, Greg was hired by us in sales and Krystie works for Fox; class 4, Kennen, Shawn and Andrew are all working for BambooSK8 in some capacity.
In October, we brought back a brand new and improved hybrid 70% bamboo deck, as well as added an 8.25”. This new deck allowed for a deeper concave, greater strength and as-always an impeccable POP. Unbelievably, our first run of these sold out in a whopping 20 days.
We are excited for 2010 as we plan to launch complete longboards, more clothes and accessories, as well as adding some graphic decks to our line to promote various charities. We will also be found at the Vans Warped tour in a booth with a few other key companies.
We thank you for your support of a performance-based deck that is sustainable – you are all a part of a paradigm shift in the skateboard industry and we couldn’t have done it without you!
MANAGEMENT / OWNERS
Ron Stebenne – As a former educator and youth pastor, Ron has had experience with kids of all ages. This knowledge ultimately linked him to the action sports field in the mid 80’s eventually earning him the title of ‘Godfather of the X-Games.’ He left teaching to establish his own company, Freestyle Promotions International, which became the premier action sports connection for Hollywood celebrities, movie agents, contest sanction bodies, action sports professionals, and corporations such as Pepsico, Healthtex Corporation, Proctor and Gamble and others. As Public Relations Manager of the BambooSK8 Division, he is thrilled to bring this experience and his extensive contacts in the action sports industry to grow the skate business.
Geoff Koboldt - Geoff has been at the forefront of emerging trends in a myriad of capacities involving music, action sports, automotive and digital content. As VP of, he left the position of Vice President of Strategic Operations for Dark Horse Distribution, with skateboard brands such as Dogtown, Grind King and Termite. At Dark Horse, he successfully grew the Internet-side of the business by more than 6150% over the prior year. He has also passionately owned and operated his own music entertainment company Out of Step Entertainment for more than 10 years. While at General Motors Corporation he held a variety of management positions including Operations, Inventory Control and Quality Network. His Japanese lean manufacturing training led to savings of over $10 million. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Michigan State University (1997) and is a member of the MSU Orange County alumni. He also earned his MBA from the prestigious Graziadio School of business at Pepperdine University (2003). As a child, he competed in freestyle bike contests in Michigan and rode skateboards, thus understanding the action sports lifestyle at an early age. Geoff resides in the Pacific Palisades so he can remain close to the beating heart of the Los Angeles entertainment world.
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