ARBOR SKATEBOARDS
Complete Arbor skateboards for cruising, carving and getting out for a proper roll.
Bob Gnarly's Take
Arbor Skateboard Collective celebrates riding, nature, and community. We share a passion for sustainable craftsmanship and smooth lines. Our mission centers on high performance with a lighter environmental footprint. We believe skateboarding connects people to their surroundings. It brings freedom, creativity, and mindful exploration.
Arbor’s story began with a simple commitment. We wanted quality gear that respected the planet. Since the start, we have used renewable and responsible materials. Wood cores come from sustainably managed forests. We repurpose factory scraps to reduce waste. Recycled materials support durability and longevity.
Arbor Skateboard Design comes from real riding experience. We test every deck on diverse streets and hills. Performance guides our shapes and construction. Boards stay stable at speed and responsive when carving. Riders feel confident on mellow paths or steep runs.
Art and culture shape our identity. We partner with artists who share nature-driven values. Graphics honor forests, mountains, and coastal energy. Every board becomes a piece of creative storytelling. Style reflects the landscapes that inspire us.
Community inspires everything we build. We support local shops and grassroots skate events. Riders of all styles join our movement. Longboarders, cruisers, and street skaters ride together. Skill level never defines belonging here. We grow through shared experience and encouragement.
Education encourages mindful choices. We highlight sustainability through transparent practices. We show how design impacts real environments. Riders gain awareness through responsible gear. Positive impact becomes part of each adventure.
Arbor Skateboard continues evolving with new technology. We explore stronger laminates made from natural resources. We design trucks and wheels for smooth control. Innovation stays aligned with ecological respect. The future of skateboarding should protect our playground.
Arbor Skateboard Collective unites purpose and stoke. We ride for joy and future generations. Join our collective and roll with intention.
In the early 1990s, co-founders Bob Carlson and Chris Jensen worked in sustainably sourced wood sales — building experience in woodworking and environmental stewardship.
In the 1994–95 winter season they developed prototypes, seeking to merge craftsmanship with sustainability in boardsports.
In November 1995, they officially founded Arbor. The brand name “Arbor” (Latin for “tree”) underlined their commitment to wood-based, eco-friendly materials.
Arbor launched with a line of snowboards built using sustainably sourced woods and wood veneer topsheets rather than plastic.
They pioneered use of bamboo, bioplastics, bio-resins, reclaimed materials, and recycled steel edges — a seismic shift away from the largely plastic-dominated snowboard market.
From the outset Arbor committed a portion of every sale to environmental give-back, such as forest restoration efforts — making them arguably the first boardsports brand built around environmental responsibility.
Soon after launching snowboards, Arbor began repurposing old snowboards into large-wheel skateboards — ideal for “bombing hills” when there was no snow. That practical, resourceful use led to the formal debut of the skateboard line.
Their skateboards inherited Arbor’s signature approach: sustainably sourced wood and bamboo plies, natural finishes, and an eco-conscious build — distinguishing them from mainstream mass-produced skate decks.
As snowboarding and skateboarding industries underwent consolidation and many brands folded, Arbor weathered the storm through a lean, values-driven approach.
Their dedication to craftsmanship, combined with a growing niche of riders seeking quality and sustainability over hype, helped them persist.
In November 2015 Arbor marked 20 years since its founding. The founders reflected on two decades of craftsmanship, environmental commitment, and community building.
At this point the “Collective” model had clearly taken root: a network of riders, artists, suppliers, dealers, and partners — all contributing to Arbor’s identity and growth.
In 2020 Arbor celebrated its 25th anniversary. The founders reiterated their mission of sustainability, design, and collective culture.
They released a documentary film Crossing the Grain, chronicling the brand’s origins, struggles through industry consolidation, and eventual establishment as a respected, enduring name.
By then, Arbor’s environmental efforts had matured significantly — including reforestation programs and sustainably minded manufacturing practices.
Arbor Skateboard has expanded beyond skateboards and snowboards into apparel, softgoods, and gear — always under the same sustainable philosophy.
Their “Returning Roots” reforestation initiative and environmental give-back continues: their commitment to planting trees in native forests persists.
Today Arbor remains a collective — riders, artists, designers and partners working together to produce eco-conscious boards and goods for skating, snowboarding, and outdoor lifestyle.
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