Like so many other ideas, Alegre Boards was born in a garage in Southern California. In the rafters rested a snowboard, retired and rusting. Even if that board would never see snow again, I knew it wasn’t finished and it could ride again… but it would need a little help. Free your board and your mind will follow.
What was meant to be a fun experiment to kill some idle time turned into years of cruising around, having a great time, and turning heads while doing so. Simply put, that Alegre Boards skateboard was, and still is, a load of fun to ride.
Building a few more for family and friends led to improvements with design and materials leading to a better, stronger, more featured board that you see today cruising around SoCal.
Q: What is an Alegre Board?
Just because that snowboard collecting dust in the garage isn’t going to see a mountain again doesn’t mean it’s done. There is still life in that stick. That retired snowboard is a perfect candidate for an Alegre Boards skateboard, to live on for many years more.
At Alegre Boards, we embrace upcycling. In fact, it’s a fundamental of our amazing boards; taking used and retired snowboards and turning them into one-of-a-kind skateboards. From old to bold. And since we source used boards from wherever we can get them, each board is completely unique and it’s almost impossible to find two that look alike.
But the short answer is: An Alegre Boards skateboard is an amazing skateboard… made from an up-cycled snowboard.
Q: Yo! The Alegre Boards skateboard I just bought looks… used. What’s up with that?
You’re not wrong! The Alegre Boards skateboards are made of up-cycled used snowboards. What a concept!! Some snowboards are just TOO COOL to send to landfills or to let them rot in the back of a garage. Sure, those boards may not be any good for the mountain anymore, but we have other plans for them. We reclaim them and get them out on the street as skateboards!
But be assured, to complete the snowboard to skateboard up-cycle, we use all new trucks, wheels, bearings, hardware, etc. applied in conjunction with our utility patents and *POOF*, skateboarding utopia is born!
Q: Are Alegre Boards skateboards good for beginners?
Everyone learns at their own pace but we can say for certain that a majority of the first Alegre Boards skateboard owners were ‘first time skaters’! That’s right, having never ridden a skateboard before, these individuals were charmed at the first sight of one of our boards and immediately had to buy one. For long time skateboarders, you’ll be captivated by the smooth and comfortable ride on these big cruisers. There’s no such thing as a short ride on an Alegre Boards because you just want to keep going and going.
Q: Are Alegre Boards skateboards hard to ride?
We often hear that Alegre Boards skateboards are easier to ride than a tradition skateboards. Their long wheel spread and wide standing surface helps make them surprising stable. We still highly recommend taking any and all steps you feel necessary to feel confident and keep safe while learning how to ride.
Q: Don’t snowboards have sharp metal edges around their perimeter? Wouldn’t this be dangerous on a skateboard?
Turning a snowboard into an Alegre Boards skateboard starts with grinding that sharp metal edge down to a smooth and shiny surface. Yes, that does mean this board will NEVER work on the mountain again but that’s ok because we’ve already drilled a bunch of holes in it to attach the trucks… Oh, and the Alegre Board will live so much longer as a skateboard anyways. In addition, Alegre Boards skateboards have their nose and tails covered with a bumper that also acts as a stabilizer when resting your board upright and as a handle when pulling or pushing your board with one hand.
Q: Am I too small or too big for an Alegre Boards skateboard?
We’ve yet to hear from anyone that felt that their Alegre Boards skateboard was too big to ride, too hot to handle or too cold to hold. Alegre Boards skateboards are made in a variety of flexibilities, from bendy and bouncy to stiff and firm. Something for everyone.
Q: Are Alegre Boards skateboards heavy?
A complete Alegre Boards skateboard is roughly around 10-14 lbs., the typical weight of a longboard skateboard. Each one has a built-in groove to help you carry it.
Q: Alegre? All-ay what?
“alegre” (ah-leh-greh) - [Spanish] - 1. happy, cheerful, or lively. 2. The feeling you get when riding one of our boards.
Q: Any tips on how I can secure my board if a bar or restaurant won’t let me bring it in?
Yes! For some light security, you can carry around a small cable lock easily found on-line. Snowboard locks with a retractable cable are an excellent choice as they are relatively inexpensive and easily slip into your pocket when not in use. Simply thread the cable through one of the skateboard trucks, lock it up against a bicycle rack or fence, and sit back to watch all the passersby stare in amazement at your board!
