Phil Shao is one of those names.

For skaters who were around in the early-to-mid ’90s, Shao had a reputation for being able to skate absolutely everything. Vert ramps, bowls, pools, ledges, banks, weird DIY transitions, big transfers—none of it seemed out of reach. The new documentary The Legend of Phil Shao digs into why so many people from that era still talk about him like he was operating on another level.

And for a lot of younger skaters, this might be the first time they’re hearing his story at all.

Watch the Full Doc Here:

The documentary revisits a skater who could do it all

The film pulls together interviews from friends, teammates, photographers, and filmers who were around during Shao’s rise in Northern California skating.

It traces his path from early vert contests and local sessions around Redwood City and Stanford, through his time riding for Confusion Skateboards, and eventually landing on Think Skateboards—a team built around skaters who could handle any terrain you put in front of them.

By the mid-’90s, Shao had built a reputation as one of the most well-rounded skaters in the van. One minute he’d be skating Greer Park, the next he’d be blasting airs on a vert ramp, and later in the same day he’d be figuring out some technical ledge trick nobody else had thought of yet.

That kind of versatility wasn’t common as street skating started getting more specialized in the ’90s. Shao came from the vert world, but when street skating exploded, he adapted instantly—without losing the power and flow that made him dangerous on transition.

Photo: Place Holder / @Placeholder

The tricks and spots that built the legend

The documentary revisits a lot of the moments older skaters still bring up when Phil’s name comes up.

There’s the Fort Miley top-rail grind that landed him the July 1996 Thrasher cover, one of the most talked-about photos of the era. The setup is brutally tight, with almost no room between the bank and the rail, meaning you basically have to ollie straight up to get on it.

Then there are the sessions at China Banks, where Shao started stacking tricks on the upper ledges—progressing from grinds to tailslides and eventually pulling a front tailslide to fakie on terrain that barely seems skateable in the first place.

The film also digs into clips from Think videos like “Damage” (1996) and “Dedication” (1998), along with footage from Emerica’s “Yellow.” In all of it, the same thing stands out: Shao never looked forced. Everything flowed. Big stuff, tech stuff, transition lines—it all connected.

That’s why people from that era constantly describe him the same way: someone who could skate anything and make it look natural.

Photo: Thrasher Magazine

More than just a great skater

One thing the documentary makes clear is that Shao wasn’t just respected for his skating.

He was known as one of the smartest guys in the van. While skating professionally, he was also attending UC Berkeley, where he earned an English degree. Eventually he began working at Thrasher Magazine as a copy editor, and many people around the mag believed he was on track to eventually become its next editor.

It’s a part of his story that adds another layer to the legacy. Phil wasn’t just shaping skateboarding on his board—he was likely going to help shape it behind the scenes too.

Photo: Place Holder / @Placeholder

The loss that shook the skate world

In August 1998, while on a skate trip along the West Coast, Shao was killed in a car crash after accepting a ride from a driver who had been drinking. He was just 24 years old.

For the people who knew him, the loss hit hard. Friends, teammates, and people at Thrasher have spoken about how deeply it affected them and how different things might have been if he had lived longer.

The documentary doesn’t shy away from that part of the story, but it ultimately focuses on why Phil Shao is still remembered almost three decades later.

A legend a lot of skaters are just now discovering

The truth is, most skaters today probably didn’t grow up hearing Phil Shao’s name.

If you started skating in the 2000s or later, you likely missed his era entirely. His video parts weren’t circulating on Instagram or TikTok, and the photos that defined him lived mostly in old magazines and VHS tapes.

That’s part of what makes The Legend of Phil Shao important.

It’s not just nostalgia for the people who were there. It’s a chance for a newer generation to see why older skaters still talk about him the way they do.

Once you start watching the footage—Greer sessions, Fort Miley clips, China Banks tricks, Think video parts—you begin to understand why his friends describe him as someone who could skate anything and make it look effortless.

And why, nearly thirty years later, his name still comes up whenever skaters talk about the best all-terrain rippers of that era.

The post THE LEGEND OF PHIL SHAO BRINGS ONE OF SKATEBOARDING’S MOST COMPLETE RIPPERS BACK INTO FOCUS appeared first on Concrete Skate News.

Over the past few months, longtime skate industry figure Greg Carroll has been posting archival photos, graphics, and old tour shots to a Think Skateboards Instagram page. What started as a simple archive quickly turned into something bigger as skaters started asking the same question in the comments:

Is Think coming back?

According to Carroll, the answer might be yes — but there’s still some work to do before it becomes official.

During a recent interview on The Nine Club, Carroll explained that the idea of reviving the brand gained momentum after fans kept pushing for it.

“People kept hitting me up like, ‘Dude, bring it back. Are you bringing it back?’ At first I was like, I don’t know… this was just an archive page.” — Greg Carroll

But as the hype grew, Carroll reached out to Keith Cochrane to seriously discuss the possibility.

A Trademark Situation Complicated Things

One unexpected obstacle appeared quickly: the Think trademark was no longer controlled by Carroll and Cochran.

After Carroll left the company in 2002 to work as general manager at Girl Skateboards, and Cochran exited a couple years later, the brand eventually shut down. But someone associated with the company later renewed the trademark — meaning legally the founders couldn’t simply relaunch it themselves.

Carroll said that after a public video explaining the situation, the trademark holder reached out and the conversations have been positive so far.

“She’s got the trademark. We have the legacy and the industry backing us. So we’re figuring out how to make it work together.”

If negotiations go well, the brand could relaunch under a new partnership structure.

What a Think Comeback Could Look Like

If Think does return, Carroll says the approach will focus on honoring the brand’s legacy while keeping things fun.

Early plans include:

• OG Think logo boards
• Limited capsule drops
• Reissues of classic pro models
• Apparel like shirts and hats
• Art-driven collaborations and gallery launches

Carroll also hinted at a potential gallery event tied to the launch that would combine skate art, graphics, and memorabilia.

“This isn’t about money. It’s about doing something fun for the community.”

Why Think Still Matters to Skateboarding

For anyone who grew up skating in the 90s or early 2000s, Think wasn’t just another board brand — it had a serious team and some heavy video output.

The company launched in 1990 and eventually signed legendy pros like Jason Adams, Wade Speyer, Matt Hensley, Phil Shao, Dan Drehobl, Diego Bucchieri, Corey Duffel, Adam Dyet, Cody McEntire, and more.

Think also produced multiple skate videos, including the well-known Free At Last video, which helped cement the brand’s place in skateboarding history.

One interesting piece of trivia: the brand name itself came from a random grocery sticker.

A team rider named Nick Lockman reportedly showed up with a small sticker that said “Think.” Carroll and Cochran instantly knew it was the name.

“We looked at it and were like… that’s it. That’s all we do — we think about skateboarding.”

Timing Might Be Perfect

The potential return of Think also comes during a broader wave of heritage brands resurfacing.

In recent years skaters have seen renewed interest in classic companies, vintage graphics, and nostalgia-driven releases. At the same time, longtime skaters — many now in their 30s, 40s, and 50s — have become a major part of the market again.

That could make a Think revival land at the right moment.

As Carroll put it:

“This is a story of a phoenix. A rebirth.”

What Happens Next

Nothing is finalized yet, but Carroll says discussions are ongoing and a decision could come soon.

If things fall into place legally, the next step would likely be a soft launch followed by more structured releases.

Until then, the Think archive page continues to keep the brand’s history alive — and keep the hype building.

You can watch the full Nine Club interview with Greg here:

Greg also did an interview on the TalkinShmit youtube channel that you can watch here:

The post GREG CARROLL CONFIRMS INVOLVEMENT IN COMEBACK OF “THINK” SKATEBOARDS appeared first on Concrete Skate News.