About Andrew "The Boss" Reynolds - Pro Skateboarder Profile, Biography and History

February 25, 2024

Andrew Reynolds, also called 'The Boss,' is an American skateboarder and influential figure in the skateboarding world. Known for his exceptional skating skills, he co-founded Baker Skateboards in 2000 with artist Jay Strickland and is now the sole owner.

Andrew Reynolds was born on June 6, 1978, in Lakeland, Florida, USA. He started skateboarding at the tender age of nine and quickly fell in love with the sport.

After finishing high school in Lakeland, Reynolds relocated to Huntington Beach, California to advance his skate career. He drew inspiration from pro skaters Chad Muska and Tom Penny.

Reynolds burst onto the skateboarding scene in the early 1990s. His talent and dedication caught the attention of pro skater Tony Hawk, who invited him to join his newly formed skateboard team, Birdhouse Skateboards. Despite Hawk knowing little about Reynolds at the time, he recognized Andrew's potential and welcomed him on to the team.

"To me, that was such a trip when they told me, 'The ams [amateurs] on Birdhouse are gonna be you and Ocean Howell.' And I'm like, 'Me! And the guy, from the H. Street video with the Doors song and everything?!' I was like, 'Oh my god!' It's not even right. Some little kid from a hick town, and the other am is Ocean Howell? It's wrong. It just was so wrong. At first, when I met him I was just a fan. But then we became friends. He would get a girl at every demo almost and I'm just... amazed! I thought, 'Man, how does he do it? He's so cool.'"

Skateboarding icon Emerica's team manage Heath Kirchart unveiled in the year 2007 his perception of Reynolds as a rival, given Reynolds' recruitment to Birdhouse post joining the team. Kirchart elaborated:

I don't tell many people this. But there was [a] point, I remember when [we] were filming The End when he kickflip noseslided the UCI ten-stair. I [thought], "Holy shit! Hopefully, I'll do that." And I didn't. But it was my coming to "Wow! He's better than me." And since that time it's been way better than me. He's not just better than me—he's way better than me!

In the year 1998, Andrew Reynolds reached a momentous milestone by claiming the Skater of the Year award from Thrasher skate magazine. This esteemed honor cemented his position as one of the most influentional figures in the realm of skateboarding.

In 2000, Reynolds co-founded Baker Skateboards alongside artist Jay Strickland. The brand’s name reflects a lifestyle where one “gets baked” (referring to cannabis) and skateboards daily. Additionally, he established Bakerboys Distribution in 2007 with fellow skaters Erik Ellington and Jim Greco. Bakerboys Distribution supports related in-house skateboard companies such as Deathwish Skateboards and Shake Junt.

Andrew Reynolds also wears the hat of head of design at Altamont Apparel. Under his leadership, Andrew Reynolds guides the design team at Altamont Apparel.

Reynolds' skating profile was featured in the original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game. His skating prowess graced the iconic Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game.

His impact transcends skateboarding decks, shaping the aesthetics of clothing as well. In December 2011, Reynolds was recognized as the tenth most influential skateboarder of all time by Transworld Skateboarding magazine.

Professional skateboarder, friend, and teammate Braydon Szafranski has stated, "You're a complete fucking moron if you don't think that Andrew is the best skater in the world. Every single day he does tricks that I've never seen him do, and I've known him, like, six years." Professional skateboarder, teammate, artist, and company owner Ed Templeton has stated: "I don't know how he does it. I don't know how he jumps down the stuff he jumps down, year after year, and, and, still be like ... I don't know—to me, it's shocking. He's been number one for so long, that it's mind-blowing at this point." Emerica teammate Jerry Hsu has also expressed his admiration of Reynolds:

He just has, like, a really cool obsession with skating... it's like being around a little kid... as long as you are focused on skating, you can do whatever you want. You can... he is pretty nice. He does a lot of crazy shit in skating. Like, you wouldn't believe it. All he, all he eats is fruit. I don't know how he skates when he just eats fruit and salad... oh, he eats tons of vegetables. He's crazy.

In a 2012 interview, Reynolds revealed how he became known as "The Boss":

It's just a nickname that [professional skateboarder] Jim Greco came up with. I guess growing up watching mob movies and mob documentaries, there's always like has to be a boss. I had a Cadillac, it was just little stuff. I had an apartment; Jim was like, "He's the boss.". That's it. And then he just kind of stuck with it after that. I don't take part in it. I don't go around saying, "I'm the boss," you know? I don't care, whatever.

In July 2013, professional skateboarder Paul Rodriguez included Reynolds in his "top ten" list of favorite professional skateboarders, explaining: "If you ask me, nobody jumps huge stairs and gaps better than Reynolds. Nobody does it with better style, more grace, or more control ... He’s another guy with amazing style. He is everything you could ever ask in the most pristine pro skateboarder."

Since October 2012, Reynolds has abstained from alcohol and drugs for a decade, after struggling with these substances in his early twenties. He quit smoking when his daughter was born to his former wife, Christianna Reynolds.

In response to the question "What in particular triggered you going sober?" in a 2011 interview, Reynolds replied:

Cocaine - just messing with hard drugs and not being able to stop. My drinking was way out of control; I couldn't drink one beer without ending up blacking out and doing drugs. It would happen over and over again. Probably from like seventeen years old to twenty-four, I just didn't know how to control my intake of drugs or alcohol. It just happens to certain people. You are either that way or you aren't that way, you know? I smoked weed like my life depended on it. Then one day, I woke up and I knew it was a problem. The hard stuff - I knew I shouldn't be messing with it.

He has expressed that his inspiration is his family. In a September 2014 interview, Reynolds expressed concern over the influence that the recorded behavior of "Baker, Pissdrunx and our whole crowd" might have exerted upon young viewers and fans. Reynolds explained that he'd "like to try and repair that" as much as possible and added: "I feel like that’s a good job for me."

As of December 2022, Reynolds is sponsored by Baker Skateboards, New Balance, Spitfire Wheels, Brigada, Independent, Shake Junt, Stance.

Andrew's influence on skateboarding culture cannot be downplayed. Reynolds continues to inspire skaters worldwide, showcasing passion, creativity, and fearlessness. In essence, Andrew “The Boss” Reynolds is a standout skateboarder and innovative entrepreneur who has made a lasting impact on the skateboarding industry.