Who Owns Element Skateboards?

Element Skateboards was founded in 1992 by professional skateboarder Johnny Schillereff in Atlanta, Georgia. The brand was originally called Underworld Element. Schillereff started the company with a simple goal: make quality skateboard decks that reflected his connection to nature and skate culture. The name was later shortened to Element, and the brand adopted its now-recognizable tree logo.

Through the 1990s, Element grew steadily within the skateboarding community. The brand gained a reputation for deck quality and distinctive graphics that set it apart from larger competitors. Element expanded beyond decks into trucks, wheels, griptape, wax, apparel, and footwear. The company sponsored a team of professional skateboarders who helped build the brand's credibility in the skate community.

In 2001, Element was acquired by Billabong International, the Australian surf and skate apparel company. The acquisition gave Element access to Billabong's global distribution network and retail infrastructure. Under Billabong's ownership, Element expanded its international presence, particularly in Europe and North America. The brand opened The Branch in 2014, a creative headquarters in Costa Mesa, California that served as a design studio and gathering space for the Element team.

Billabong underwent significant corporate changes in the 2010s. In 2018, Billabong merged with Quiksilver under a new corporate entity called Boardriders, Inc. The merger consolidated several major action sports brands under one parent company. Element continued to operate within this structure, maintaining its brand identity while benefiting from shared resources and distribution.

In 2023, Authentic Brands Group acquired Boardriders, Inc. for approximately $1.25 billion. The deal brought Quiksilver, Billabong, DC Shoes, Roxy, RVCA, and Element into ABG's portfolio. ABG's licensing model meant that Element's manufacturing and retail relationships would be restructured under new partnership agreements.

In 2025, Element expanded its retail footprint through a licensing agreement with JAKKS Pacific, which brought Element products to Walmart stores in the United States. The move represented a shift toward mass-market retail, a departure from the brand's traditional focus on specialty skate shops. In early 2026, Element premiered "Search," a film project shot across Spain, Sweden, Gran Canaria, and Croatia, featuring the brand's international team of riders. The film premiered at Le Rex in Paris.

Also in 2026, Element partnered with Concept One Accessories on a licensed collection tied to the Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures film "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," scheduled for theatrical release on July 31, 2026. The collection includes backpacks and headwear available through BoxLunch and specialty retailers.