Birdhouse Skateboards
Birdhouse Skateboards was started back in 1992 by Tony Hawk and Per Welinder. Wellinder had originally asked Lance Mountain to start a company but after Mountain declined he approached Tony Hawk to be partners in this new skateboard company. The name Birdhouse came from a reference to Hawk’s nickname ‘Birdman’. Since their humble beginnings over twenty years ago Birdhouse does a whole range of decks, wheels, clothing, has put out numerous videos and started the career of some of the biggest names in skateboarding including ‘The Boss’ Andrew Reynolds.
At the time, the skateboarding industry was entering a period of uncertainty. The early 1990s saw a major slump in popularity, with many skate companies folding under financial pressure and declining public interest. Rather than backing down, Birdhouse adapted. Hawk and Welinder focused on authenticity, strong team riders, and high-quality products, building a brand rooted in the core values of skate culture. This resilience allowed Birdhouse to survive when many competitors disappeared.
The late 1990s marked a turning point, largely due to the explosive success of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game series. The games introduced skateboarding to millions of players worldwide, transforming Tony Hawk into a global icon and reigniting mainstream interest in skateboarding. Birdhouse benefited enormously from this renewed attention, gaining visibility far beyond traditional skate communities and solidifying its place in the industry.
This legacy was powerfully captured in Birdhouse’s video The End, It is often cited as a highly influential, yet underrated, video of its time. It helped bring to light to the talents of a then young Andrew Reynolds, Steve Berra and Heath Kirchart whom themseleves all went on to become highly influential figures in skateboarding.