Influence is often overstated in skateboarding but Natas Kaupas’ legacy is larger than any one trick, time, graphic, or style because it’s both massive and lowkey. What?
Yeah, after skating for Santa Cruz and starting 101, Natas’ career was curtailed by injury in a time when doctors pretty much told you “tough shit,” so he spent $20,000 on a tricked out Apple computer in the early-‘90s and started designing graphics for skate brands instead.
And who could forget his satanic board that was considered offensive and shocking, even if he didn’t draw it. Fun fact, he partially designed the Jim Thiebaud “hanging Klansman” graphic though.
If none of this makes sense, good. The thing about Natas Kaupas is that nothing ever did in the best way possible, other than how powerful, eclectic, and thoughtful his skateboarding was and still is when he snaps an ollie. Check out the mix below and download it here while you can.
More Mixes? Check out: Heath Kirchart, Bill Strobeck, Blondey McCoy, Louie Lopez, Nora Vasconcellos, Alltimers, Rodrigo TX, Stefan Janoski, Franky Villani, Pass~Port, The 69 Mix, Beagle, LurkNYC, Bam Margera, Mike Arnold, Jason Sallilas, or Kevin Rodrigues.
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August 28, 2021 11:48 pm
file is down :(
April 30, 2022 1:21 am
Well first of all he rode for Santa Monica Airlines (SMA Skateboards) and not for Santa Cruz. After a while when sales of his board went through the roof, he made a deal with NHS to manufactur and distribute SMA boards because the demand was to high for SMA alone to keep up.
April 20, 2023 10:37 pm
Askeep is one for the cheerful.
April 20, 2025 3:36 pm
To say Natas’s legacy is ‘overstated’ is an ignorant statement to make. If anything the opposite, understated. Kind of a dumb way to start an article about him