Pikachu surfing has been a running bit inPokemonsince the electric mouse rode a wave in the introduction to 1998’sPokemon Yellow, and was recently referenced again through theSea Skim ability introduced forPokemon Let’s Go. Pokemon’s mascot has never been seen riding a skateboard in the games, though soon fans of the series will possibly be able to take one with them thanks to five specialty skateboards being released by The Pokemon Company International next month.
U.S. wooden skateboard manufacturer Bear Walker will be incorporatingPokemonfrom the first generation into a set of limited edition decks available exclusively through PokemonCenter.com starting February 11, according to a press release on Monday. The custom 29-inch skateboards will feature Pikachu, Mewtwo, Gengar, Gyarados, and Charizard; only 150 of each will be produced.
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Official pricing for the Pokemon skateboards have not been announced, but other limited edition boards listed on Bear Walker’s website cost between $185 and $500. The manufacturer is also holding a raffle for a triptych featuring a map of Earth across three skateboards that interested parties can buy into for $10 until January 31, that similar toevents in games likeEVE Onlinewill offer all proceeds to fire relief efforts in Australia.
The five boards being produced are part of “Series 1” in the collaboration between Bear Walker and The Pokemon Company International. No details are currently known about what future series could look like.
Each representative chosen to adorn these skateboards are a veritable who’s who of famous creatures introduced in the Kanto Region; a line-up often brought in to drum up excitement from long-time Pokemon fans. They all showed up in the 2019 live-action filmDetective Pikachu, andCharizard will be battling Gyaradosin an upcoming episode of the anime.
Mewtwo, the only legendary in the bunch, has also seen a recent resurgence thanks to the 2019’sPokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolutionremaking the series' first film from 1998. That movie will be made availableoutside of Japan on Netflixin late February.
The Pokemon Company International’s press release says this is “the first capsule collection of its kind for PokemonCenter.com in the U.S.,” but it’s certainly not the first piece of merchandise made for the insanely popular franchise. AsPokemon SwordandShieldgear up for DLC content and thesubscription-basedPokemon Home, it only makes sense for the brand to keep pushingPokemoncontent anywhere and everywhere it can — even in skateparks.
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