Rodney Smith (skateboarder) facts for kids

Rodney Smith is an awesome American professional skateboarder. He is also a clever entrepreneur who started several famous skateboard companies. Rodney is from New York City.

Career in Skateboarding

Rodney Smith has had a big impact on the skateboarding world. He helped create some of the most well-known skate brands, especially those linked to the unique style of New York City.

Shut Skates: NYC's First Skate Brand

Rodney Smith started his first company, Shut Skates, in 1986 with a friend named Bruno Musso. This was a big deal because Shut Skates was the very first skateboard company to come out of New York City! It was also the first company in the world focused completely on "street skating." Street skating means using skateboards in city environments, like on sidewalks, stairs, and ledges.

Shut Skates actually started in California, but soon moved to New York City. The East Coast, especially New York, had a tough, street-smart vibe that was perfect for their brand. This was different from the surf culture that was more popular on the West Coast.

Shut Skates took a break in the 1990s when Rodney helped start another company called Zoo York. But don't worry, Shut Skates came back! It relaunched in 2006. In 2007, they even opened a main skate shop on the Lower East Side of New York City. This shop was a cool spot for the skateboarding community for ten years. In 2017, the physical shop closed, and the business moved completely online.

Zoo York: A New Era of Skate Style

In 1993, Rodney Smith teamed up with Eli Morgan Gesner and Adam Schatz to create a new company called Zoo York. Zoo York quickly became famous for its unique style that mixed skateboarding with New York City's street art and hip-hop culture. It became a very popular brand for skateboards, clothing, and accessories.

Years later, in 2019, the three original founders – Rodney, Eli, and Adam – were brought back to help guide Zoo York again.

All One Universe: Rodney's Latest Venture

In the 2010s, Rodney Smith started another skate and lifestyle brand. This company is known as ALL ONE, or sometimes All One Universe. It continues his tradition of creating brands that connect with the skateboarding lifestyle.