Tony Alva brought his signature surf inspired style to the Z-Boys skate team in 1972 to skate alongside legends like Jay Adams and Stacy Peralta.  In 1977, at the age of 19, he created his own company called Alva Skates.  He was the first skateboarder to start their own company as well as the first to use layered Canadian maple wood that have become the industry standard for skateboard construction.  Today, Alva Skates continues to create some of the best old-school shapes on the market with the same undeniable quality that they've always been about.