It’s a great feeling gliding down Tahoe’s paved bike paths on a skateboard, especially on one that’s quality made and full of sentimental value like a Tahoe Longboard.
A lot has changed since Chuck Vogt Buckley founded Tahoe Longboards in 1997, but in many ways, much has stayed the same. Vogt Buckley is still bombing down hills and making his signature skate decks. His solid team consisting of his wife Bella and 5-year-old son Leland are helping take Tahoe Longboards to the next level.
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Like many businesses, Vogt Buckley says that Tahoe Longboards got crushed when COVID-19 came but fortunately their online sales kept his family going. As the Tahoe economy slowly started recovering, Vogt Buckley was excited to return to Truckee Thursdays and other local events. However, the Caldor Fire and poor air quality threw another wrench in operations.
I love my fast, easy-to-carve Tahoma 42 board to glide down Tahoe’s bike paths from one beach or restaurant to another, as well as my Talmont 52 for long-distance cruising.
Lately, Vogt Buckley is focusing on expanding the Tahoe Longboards brand outside of the Tahoe Basin, attending music festivals and trying to maintain a presence wherever he can. When we spoke, he had just returned from Dry Diggings Festival in Grass Valley and was getting ready to go down and set up a booth at BeachLife Festival in Southern California where bands such as Jane’s Addiction, Ben Harper, G. Love and Ziggy Marley were headlining.
The last time The Tahoe Weekly checked in on Tahoe Longboards five years ago, the Vogt Buckleys had their son Leland, who is quickly turning into a ripper just like his dad.
While Vogt Buckley continues to make longboards, he has also improved his signature ones and introduced new models. For instance, he just added a clear, waterproof perma grip to the top of the Tahoma board that can withstand the Tahoe elements.
“The double clear coat has a nice glossy look and super bomber protection,” he says.
There are also now two different versions of the clear grip on the Tallac board, one that has a very coarse surface — he calls it the grizzly grip for Tahoe riding — and a smoother one for barefoot beach riding.
I love my fast, easy-to-carve Tahoma 42 board to glide down Tahoe’s bike paths from one beach or restaurant to another, as well as my Talmont 52 for long-distance cruising.
Vogt Buckley is also adamant about making Tahoe Longboards within the U.S., in a garage in Huntington Beach.
“It means a lot to us to have that California-made, local pride,” he says.
He is a supporter of breast cancer awareness events such as B4BC (Boarding for Breast Cancer). Go to a Skate the Lake event in Tahoe, and you’ll quickly see that the most prominent skate deck is a Tahoe Longboard.
During the uncertainty of everything going on, taking a Tahoe Longboard out on Tahoe’s paved trails any day is a great way to relieve stress.
“Concrete is everywhere, and skateboarding will always be one of the cheapest, most free-spirited movement activities out there,” he says. “It will always rule as a recreation sport.” | tahoelongboards.com
