Our story
Hi! I’m Alex, creator of Retro. I work in software development, but I have a strong background in electronics and mechanics; what people online often call a “maker“. After all these years, I’ve decided to share a bit about Retro.
Retro Fingerboards started as a personal project, something private. Over the months it grew until someone suggested making it public. It went from a simple custom mold shaped to my taste to a brand that wanted to share with the community this way of doing things: the mold, the shape, and the identity.
We don’t see fingerboarding as a toy, but as a precision discipline that demands the same level of development as any full-scale action sport. With that mindset, when I founded the brand I committed to modern design processes to offer precision tools to riders who want to get the most out of their potential.
How we work (R&D and pragmatic quality)
At Retro Fingerboards, quality isn’t luck; it’s the direct result of a rigorous methodology based on research and development (R&D).
- Manufacturing precision: We design and develop our own custom molds using advanced manufacturing technologies. This lets us guarantee millimetre-level consistency in every batch, ensuring that pop, kicks, and concaves are identical on every deck. Our milling system gives us kicks with symmetrical rounding.
- High-performance materials: We carefully select high-strength hardwoods and industrial-grade specialised resins. Every combination goes through fatigue and performance testing to ensure maximum durability and technical response. We start from Canadian maple as our base; other woods we use rank higher on the Janka hardness scale than Canadian maple.
- Functional aesthetics: Our graphics and finishes don’t only pay tribute to urban and retro culture — they’re applied using real skateboard techniques.
We believe in pragmatic quality: every millimetre of relief, every curve angle, and every gram of material has a specific function aimed at improving control and trick execution.
Commitment to the community
Fingerboarding is defined by the people who practice it. That’s why our philosophy goes beyond making professional gear; we’re a proactive part of growing and sustaining the scene.
- Sponsorships: We actively support riders across different categories, giving them the technical equipment they need to compete and develop their talent at local and international events.
- Events and organisation: We believe in the value of shared spaces. We design, organise, and run competitions, exhibitions, and technical meetups focused both on developing new talent and bringing the veteran community together.
- Supporting the local scene: We work closely with independent spaces and collectives to keep fingerboard culture alive, making sure the discipline always has the logistical and infrastructure backing it deserves.