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Reissue decks get lumped in with anything that looks a bit retro. That is not accurate, and it does not help if you are trying to buy the right thing. A genuine reissue is a reprint of an original graphic on the shape it first shipped on, usually from the 1980s or early 1990s. Old school decks cover the wider shape family those reissues come from. Knowing the difference matters, because it changes how the board rides, how it fits your setup, and whether you are buying it to skate or to hang on a wall.
This guide covers what you are actually paying for, why decks like the Santa Cruz Godzilla and the Pokémon x Santa Cruz collaboration sell out fast, and how to choose your first old school or reissue deck without overpaying for the wrong thing.
An old school deck is any skateboard built on a shape from skateboarding's earlier eras: typically a wider nose, deep concave, and a distinctive kicktail shape that differs from a modern popsicle deck. A reissue deck goes a step further. It is a direct reprint of a specific original graphic, made to the original specs as closely as the manufacturer can manage, released by the brand that owns the artwork.
Santa Cruz is the brand most associated with this space in the UK, largely down to the strength of its archive. Screaming Hand artwork, Rob Roskopp's series, and collaborations with outside brands like Godzilla and Pokémon all get reissued periodically, sometimes as limited runs, sometimes as ongoing catalogue items.
The key point: not every wide, retro-looking deck is a reissue. Some are new old-school-shaped decks with new graphics. Both are worth owning, but they are different products with different value.
There are two overlapping buyer types here, and most people sit somewhere between them.
Nostalgia riders grew up skating these shapes, or grew up wanting to, and want to feel that shape under their feet again. For this group, the deck gets set up and ridden.
Collectors are buying for the artwork and the history. A Screaming Hand graphic or a first-run Godzilla collaboration carries real cultural weight in skateboarding, and decks like these tend to hold their value better than most mass-market graphics.
Both groups are usually drawn in by the same thing: these graphics were genuinely good, and the reissue is the most realistic way to own one without hunting down a 30-year-old original in poor condition.
The differences are not just cosmetic.
If you are used to a standard modern deck, an old school shape will feel noticeably different the first time you stand on it. That is by design, not a flaw.
A couple of graphics come up again and again when people search for reissue decks, and each has its own story.
Santa Cruz Godzilla decks pair Santa Cruz's classic shapes with official Godzilla artwork, tapping into both skate history and a genuinely huge film franchise. These runs tend to move quickly. For the full background on how the collaboration came about, see our guide on Godzilla vs Santa Cruz Skateboards.
Pokémon x Santa Cruz is an official collaboration, not fan art, which is part of why it holds value. It brings Pokémon characters onto Santa Cruz's Screaming Hand-era shapes and appeals well beyond the usual skate collector audience. We cover the release details in our piece on the Pokémon x Santa Cruz collaboration decks.
If you want to see what is currently in stock across these graphics, shop the full reissue and collectors range, or go straight to the Santa Cruz Screaming Hand decks if that's the artwork you're after.
Yes, in most cases. A reissue deck is built with the same construction as any other skateboard deck: maple ply, pressed and shaped, ready to be built into a working setup. If you buy trucks, wheels, bearings and hardware sized correctly for the deck, it rides.
What changes is the experience. Wide old school shapes suit cruising, carving, pool and bowl riding far better than technical street skating. If your plan is flip tricks and ledges, a modern popsicle shape will serve you better, reissue or not.
Some very limited or particularly high-value graphics are worth thinking twice about riding, simply because grip tape and wear will affect resale value. That is a personal call, not a rule. If you are building a rider rather than a display piece, our guide on how to assemble a skateboard walks through picking the right hardware for a wider deck.
If the plan is a wall piece rather than a ride, a bare deck (no grip, no hardware) keeps the artwork fully visible and avoids unnecessary handling. Store or hang it away from direct sunlight, since UV exposure fades printed graphics over time, and avoid damp rooms where the ply can warp.
For the actual hanging process, our guide on how to mount a skateboard deck on the wall covers wall mount options that don't damage the deck, which matters if you might want to sell or ride it later.
Start with what you actually want from it.
Browse the full Santa Cruz collection for the widest choice of official shapes and graphics, or browse all skateboard decks if you want to compare old school and modern shapes side by side.
What is the difference between an old school deck and a reissue deck? Old school refers to the shape family: wide nose, deep concave, shorter kicktail. Reissue refers specifically to a reprint of an original graphic on that shape, released by the brand that owns the artwork.
Are reissue skateboard decks safe to ride? Yes. They use the same maple construction as any other deck. Build them with correctly sized trucks, wheels and hardware and they ride like any old school shape, though very limited or high-value graphics are sometimes kept for display to protect resale value.
Why are Santa Cruz reissue decks so popular? Santa Cruz has one of skateboarding's strongest graphic archives, including the Screaming Hand, and its official collaborations with brands like Godzilla and Pokémon bring in buyers well beyond core skateboarding.
What size were old school skateboard decks compared to modern ones? Old school decks commonly run 10 inches wide or more with longer wheelbases, compared with the 7.75-8.5 inch range typical of modern street and park decks.
Is the Santa Cruz Godzilla deck a limited edition? Some Godzilla collaboration runs have been limited releases that sold out quickly, though availability varies by graphic and drop. Check current stock on the reissue and collectors range for what's live now.
Can I mount a reissue deck on the wall instead of riding it? Yes. A bare, ungripped deck keeps the artwork visible and avoids wear. Use a proper wall mount rather than adhesive fixings, and keep it out of direct sunlight to protect the print.
If you are ready to buy, shop the full reissue and collectors range for current Santa Cruz, Godzilla, Pokémon and old school shapes in stock in the UK.
