Pokémon Skateboards in Blind Bags Fly Off the Shelves
The design on a skateboard is something that many enthusiasts take seriously. The thought of purchasing a skateboard without knowing the artwork on the deck might seem odd. However, when it comes to a skateboard featuring a Pokémon card, that changes everything. Skateboard brand Santa Cruz has just rolled out a collection of 30 different decks showcasing some of the most iconic Pokémon card designs, all packaged in sealed bags for a blind purchase at $140 each. Unsurprisingly, they sold out in no time.
The description on the Pokémon Center site captures the thrill perfectly: “What you find in a Pokémon TCG booster pack is always a surprise, and now you can experience that same excitement with a limited edition blind bag skateboard deck from Santa Cruz!” This comparison is certainly unique, but it hasn’t deterred buyers. Despite a limit of one deck per customer, the sealed boards vanished instantly in both the U.S. and UK.
Each skateboard features classic card art, starting with fan favorites like Venusaur, Blastoise, and Charizard from the Base Set, and spanning various eras with designs like Dark Espeon from Team Rocket, Lugia EX from Plasma Storm, M Charizard EX from XY Flashfire, and the sought-after Moonbreon from Evolving Skies. However, there’s also a chance you could end up with a deck featuring the more common Sylveon V or the Vaporeon GX promo, both of which are valued at around $5 and might not be on anyone’s wish list. (There are stunning Sylveon and Vaporeon designs that have been released before, but these aren’t among them. I personally cherish my Leafeon Bear Walker design.) It seems quite strange to me that someone would spend $140 on the slim chance of getting one of the few designs they really wanted out of 30 options.
Yet, many have taken the plunge, whether they’re collectors or scalpers, leading to the boards being completely sold out on both the Pokémon Center and Santa Cruz sites, as well as in the UK, Canada, and Australia. (You can sign up for restock notifications, though.)
If you’re looking to snag one now, eBay is your best bet, with sealed bags popping up for around $300, or a more affordable $212 for the less desirable Jolteon ex design. Prices can skyrocket to at least $600 for the Pikachu & Zekrom Team Up card design, and the same goes for the Mega Charizard EX. As for the Base Set Charizard? Listings have reached as high as $1,800, though some have sold for as low as $400, typically hovering between $500 and $800. The Umbreon, inspired by the Moonbreon card currently valued at $2,300, is also fetching between $500 and $800 on eBay. It’s a wild market out there.
