About Duane Peters - Pro Skateboarder Profile, Biography and History

Duane Peters was born on June 12, 1961, in Anaheim, California, Duane Peters grew up in a tumultuous environment due to his parents’ divorce, and at the age of nine, he moved in with his used-car salesman father and developed a rebellious streak, often skipping school.

Curious about the underground skateboarding scene, Peters made his own skateboard by attaching roller-skate wheels to a piece of wood. He surf-skated the Newport Beach sidewalks, honing his skills and pushing boundaries by riding empty swimming pools until chased away by police helicopters.

Peters became a pivotal figure in skateboarding, introducing punk rock music and fashion to the sport alongside Steve Olson.

He also invented several iconic tricks, including:

• Acid Drop: A daring maneuver where the skater drops into a pool or bowl from a high point.
• Indy Air: A stylish trick performed in the air with one hand grabbing the board.
• Disaster (Fakie Hang-Up): A trick involving stalling on the coping while riding fakie (backwards).
• Layback Rollout: A graceful move combining a layback position with a grind on the back truck.
• Fakie Footplant: A footplant trick executed while riding backward.
• Sweeper: A slide across the coping, with the board held by the leading hand.
• Backside Layback Grind Revert: A complex combination of moves.
• Invert Revert: A spin while in an inverted position.
• The Loop of Death: His most impressive stunt—a full 360-degree rotation on a specially looped track built for the “Skateboard Mania” show in 1978.
• Peters was also instrumental in evolving the footplant into the dynamic fastplant, alongside Neil Blender.

In 1978, Peters and Skitch Hitchcock completed an upside-down, full revolution on a steel and plexiglass loop called “The Loop of Death.” Installed at Cuckoo’s Nest, a punk club in Costa Mesa, this event forever shaped his career. Peters requested a 14-foot-tall loop, inspired by his idol Evel Knievel, but it ended up being 17 feet high. Despite the risks, he defied gravity and made history, proving that vertical skateboarders could push boundaries.

Peters embraced punk rock, changing his appearance from long, blond hair to a punk-style mohawk, and he played a pivotal role in introducing punk music to skateboarding. Throughout his life, he channeled contest winnings into buying musical equipment for his bands.

Notable bands he formed include:
U.S. Bombs: A California punk rock band formed in 1993.
Die Hunns (Duane Peters and The Hunns): A project that Corey Parks (formerly of Nashville Pussy) joined on bass guitar.
Duane Peters Gunfight.
Exploding Fuck Dolls.

Peters believed that punk rock saved skateboarding, and his dual passions fueled his rebellious spirit.

Peters has faced erratic behavior, drugs, violence, jail, and homelessness, along with his 20-year-old son, Chess (Chelsea) Peters, tragically dying in a car accident in 2007. Despite all of his hardships, Duane Peters remains an influential figure in both skateboarding and punk rock. He has defied gravity, invented iconic tricks, and rocked the punk scene, forever leaving his mark on skateboarding and music.

Duane Peters Skateboard Videos

Who Cares - The Duane Peters Story

"Actual Punk rocker, talented skateboarder, artist, duanes the man"

"We used to skate with DP at The Big O.  I remember when he brought his sheers down and was giving buzz cuts in the bathroom.  The beginning of my punk rock world!!!"

"The pool session that starts at 41:39 is so amazing. Guys where fking destroying the coping"

Grosso's Loveletters to Skateboarding - Style with Duane Peters

"Grosso sits down with Duane Peters and talks about why style matters."

 "Grant Taylor, Hosoi, Elguera, Jeff Phillips, Gonz, Natas, Cab, Blender, Omar Hassan, Monty Nolder, Cardiel, Billy Ruff, Mountain, John Gibson, Hensley.... sooooo many style kings and each one different. Can't leave off Grosso who will be so missed. Miss his smiles and laughter."

Black Label Skates: Black Out - Duane Peters Section

"I was fortunate enough to see him skate it in the late 80's at our local park, Apple Skatepark in Columbus, Ohio. He was totally mind-boggling. Acid drops into a 14' deep kidney pool with more vertical than should have ever been legal. He is and always will be a legend to skaters."

"The invert revert at the end was one of the sickest tricks ever."

Independent Trucks: Duane Peters Skate Video

 "First trick he learned was style."

"Can't stand and still skate; that's true dedication."

"Considering his age and past lifestyle, this is insanely good and stylish skateboarding. Such a bad ass dude !"

"So much style, power and aggression. One of the best skaters of all time"

Duane Peters 1981 Skateboarding Pipeline Skate Park Video

"Duane Peters and Mickey and Steve Alba Skating Pipeline"