Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan MacFarlane.
Dan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Dan MacFarlane and I’m a pro skateboarder from Southwest Houston. I have my own Signature Ramp that’s installed in skate parks across the world. It’s manufactured by the American Ramp Company, the largest skatepark builder in the world. It has appeared in many recent viral videos and a video game. I’m mostly known for being a well-rounded skater who does original tricks and combos… I’ve invented a lot of them. Most importantly, I was born at Herman Hospital. I bought my first skateboard at the Westbury Sale at Butler Stadium when I was 5. I honed my skills in Southwest Houston and at the legendary Skate Park Of Houston, which was in north Houston. At age 13 I was sponsored on the Skate Park Of Houston team. I skated in and placed well in the last Shut Up And Skate contest at SPOH and later went on to pick up major sponsors in the mid 90’s.
I was ranked top 10 in the world as an amateur and then top 20 as a pro. I have been featured in major magazines, video, and even on DIY Network where I taught Michael Strahan to skateboard on his TV Show. Michael Strahan is the first person I’ve taught to skate who has been in space! Haha! I’ve been representing Houston and Texas this whole time. I had a brand, Mentality Skateboards, that I started out of Vans Skatepark off I-10 and Sliber in 2003. It went well and made a impact but one day while promoting “Hover Skate VR” the first ever Virtual Reality Skateboarding Video game, a game I appear in, I recognized I should make Houston Skateboards.
While at a convention in October 2017 and I did an on stage talk at George R. Brown telling people to go play Hover Skate VR and began telling about how great Houston and Texas Skateboarding is. People came up and were happy about what I said… That’s caused me to recognize I should make “Houston Skateboards”. After that I came up with the logo that has O’s for wheels, and it was on! It instantly was accepted by Houston & Texas skaters who want to Represent Houston and Texas. To my surprise even people who don’t skate love it. We’re sold in Surfhouse, the Oldest Skate Shop in Texas and many others across Texas and growing. I also have HoustonSkateboards.com which has a web store, and I’m always on Tour with the Pop Up Shops. People love to hang out and learn about skateboarding and skate culture while having a great time and checking out the latest customized products I am offering that day. Also, you never know who’s going to visit the Houston Skateboards associated events: recently we’ve had Tony Hawk, Sonny from the band POD, Brian “Head” Welch of Korn, and even a Llama at the booth. Haha! I’m having the time of my life doing the Pop Up Shops and anyone who visits can join the fun. It’s well documented on the @houstonskateboards Instagram & Facebook.
In 2022, I am releasing a new very strong design that I’m planning to offer to all Texas skate shops. Everything is steadily going and growing all the time. I’m very grateful. This is a culmination of my life’s work and skate legacy put into laser focus and being channeled through Houston Skateboards.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a pro skateboarder has been an up and down thing for decades. You can do the hardest or most original skate trick but how do you monetize that? Even when you do well in a contest, that’s a very fleeting success. When you’re young the dream is to fully focus on having sponsors so you can just skate, but as time went on I began to realize it’d be best to be as independent as possible. Since 2003 going independent after my pro sponsor dropped the whole team, I’ve launched brands, products and services including skate lessons and camps. Some things work and some don’t. That’s just the nature of being an entrepreneur. You must “want it’ and have grit. Since it involves skateboarding, the passion for me is built in. During this time I have learned about branding, design, marketing, and licensing. I’ve applied all of this knowledge and have learned and grown a lot. Like skateboarding itself, everything is harder before it’s easy in entrepreneurship. The key is to persist and keep learning and growing. All this being said Houston Skateboards has been the most steady business I’ve had.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Houston Skateboards is a brand that offers Skateboards, Clothing, and accessories that Represent Houston and Texas.
Houston Skateboards is known for offering top quality products for the skaters of Houston and beyond. We’re all about Representing Houston & Texas in an Original way. Our logo demonstrates this with its O’s for the wheels. Our new original “Houston Compass” is another standout design that’s printed on our great products.
Houston Skateboards is sold into skate shops, on HoustonSkateboards.com, and we’re Always On Tour with our Pop Up Shops at Markets and Big Events. @houstonskateboards Instagram & Facebook showcases what we do every week.
About the owner Dan MacFarlane: I’m a pro skateboarder from Houston with my own signature ramp that’s installed in skate parks across the world. I was ranked top 20 in the world on the pro circuit, and have invented new skate tricks for decades. I’m a native Houstonian and was born in Herman Hospital.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can always come out to the Pop Up Shops to meet me and sometimes even skate with us. That’s the best way to introduce yourself and to participate in all of this. And, if it’s an event where we are allowed to skate, I always like filming and posting tricks of those who want to show off their skills. Sometimes I let big personalities do the announcement video for the event we’re attending. At all the Pop Up Shops I always end the day with a “Stoked Supporters” post showing all the great people who hung out and picked up some product. If you’re skating or wearing Houston Skateboards product always remember to tag us on social media, and I’ll probably repost it. Anyone who wants to participate in this way is welcome. In the past, with my other brand this was not possible because it was focused on the team only. It’s super fun the way I’m running Houston Skateboards because it’s very unrestricted and organic.
Pricing:
- Complete Skateboards $150 – $160
- Decks $55
- T Shirts $25
- Hoodies $55
- Hats $25
Contact Info:
- Email: info@houstonskateboards.com
- Website: https://www.HoustonSkateboards.com
- Instagram: @houstonskateboards
- Facebook: Facebook.com/HoustonSkateboards
- Other: DanMacFarlane.com
Image Credits
Houston Skateboards
