Vintage Calypso Slalom Board?

Karl Floitgraf · Post by **Karl Floitgraf** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 8:58 pm

Has anyone ever heard of or know anything about Calypso slalom boards? I was at my friends house(in germany) he has this brand new vintage deck.

The story I got was that Calypso was the board maker end of SKF bearings in the 70s. Any truth?

Wesley Tucker · Post by **Wesley Tucker** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:06 pm

Karl,

I'm not sure who, but I think someone brought a Calypso to one of the Farm Vintage races. I remember because we were joking about whether or not it qualified (since no one knew anything about it, how could we be sure it was pre-1978?)

Anyway, I've seen one recently but can't remember who has it.

Chris Barrett · Post by **Chris Barrett** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:23 pm

I love that font!

Jani Soderhall · Post by **Jani Soderhall** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:07 pm

I remember seeing Calypso boards around the start of the 80's or possibly in '79. I wouldn't think this deck dates to before '78.

Calypso and SKF could certainly be linked. It rings a bell, but I have no proof for it.

SKF is a Swedish brand, although the Italians prefers it as an Italian brand (some of the stuff is made there), so with a bit of luck one of the Swedish skate historians could enlighten the situation. They're not so big in skateboarding but up until recently they were frequent sponsors of slalom races in Europe, primarily in Switzerland. They guy who ran the slalom side (in Switzerland/France, maybe all over Europe) has left the company and they're not as present as before. It's a pity - they have really good bearings.

Who knows anything else about the Calypso deck?

/Jani

Chris Eggers · Post by **Chris Eggers** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:13 am

Bernhard "Frankenblitz" Kuempel might know. He works for SKF and I think he rode for Calypso back then. I will point him to this thread.

Pelle Gustafsson · Post by **Pelle Gustafsson** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:32 pm

yes! i got a calypso board (not slalom just wooden board )as well and on thath board my skf trucks are from,and i have see one moore calypso in sweden and it have skf trucks as well so likly it hang together som how

YOYO SHULTZ · Post by **YOYO SHULTZ** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 1:09 pm

Chris Eggers wrote:Bernhard "Frankenblitz" Kuempel might know. He works for SKF and I think he rode for Calypso back then. I will point him to this thread.

True!

The Calyposo brand was made by SKF as well as some strange looking trucks that were Bahne knock offs.

A foto of the trucks

Pelle Gustafsson · Post by **Pelle Gustafsson** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:55 am

can i bye your trucks??? please??!!!

YOYO SHULTZ · Post by **YOYO SHULTZ** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:08 am

Pelle Gustafsson wrote:can i bye your trucks??? please??!!!

They are in my skate museum and not for sale......

Pelle Gustafsson · Post by **Pelle Gustafsson** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 12:14 pm

Thanx anyway. got oic´s on the other museun pieces?

Chris Terry · Post by **Chris Terry** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:09 pm

I have a skateboard from Calypso as well. It is more of a "regular" board tho. Interesting thing about it is that it is all metal (probably aluminum). Same logo. I bought it at a garage sale around here (outside of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) the guy I bought it of said that his father knew the owner of the company and that is how he got it. He said that the company was out of Toronto. I don't know if any of the story was true or if I'm even remembering the story correctly

If anyone wants I can post a pic of it.

Chris

Jonathan Harms · Post by **Jonathan Harms** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:16 pm

Welcome to the site, Chris. Post 'er up! And if you can retrieve any firsthand details about the company's history, post them too. Skate history can be fascinating, whether the company was/is big or small.

Ben Brosch · Post by **Ben Brosch** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:34 am

Aluminum black w/orange and red graphics...double kicktail...risers with cheap SKF trucks...and decent wheels.
Yeah...I had one in Germany around '78.

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Vintage Calypso Slalom Board?

Vintage Calypso Slalom Board?

calypso

Calypso skateboard

Re: Vintage Calypso Slalom Board?