Longboards have captured the imagination of riders for more than 5 decades. Since 1993, Sector 9 has been at the forefront of longboard design and production. Living in California, the company’s founders were blessed with the unique mixture of having perfect waves, long hills and a culture that embraced longboarding.
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About Sector 9 Longboards
It was in this environment that this group of intrepid friends began designing their own longboards in their backyard. Steve Lake, one of the company’s founders, is quoted as saying, “it was after a few beers and a game of pool that we decided to make a company out of these flat Pintail shaped boards that we were making.”
Based in La Jolla, California, Sector 9 focuses on creating longboards for surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding. They also sponsor athletes who engage in these sports.
Sector 9 got its unique name from a long time friend who affectionately referred to its founders Steve Lake, Dave Klimkiewicz, Dennis Telfer and Tal O’Farrell as 9 balls, and to the place where they all work and designed boards as Sector 9. The name stuck and now is synonymous with quality skateboarding equipment.
Sector 9 and their longboards stand out from the competition because of the vision that the founders have for their longboards. They see them, not just as a way for people to entertain themselves, but as a viable alternative form of transportation. This has led to them designing multiple boards that are high quality but inexpensive enough that they will not to break the bank of a beginning longboarder.
Variety has been Sector 9’s claim to fame. They have longboards that have been designed for every style of longboard riding. There are boards that are designed to bomb down hills, boards that are designed for carving and cruising and boards that are perfect for dancing. This variety has attracted many customers. It is not uncommon for the very first longboard that an individual purchases to be from Sector 9.
When Sector 9 first started making boards, they were the only ones out there designing longboards with the unique style that has now become their signature trademark. Since then, many have emulated their style, but none have been able to successfully capture the essence of Sector 9’s boards.
Steve Lake commented that, at the outset, they tried to sell the prototypes of their boards to one of the largest skateboarding companies at the time. The company turned them down. They told them that they might be able to pawn off a hundred or so of their boards to their friends, but that their style would never catch on.
Twenty years and thousands of boards later, this manufacturer was proven wrong. As Sector 9 longboard reviews continue to show, Sector 9 never ceases to amaze their customers with their versatile, well-designed, artistically crafted longboards.
Best Sector 9 Longboards Reviews
Sector 9 Shacked Shoots Longboard
For this longboard, Sector 9 partnered for a new collaboration in their Bamboo Series with The Minimalist Wave, a French artist. Following an intricate and detailed process, he fixates on the patterns of an oceanic wave making its way over the planet as it constantly evolves new journeys, and he’s replicated that journey on this board.
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The ink illustration on the Sector 9 Shacked Shoots longboard is an invitation for you to find yourself at the center of the ocean, discover surreal worlds, and get lost in the serenity of it all. The minimalist, simple illustrations offer a fantastic contrast to the bright bamboo, producing beautiful boards that wouldn’t look out of place in an art gallery.
The board is long enough to accommodate tall and short riders, and would be the perfect upgrade to the professional boarder’s collection. It is made from a bamboo and maple hybrid to give it a stunning organic appearance that will make you stand out amongst the crowd, and the art by The Minimalist Wave acts as a nice accent to complete the board.
The wheels are a solid black color to blend in with the art and also contrast the main body of the board to create a completed piece that resembles a work of art almost more than it does a functioning longboard. The board is quite thick, too, so it will be able to support a lot of weight.
Pros
- Beautiful art looks fantastic
- Unique bamboo base
- Stylish black wheels are attractive
- Strong and durable
Cons
- Pricey compared to other options
Sector 9 Aina Striker Kicktail Drop Thru Longboard
The Sector 9 Aina Striker Kicktail longboard is a board that you need to place in your collection. It features 10” Gullwing Sidewinder Double KingPin trucks which produce and simulate the feeling you’d get when executing an ideal cutback on a smooth wave in the sea.
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Sector 9 has designed and produced the Striker deck to perfectly complement the Sidewinder trucks, and the deck on this longboard has a broader platform that provides great leverage on the trucks. Carving and pumping the concrete is effortless and smooth due to the folks over at Sector 9.
There’s nothing that says Sector 9 bamboo like bright island vibes. Sector 9 aimed to revive their bamboo roots with this board, and for that, they collaborated with artist and waterman Kenny Vidinich, OneVibe Creative Studios’ head in Maunalua Bay. They were inspired by the local fauna and flora, and Kenny was able to create some amazingly colorful and detailed illustrations.
You’ll be able to see these illustrations in all their glory no matter what you’re doing on the board. They contrast nicely with the classic bamboo that you’ve come to love from Sector 9, and will make you the envy of your skateboarding friends for sure. The board is nice and wide to accommodate all riders and riding styles.
Pros
- Beautiful island design
- Bright colors look great
- Classic bamboo base
- Stylish and fun green wheels
Cons
- Board can be difficult to transport
Sector 9 Cruiser Pintail Complete Crag Maverick Longboard
Sector 9 once again committed to an artistic collaboration when working on their Cruiser Pintail Complete board, and they’ve done it with The Minimalist Wave again. This French artist is known for his illustrations of the ocean, specifically waves, and he’s incorporated the design into this board.
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Like the Shacked Shoots longboard from Sector 9, the Cruiser Pintail features an all-black ink design on the underside of the longboard, which contrasts nicely with the bright bamboo that the base is made from. The illustration is made using just lines, which gives the board a unique, minimalist appearance.
Unlike the Shacked Shoots, the wheels on this board are not black, but rather a translucent bronze color, which acts as another layer of contrast for the board that adds to its overall visual interest and stylish design. The board is quite wide and can accommodate all riding styles and different borders.
It’s also super long, which allows taller riders to enjoy it as well as shorter riders. The board itself is made from 5 ply bamboo, with black bamboo inlay stringer on top of the ply, and, of course, the stunning art from The Minimalist Wave that encourages you to lose yourself in imaginary worlds. You’ll also find a small version of The Minimalist Wave’s logo on the top of the board to let you and your friends know exactly who designed the amazing illustration.
Pros
- Sleek design looks great
- Minimalist illustration
- Nice contrast between elements
- Can accommodate all borders
Cons
- Often sold out
Related: Best Pintail Longboards
Sector 9 Wavepark Shadow Longboard Complete
If you’re looking for an extremely stylish and flashy longboard that will make you stand out at the skatepark, then you already know that Sector 9 has your back. Their Wavepark Shadow board is one of their most colorful and vibrant models, and will turn heads wherever you ride.
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The Sector 9 Wavepark Shadow longboard is the perfect board for any skater that loves cool tones. Its combination of blues, greens, and purples gives it a vibrant sense of life, and it’s most certainly one of the most colorful boards on this list. It’s a departure from the classic bamboo that you may be used to from Sector 9, but don’t think that means it’s inferior.
The top of the board is made from the classic veneer that you are likely used to from other skateboard manufacturers, which offsets the rich, detailed design of the bottom very nicely. You’ll also find some of the colors peeking through to the top of the board near the end, which we feel is a great accent.
The wheels are in a bright white color that complements the overall ocean-themed design quite nicely, and also adds some additional visual interest to the board.
Pros
- Fantastic design
- Very colorful and attractive
- Very sturdy and strong
- Unique shape
Cons
- Not super wide
Sector 9 Chamber Vortex Longboard Complete
Do you love koi fish? Are you a fan of the color mint green? If you answered ‘yes’ to one of those questions, then you’ll love the Chamber Vortex longboard from Sector 9, which features those exact design elements. The unique design of the underside of this board will leave your peers mesmerized with every kickflip.
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We have to say, this is one of the coolest designs that Sector 9 has ever put out, and it’s a total departure from the standard waves and ocean themes that you might be used to. The underside of this board is painted to mimic hardwood, which serves as the perfect backdrop for the stunning koi fish design overlaid on top.
The wheels are in a shocking mint green color, which both complements the overall design and also contrasts it, giving the entire board a fresh, never-before-seen look. The top of the board is made from a standard skateboard veneer to keep your feet planted.
The overall shape of the board is quite unique, with an almost fish-like appearance, but that may just be because there are fish on the bottom. Either way, we think this board is some of Sector 9’s best work.
Pros
- Unique design options
- Unlike other Sector 9 designs
- Interesting board shape
- Striking green wheels
Cons
- Expensive for some
Related: Read Our Ultimate Guide On How To Find The Best Longboard
Check out our in-depth reviews of other Sector 9 Longboards:
