30 Years of Zero Skateboards
AMATEUR ATHLETE PRESENTS 1996 — 2026
30 Years of
Zero Skateboards
Jamie Thomas. The skull. Three decades of street skating that made the rest of us look at a handrail differently.
01 / THE CHIEF
The skull that
started something.
Jamie Thomas founded Zero Skateboards in 1996. The skater from Dothan, Alabama, known as The Chief, built Zero around the kind of street skating that made a spot look bigger and the risks feel real. Adrian Lopez was there for the earliest conversations and became the brand’s first official rider.
Thrill of It All, Misled Youth and Dying to Live gave the team a voice. The videos, the artwork and those heavy street parts made the Single Skull a symbol that meant something well beyond the graphic on a board.
02 / THE RIDERS
The names behind the skull.
From the video years
Jamie Thomas, Adrian Lopez, Erik Ellington, Chris Cole, Jon Allie, Garrett Hill, James Brockman and Tommy Sandoval are among the names tied to Zero’s history. You can see that legacy on the anniversary reissues, from Lopez’s Pushead art and Ellington’s Stencil to Allie’s Headcase and Hill’s Jester.
Still shaking things up
Zero keeps pushing what the brand can be. Ryan Sheckler’s arrival and Bam Margera’s move from a guest board to a Zero pro surprised plenty of skaters. They add a new chapter alongside names like Jamie Thomas, Tommy Sandoval, Kanaan Dern, David Reyes, Adam Arunski and Brandon Burleigh.
03 / AMATEUR ATHLETE Ă— ZERO HISTORY
On our wall since ’96.
We’ve carried Zero Skateboards at Amateur Athlete since the brand started in 1996. We knew Jamie was building something special, and thirty years later we’re still putting Zero on the wall here in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. For us, these reissues bring back the boards and videos we talked about in the shop when they first came out.
The anniversary brings old graphics back alongside new pro models. Whether you’re setting one up to skate or picking up a graphic you remember, compare the width, wheelbase and shape on the individual deck page before you buy.
Quick answers
Who started Zero Skateboards?
Professional skateboarder Jamie Thomas founded Zero Skateboards in 1996.
What is a Zero 30-year reissue?
It is an anniversary deck that brings back artwork from Zero’s catalog. Check each listing for its width, shape, finish and edition details.
Where can I shop Zero in Bethlehem?
Shop Zero at Amateur Athlete Skate Shop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, or browse the available decks below and order online.
Explore the archives at Zero’s Jamie Thomas profile, the Zero video anthology and Zero’s anniversary collections.
04 / THE DECK WALL
Shop Zero decks in stock
Anniversary reissues and pro models available at Amateur Athlete.
