About Neil Blender - Pro Skateboarder Profile, Biography and History

Neil Blender is a legendary figure in skateboarding history, known not only for his skating skills but also for his artistic contributions to skateboarding.

Neil Blender was born in 1963. He started skating during his mid-teens and rode for Powerflex for three years. After Powerflex ceased operations, Blender joined the G&S (Gordon & Smith) amateur skateboarding team.

In January 1981, he gained national exposure by appearing on US television during a skate contest in San Francisco.

Neil Blender became a professional skateboarder in 1981, during his final year of high school.

Neil Blender invented at least three skateboard tricks: the Wooly Mammoth, the Gay Twist, and the Donner Party.

In 1990, along with other professional skateboarders Chris Carter and Mike Hill, Neil Blender co-founded Alien Workshop, a skateboard company based in Dayton, Ohio.

Throughout his career, Neil Blender has made many memorable appearances on skate videos, whether it be with his rad skating, or comedic pieces, he has always been entertaining!

Notable Skateboard Video Appearances:

1985: Summer Sessions (Sure-Grip International).
1988: Thrasher - Savannah Slamma.
1989: Santa Cruz - Speed Freaks.
1990: Gordon & Smith - Footage.

Neil Blender’s artistic talents were evident from an early age. He enjoyed drawing cartoons and photography. His artistic flair naturally extended to designing his own board graphics, making him one of the first skateboarders to do so.

Some of his iconic skateboard deck graphics include:

Three Guys on Ramp (G&S, 1982): His first board design with a unique shape and graphics.
Snake (G&S, 1984): Featuring a lattice pattern and lettering.
Rocking Dog #1 (G&S, 1984): A distinctive skate graphic during a challenging time for skateboarding.
Rocking Dog #2 (G&S, 1985): A variation of the original rocking dog deck art.

In 2015, Neil Blender was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame and remains influential, having left an impressive mark on skateboarding culture.

Neil Blender has recently stepped up the skateboarding world once again with his brand-new company, The Heated Wheel. The Heated Wheel is a canvas where Neil Blender combines his love for skateboarding, art, and innovation.

Neil Blender Skateboard Videos

1985: Summer Sessions (Sure-Grip International) Skateboard Video
"With Eric Grisham and friends from L.A., Del Mar, San Francisco, Honolulu, and Las Vegas skating ramp, pool, street, freestyle, and more!"


1988: Thrasher - Savannah Slamma Skateboard Video

1989: Santa Cruz - Speed Freaks Skateboard Video.
"In 1989 skateboarding was still universal... pools, ramps street, ditches, downhill, freestyle and anything else that looked like fun! The Speed Wheels team was stacked and skater/producer Tony Roberts came in hot with his innovative angles and camera and editing techniques. Video itself was brand new as a medium and Speed Freaks set the foundation of what was to come in the future.

Skaters: Christian Hosoi, Danny Way, Eric Dressen, Tom Knox, Mike Vallely, Natas Kaupas, Neil Blender, Jeff Phillips, Jason Jessee, Jeff Grosso, Jeff Kendall, Julian Stranger, Rob Roskopp, Ron Allen, Scott Oster, Steve Alba, Tony Magnusson, Keith Meek, Anders Pulpanek, Aaron Murray, Brian Brannon, Bryan Pennington, Butch Sterbins, Corey O’Brien, David Nielsen, Don Fisher, Jim Thiebaud, Jimmy Acosta, John Gibson, Ken McGuire, Monte Nolder, Simon Levine, Reese Simpson, Brad Baxter, Claus Grabke, Dave Donalson and more."

1990: Gordon & Smith - Footage Skateboard Video.
"The G&S Footage video features Neil Blender, Doug Smith, Bill Danforth, Remy Stratton, Steve Claar, Jesse Neuhaus, Blaize Blouin, Mark Heintzman, Duane Pitre, Rob Dyrdek, John Drake, Sean Miller, Willy Santos, Matt Beach, Brian Howard, Larry Jones, Paul Smith, Scott Conklin, Bo Turner."

"The 90s were untouchable. there will never be another time like it, especially for skateboarding."

"I've returned to this several times, currently aged 46 and still skating. Had a dalliance with a girl 23 and still friends with. After trying to explain why I love skating I explained via this video, it was not just the new tricks, with the cool sound track, with the humour, with the individual identity, it was also the creative use of editing and why it wasn't actually all about the skating but also the expression. And that they're picking up video cameras and making something before anyone else, it actually made you think you are them, and that there are possibilities...... for all those reasons that's why this period of skating rips xxxxx"

"This video is amazing — Much of this would become Alien Workshop only a year later. Neil’s part is legendary."

Real Skate Stories: Neil Blender Classic 1989 Raw Camera Tapes From "Speed Freaks" Sessions.
"Raw unedited footage of one of skateboarding's most creative innovators and funniest individuals Neil Blender from the filming of Speed Freaks (1989) by Tony Roberts for Santa Cruz Speed Wheels. Comedy and skateboarding mix for a day that will go down in history as Neil hits Sadlands, show us around his pad and rips his no transition 3 ft. high mini ramp with a foot of vert with Steve Claar, Rob Roskopp and O, and we hit the streets for some toy shopping and skits."

"Neil's backside Ollie's on his ramp are the shit. So much style and great footage here."

"Blender was truly ahead of his time and looked at skating differently than most others back then. One of my favourite skaters of all time. Thank you RSS for the footage! There isn’t enough of it out there."

"For YEARS while skating and to this day when at work you often hear me say, “We’re gearing up, for getting down.” For some reason, all those years ago, that stuck with me. I still say it all the time. LOL Full cred to Neil."

"Yeah, those backside ollies on the mini ramp are great, but I always really liked the frontside one during the part at sadlands. It's funny because I found some socks with his art on them. This was great."

88 Footwear "Destroy Everything Now" Skateboard Video

Skateboarding Hall of Fame 2015: Neil Blender
"The International Assn. of Skateboard Companies and the International Skateboarding Hall of Fame are proud to announce this year’s inductees for the 6th Annual Skateboarding Hall of Fame... Brian Logan (1960s), Henry Hester (1970s, Era One), Duane Peters (1970s, Era Two), Neil Blender (1980s, Era One), Chris Miller(1980s, Era Two), John Cardiel (1990s), and three women – Robin Logan (1970s), Cara-Beth Burnside(1980s), and Elissa Steamer (1990s)."

Neil Blender | 2015 | Skateboarding Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
"2015 Skateboarding Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony of Neil Blender for the 1980s era one category. Previous inductees for the 1980s Era One category include Tony Hawk, Mark Gonzales, Rodney Mullen, Eddie Elguera and Lance Mountain. For more information on the Skateboarding Hall of Fame visit, www.skateboardinghalloffame.org and please join us every spring in Orange County, CA for the Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony."