The Brands Underfoot

So what skateboard brand is hot among girls? Those flowery fiberglass models from Flexdex are cool with surfer girls cruising to the beach. So are the longboards of plexiglass or wood. But among those who consider skateboards more than an alternative to two wheels, a wood-and-glue deck 33 inches long or shorter is the only option.

Determining which brand, though, is like asking them their favorite trick: Answers vary according to taste and skill. Among skaters overall, the top three brands are World Industries, Shorty’s and Toy Machine--which includes the first signature deck in the industry by a female pro skater, the Elissa Steamer model.

Those stoked about supporting women in the sport, however, look to Rookie. The New York City-based deck and skate-apparel brand is the first owned and operated by women. But that’s where the novelty ends, according to partners Elska Sandor, Catharine Lyons and Jung Kwak, who have sponsored both men and women on the Rookie team since founding the company in 1996. Rookie’s best seller among women is a 7 1/2-inch-wide deck (about $50). “The skinnier board makes it a little easier to handle,” says Lyons.