At some point, I came across a book called The Handmade Skateboard written by Matt Berger. Feeling inspired, I bought the book and made my first board. A 30” maple cruiser with walnut stringers and a small kicktail. It was far from perfect, but I really dug the process of making it, and so I made a couple more. Then friends started asking me to make boards for them, so I kept building boards. About a year in, some of my work ended up being featured in the revised edition of The Handmade Skateboard. The same book that got me making skateboards in the first place. The one I still use as a resource in my shop.

about byrd…

Byrd Boards started with two things I’ve been into for a long time: skateboarding and woodworking.I started skating when I was five, growing up along the coast of New Jersey. A childhood friend built a halfpipe in his backyard and that was pretty much it. I’ve been skating ever since. Years later I started making things out of wood. That stuck quickly too.

Since then, I’ve had the chance to work on some pretty cool projects with some really great people. Doing what I love, making and skating.

Thanks for lookin’ ✌🏼

-Chris P

  • Black Walnut

    Eastern Black Walnut (Juglans Nigra) is a hardwood native to eastern North America and prized in the woodworking community for its dark, beautifully grained character. Aside from its visual charm, Black Walnut offers strength, stability, shock resistance, and durability, which makes it a great choice for skateboards.

    Close-up of a skateboard with white wheels resting against a brick wall on a wooden bench outdoors.

  • Rock Maple

    Hard Rock Maple or Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum) is a hardwood also native to North America and known for its strength and durability. Given its hardness and density, Rock Maple is the superior choice for skateboards. We always use Maple in the core layers of our boards, and sometimes on the face.

    A skateboard with a wooden deck, white wheels, and trucks, placed on a tree stump outdoors surrounded by green grass and fallen leaves.

  • Locally crafted

    Our boards are proudly crafted in Media, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. Just a century ago, Philadelphia was known as the “Workshop of the World”; a manufacturing hub that focused on small-scale, specialized manufacturing. We hope to build upon the craftsmanship and attention to detail that are both embodiments of this culture.

    Person sanding a piece of wood using a hand sander in a woodworking shop.