Pro-Tec mixes skater safety with star factor
Whoosh! Watch out for that skateboarder!
OK, that was more of a 1990s hazard for people trying to use the sidewalks for walking.
As the sport grew in popularity, cities began looking to make public lands more available, and things like skateparks were born.
But safety continued to be a prime concern — for those riding the boards, not so much for pedestrians anymore.
High-speed movements on smooth, hard surfaces can involve collisions and falls that have led to fractures, sprains, concussion and other head injuries.
Well-fitting helmets are crucially important, and for Pro-Tec, the original skateboard protective gear brand — founded in 1973 and headquartered in San Clemente — the Full-Cut helmet has been one of the best attempts at protecting skaters, company officials say.
The original 1970s skate helmet, which features stainless steel hardware, soft webbing and ear protection, quickly became one of the most recognizable helmets of all time, and over the company’s 43-year-old existence, Pro-Tec attracted a number of professional skaters wearing the brand’s safety products.
Add Mark Gonzales to the team.
Gonzales, nicknamed “The Gonz,” was named the “most influential skateboarder of all time” in Transworld Skateboarding magazine, followed by Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen.
Gonzales, known as a top pioneer of modern street skateboarding, began adding his creativity to a Pro-Tec signature helmet for a special release in 2017 and noted that a Full-Tec has always been his choice in helmet. Again, this is according to the company. Gonzales was unavailable for comment.
“It’s this iconic brand from the 1970s most skaters and most parents know about, but we asked ourselves, ‘How do we make the safety component more appealing? It’s a necessity, but how do we make that look cool for the younger crowd?’” said R.P. Bess, Pro-Tec’s global brand director.
Gonzales is compensated for his association with the brand, as are other athletes and artists with similar corporate ties, but, according to Bess, he was wearing the product before the arrangement. This made the collaboration more appealing to Pro-Tec, Bess added.
The professional skateboarder’s stamp of approval on the helmet not only helps the company, Bess said, but it helps the younger generation of skaters — who look up to the professional athletes — understand the importance of wearing protective gear.
The latest youth helmet draws its lines from the Pro-Tec classic and is equipped with the latest CPSC/CE-certified technology, meaning the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission deemed the helmet in keeping with federal children’s safety requirements.
Other professional skateboarders who wear the brand include Bucky Lasek, Christian Hosoi, Jimmy Wilkins and Steve Caballero.
Caballero, considered the godfather of modern skateboarding, set the world record for highest air achieved on a half pipe in 1987 and held the record for 10 years.
He continues to wear Pro-Tec, his original choice in the late 1970, according to the company’s marketing materials.
But Pro-Tec is not just about helmets for skateboarding, Bess stressed. Today’s company has expanded to delivering modern protective equipment for a variety of action sports, including snow sports, mountain biking and BMX riding.
Pro-Tec, which already provides water helmets for lifeguards and search-and-rescue water groups, would like to branch out to the military, creating helmets for jumping demonstration teams, for instance.
Bess said the company continues to look into more technologies, collaborate with more celebrated athletes and expand into different action sports.
“Skate has matured and now we’re passing it down to our kids, and we’re putting kids in the product we relied on,” Bess said. “There are guys in their 50s still wearing a Pro-Tec helmet. It’s almost like it’s become tradition and that’s cool to see.”
Twitter: @KathleenLuppi
