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Pokémon and Santa Cruz Skateboards is one of those collaborations that makes sense the moment you see it. Santa Cruz has been putting bold, collectible artwork on decks since the 1970s with the Screaming Hand, and Pokémon has spent decades building some of the most recognisable characters on the planet. Put the two together and you get a range that appeals to skaters, collectors, and Pokémon fans who might never have set foot on a board.
If you're weighing up whether to buy one, this guide covers the practical side that most product pages skip: which designs exist, whether you should buy a deck or a complete, what size to choose, and how to make sure what lands on your doorstep is genuine.
This is an officially licensed partnership between Santa Cruz Skateboards and The Pokémon Company, bringing Pokémon characters and artwork onto Santa Cruz decks and completes. It's not a fan print or a third-party sticker job. The collaboration sits alongside other licensed Santa Cruz ranges, including the Stranger Things x Santa Cruz collaboration, so if you've seen how that one is handled, this follows the same approach.
Santa Cruz has a long history of pairing its skate heritage with pop culture and entertainment brands, and the Pokémon designs fit into that tradition rather than feeling like a bolt-on. You'll usually find the Santa Cruz branding, the classic dot logo, or elements of the Screaming Hand worked into the artwork alongside the Pokémon characters themselves.
For UK buyers, the appeal is straightforward: a genuine skate brand, genuine licensing, and stock you can actually get hold of without importing from the US or gambling on a marketplace listing.
The range typically features fan-favourite Pokémon rendered in Santa Cruz's house style, which leans towards bold linework, strong colour blocking, and a slightly retro skate-graphic feel rather than a straight reprint of official Pokémon artwork.
Pikachu is the obvious headline design and tends to be the most popular, but you'll also find other well-known Pokémon worked into the range, sometimes solo and sometimes as part of a group composition across the deck. Charizard designs are particularly sought after among collectors, given how popular the character is across the wider Pokémon card and game community.
Because these are licensed collaborations, availability changes over time. Decks get discontinued, restocked, or replaced with new designs as the partnership evolves. If you've got your eye on a specific Pikachu or Charizard deck, check current stock rather than assuming a design will always be there. Shop the full Santa Cruz range to see what's currently available, including the Santa Cruz Screaming Hand collection if you want to see how the brand's classic artwork compares.
This is the first real decision to make, and it depends on what you actually want to do with it.
Deck only just the printed board, no trucks, wheels, or grip tape. Best if you already have a working skateboard setup and want to swap the deck for the graphic, or if you're planning to mount it on a wall as a display piece.
Complete skateboard deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, and grip tape all built and ready to ride. This is the right choice if the person receiving it actually wants to skate, particularly for a gift. Check out complete skateboards for beginners if this is going to someone's first board.
If a cruiser-shaped Pokémon board turns up in the range, sizing and riding advice below still applies. Check the exact product listing for shape, since standard popsicle decks are what you'll usually find.
If you're not sure which setup suits the rider, our beginner's guide to choosing a skateboard covers the basics in more detail.
Both, and this is where a lot of buyers get confused, because most product listings don't address it directly.
A Santa Cruz Pokémon deck is a real, functional skateboard deck made from the same maple construction as any other Santa Cruz deck. If you buy a deck and build it up with trucks and wheels, or buy a complete, it will ride like a normal skateboard. There's no compromise on the wood, the concave, or the pop.
That said, plenty of buyers treat these as collectible art pieces rather than something to take to the skatepark, and that's a completely valid way to enjoy them. Because the artwork is the main draw for a lot of Pokémon fans, many decks end up on a wall rather than under someone's feet. If that's your plan, our skateboard deck wall mounting guide covers how to display a deck properly without damaging the artwork or the wood.
The key point: buying to ride and buying to display are both legitimate, but decide before you buy, because it affects whether you need a complete setup or just the deck.
If you're planning to actually skate it, sizing works the same as any other Santa Cruz deck.
Deck width is personal, and shoe size is only one small factor among several. If you're buying for a child and want a size specifically for younger riders, look at the Junior & Mini Youth Completes range.
If you're buying purely for display, size matters less for riding performance, but it's still worth checking the deck's actual dimensions so it fits the wall space or mount you have in mind.
Licensed collaborations like this attract counterfeits, particularly on marketplace sites where sellers can list almost anything.
A few practical checks:
If you're ever unsure, ask the retailer directly before you buy rather than after.
If you're riding it, treat it like any other deck: keep it dry, avoid leaving it out in damp conditions, and expect normal wear on the grip tape and edges over time. Riding will fade or chip the artwork eventually, which is worth knowing if the graphic is the main reason you bought it.
If you're displaying it, keep it out of direct sunlight to avoid the print fading, and use a proper wall mount rather than nails or hooks through the deck itself. Our skateboard deck wall mounting guide has the full method.
Either way, if you decide to build it into a rideable setup later, our guide on how to assemble a skateboard walks through fitting trucks, wheels, and grip tape step by step.
Pokémon isn't the only pop culture crossover in the Santa Cruz catalogue. The Stranger Things x Santa Cruz collaboration follows a similar format, with decks and completes featuring artwork tied to the show.
If you're buying as a gift and the recipient is into more than one of these worlds, browse the wider Santa Cruz range or the gifts for skateboarders collection. Licensed decks tend to make strong gifts for fans who might not otherwise ask for skate gear.
Can you actually ride a Pokémon Santa Cruz skateboard? Yes. The decks use the same maple construction as standard Santa Cruz decks, so if you build one up with trucks, wheels, and bearings, or buy it as a complete, it will ride like any normal skateboard.
What Pokémon characters are on Santa Cruz skateboard decks? The range typically features well-known Pokémon such as Pikachu and Charizard, among others, rendered in Santa Cruz's house art style. Exact designs change as stock is refreshed, so check current availability for specific characters.
Are Pokémon Santa Cruz decks a limited edition? Some designs are released in limited runs and get discontinued once stock sells through, while others are restocked. Availability isn't guaranteed to last, so if you've got a specific design in mind, it's best not to wait too long.
What size Pokémon Santa Cruz deck should I get for a kid? For younger riders under 5ft, a junior complete around 7.25-7.5 inches wide is usually the easiest to control. For most teenagers, an 8.0 inch complete is a solid starting point.
How do I hang a Pokémon skateboard deck on the wall? Use a proper skateboard wall mount designed to support the deck without screwing through it, and keep it out of direct sunlight to protect the artwork. Our skateboard deck wall mounting guide covers the full process.
Is the Pokémon Santa Cruz range officially licensed? Yes, it's an officially licensed collaboration between Santa Cruz Skateboards and The Pokémon Company, not a fan-made or unofficial print. Buying from a retailer that genuinely stocks Santa Cruz is the safest way to guarantee you're getting authentic product.
If you're ready to see what's currently in stock, shop the full Santa Cruz range and take a look at the designs available right now.
