Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from and how did fingerboarding come into your life?
Hi, my names Blake I’m 24 & I’m from the Pacific Northwest. When I was about 7 or 8, a neighbor in my apartment complex was moving out and downsizing their belongings. Throughout those items they had some tech decks and a lot of ramps, I gladly took an interest to them and started 3 finger flipping.
Is skateboarding part of your life at all, and how does it relate to fingerboarding for you?
My father skateboarded back in the day, and I always had an interest in them. Unfortunately I never got past an ollie, I enjoy longboarding very much though even going as far as making our own longboards in our family cabinet shop.
Who were some of your earliest inspirations in skating or fingerboarding, and how did they influence your style?
When I started getting serious with fingerboarding was after watching some garret ginner videos back around 2015/16. I remember watching thrashers greatest battles and somewhere along the line garret popped into my yt. From there Bihn dohn the creator of subliminal fingerboards started showing up in garrets videos, and the rest is history. Some other influences on my journey were Taylor Rosenbauer for his tutorial videos on YouTube, as well as David jones for his creative and engaging content keeping fingerboarding alive and refreshing.
What was your first setup like, and what companies or riders stood out to you at the time?
My first setup I found shortly after discovering fingerboarding through YouTube. This led me to watching some jeremy pastor unboxing videos, where I decided flatface was the perfect entry level brand. I remember for Christmas one year I asked for a 35$ mystery grab bag off there site. If I remember correctly i received purple dump trucks, yellow Bollie wheels, and a real wear 29mm flatface graphic.
What keeps you motivated and coming back to it?
I’d have to say the community and my passion to see others enjoy and get use out of something I make.
Tell us about your current setup and your favorite tricks to do.
Currently I’m rocking a 32mm Relics of the Future deck, some leefai v4 trucks as well as some ampersandwheels. My favorite trick to do would have to be fakie half cab flip.
How would you describe the fingerboarding community from your own experience?
From my experience the community has its ups and downs just like any other hobby. Some years are worse than others, but at the end of the day the real ones all support eachother an that’s what matters!
How do you feel about the cost of fingerboarding products today?
Fingerboard costs will always be something to argue within the community. If the craft is worth the price to the consumer that’s all that matters.
How did your company start, and what’s the story behind the name?
As soon as I found professional fingerboarding I was interested in making a board. I was always watching diys and eventually I purchased a create your own skate: fingerboard mold and started pressing decks this was late 2016 into early 2017. From there I started making decks under a different name and giving them out to friends at first. Skip to 2021 an I finally started selling decks, and I quickly grew consequently taking to many orders and overwhelming myself. This all happened between 2021 and 2023, I took a hiatus for a couple years to focus on my mental health and a new baby boy. Skip to the present, here I am starting a fresh company ensuring all my experience finally pays off.
Tell us about your products and whatever you’re comfortable sharing about how they’re made.
I make fingerskate boards for your tiny fingers. These decks are made with thin plies of veneer, pressed in a mold similar to a skate mold using various forms of glue, then cut out on either a router or belt sander and shaped to resemble a skateboard.
What have been some of the biggest challenges and most rewarding parts of running a fingerboard company?
Figuring out a way to push your content or products is most definitely the most challenging part of running a company for myself. Finally seeing a customer happy, or posting clips where I can see the board perform is undoubtedly the biggest reward. Always puts a smile on my face!
What qualities do you look for in a rider, and how would you want someone to approach you about a sponsorship?
When looking for a rider it comes to various things: do I have a crowd big enough to make sponsoring someone worth it, does this person have style that resembles what I’m looking for, do we get along more than just business partners, and unfortunately this is a business… so does this person have enough views and likes to make throwing out free product worth it. Meaning this is a company and we are looking for people that aren’t only good people but also have intentions of helping push eachother forward in growth.
What is your advice for anyone trying to start a fingerboard company of their own?
My advice would be go for it. If you have the money to start up without affecting your personal life, chase your dreams an make everlasting memories.
Finally, what does the future of your company look like to you?
Vaín’s success is on the horizon currently, we have lots of plans this year. Local events, lots of drops, and maybe even a new rider.
Feel free to share any photos of your work or products that you’d like to include!
