Founded: 1973
Founder: Richard Novak, Doug Haut and Jay Shuirman
Location: Santa Cruz, CA

In 1973 three friends: Richard, Doug and Jay, who were avid surfers founded NHS (their initials) and began manufacturing surf boards.  They struggled at first and then a friend who own a shop in Hawaii asked them to make some skateboards.  They made 500 and Santa Cruz Skateboards was born.  More on Santa Cruz coming soon.