Alien Workshop Skateboards: The Story of One of the World’s Most Iconic Skateboarding Brands

Alien Workshop is one of those brands that truly changed the course of modern skateboarding. We’re not just talking about a historic skate company, but a brand that, in the 1990s, managed to bring a completely different identity to skateboarding compared to everything else that existed at the time.

Alien Workshop was officially founded in 1990 in Dayton, Ohio, by Chris Carter, Mike Hill, and the legendary Neil Blender. Back then, nearly the entire skateboarding industry was concentrated in California, so seeing such a strong brand emerge in Ohio seemed completely out of the ordinary.

And it was precisely this distance from the classic Californian skate scene that made Alien Workshop instantly recognizable. The dark graphics, futuristic references, alien aesthetic, experimental videos, and a much more artistic approach compared to other brands transformed Alien Workshop into one of the most influential brands in the history of skateboarding.

The famous alien logo quickly became a global symbol of underground skate culture. Even today, many skaters associate Alien Workshop with a pivotal era of technical and creative skateboarding in the ’90s.

The First Alien Workshop Team and the Boom of the ’90s

From the very beginning, the Alien Workshop team consisted of riders of an incredibly high caliber for that era. Among the legendary names are Rob Dyrdek, Duane Pitre, Bo Turner, John Pryor, Scott Conklin, Thomas Morgan, and Steve Claar.

What set Alien Workshop apart from many other skate companies was the team’s internal atmosphere. The brand conveyed a much more underground, technical, and artistic vibe compared to the dominant scene of the time.

In 1991, the first official Alien Workshop video was released: “Memory Screen.” That video contributed enormously to building the brand’s identity. In those years, a very young Rob Dyrdek was already displaying impressive street skateboarding for the 1990–1991 period.

His technical level was ahead of many riders of the time. Clean tricks, incredible board control, and an extremely precise style made it immediately clear that Alien Workshop would become a major player in the global skateboarding scene.

After the release of “Memory Screen,” Alien Workshop quickly began to gain worldwide fame. Alien Workshop boards sold for years as absolute bestsellers thanks to their build quality, iconic graphics, and above all, the massive hype the brand managed to generate within the international skate community.

Timecode and the arrival of Josh Kalis

In 1997, six years after its first video, Alien Workshop released “Timecode,” one of the most important and influential skate videos of that era.

The team grew further, and Josh Kalis was introduced—a rider who, in the years to come, would become an absolute legend of technical street skateboarding.

“Timecode” definitively cemented Alien Workshop as one of the most respected brands in the global skate scene. The mix of technical skateboarding, experimental editing, soundtrack, and artistic direction made the brand a true underground icon.

At that time, Alien Workshop represented something very different from classic commercial skateboard brands. It had a more mysterious, more technical identity, and was much more closely tied to the alternative aesthetic of ’90s skateboarding.

The sale of the brand and the years with DNA Distribution

Toward the end of the ’90s, Alien Workshop was acquired by DNA Distribution. Despite the change in management, the brand continued to produce top-quality skateboards while retaining much of its original identity.

During those years, the team continued to evolve, and the brand remained one of the absolute benchmarks of the global skateboarding scene. Alien Workshop stood out thanks to a style that was far more artistic, technical, and alternative than that of many traditional skate companies.

Alien Workshop decks continued to be beloved by both street skaters and those seeking technical setups with excellent pop, good control, and very balanced shapes. Even today, many riders consider the old Alien Workshop decks among the best ever produced in the history of modern skateboarding.

Rob Dyrdek Buys Alien Workshop

In 2012, Rob Dyrdek acquired the brand while Burton Snowboards was managing it. For many skaters, this move represented an opportunity to bring Alien Workshop into a new and significant phase.

Dyrdek’s return to the brand immediately generated enormous interest in the international skate scene. One of the team’s legendary riders was, in fact, returning as the company’s owner.

However, the following years were not easy. The brand went through a rather complicated period marked by ups and downs. Several long-time riders left the team, and Alien Workshop temporarily began to lose some of its momentum.

Legendary skaters like Jason Dill, AVE, and Mikey Taylor left the company, while some management issues led the brand into a period of general difficulty. Despite this, Alien Workshop remained too important a brand to truly disappear. Its influence on the global skateboarding scene was still enormous.

The Rebirth with TumYeto Distribution

In 2016, Alien Workshop officially joined the TumYeto Distribution family, and the brand finally began to breathe again.

For countless skaters, this was huge news. Alien Workshop had been a fundamental part of skate culture in the ’90s and 2000s, and seeing the brand return to action immediately generated excitement in the international skateboarding scene.

Shortly after, the video “Bunker Down” was released, a project that officially marked the brand’s return.

The new team brought fresh energy, powerful skateboarding, speed, and a very modern style, while maintaining the technical and underground identity that has always characterized Alien Workshop.

In the following years, new riders, new collaborations, and new releases brought the brand back into the spotlight of the global skate scene. Collaborations with Thrasher and Supreme further helped revitalize the brand’s image.

Meanwhile, Rob Dyrdek gradually stepped back from the company’s marketing, allowing Alien Workshop to reclaim part of its original identity.

Alien Workshop Today

Today, Alien Workshop continues to produce top-quality skateboard decks, complete skateboards, skate apparel, and accessories while maintaining a strong visual identity.

The modern team consists of young, technical, and aggressive riders, whose fast and powerful skateboarding perfectly represents the company’s new generation.

Among the best-known names are Sammy Montano, Joey Guevara, Joe Baughman, Frankie Spears, and many other riders who continue to carry forward the technical and creative style typical of Alien Workshop.

Alien Workshop decks are still appreciated today for their pop, solid construction, precise feel underfoot, and above all for the instantly recognizable graphics that have made the brand a true legend in the global skateboarding scene.

Buy Alien Workshop at Pleasures Milano

At Pleasures Milano, we select only skateboards and setups we truly know. We help you choose the Alien Workshop board best suited to your skill level, your skateboarding style, and the actual use you intend for the board.

Whether you’re looking for a complete Alien Workshop skateboard or a board to build from scratch with properly selected trucks, wheels, and bearings, we can help you build a truly balanced and high-performance setup.

For over 27 years, Pleasures Milano has lived and breathed skateboarding every day—on the street, in the park, in the bowl, and within the real skate culture. That’s why we select only products we truly know and that actually perform during sessions.

We ship quickly throughout Italy and all of Europe with genuine pre- and post-sales support. Pleasures Milano has been all about authentic skateboarding since 1999.