As a fellow fingerboarding fanatic, I‘m thrilled to share the inside scoop on what diehard Tech Deck collectors like you and me consider the Mona Lisa of miniature skateboards: the ultra rare Tech Deck DGK Josh Kalis pro model fingerboard.
Let me tell you why this special 2018 collaboration release between Tech Deck and legendary skater Josh Kalis now trades hands for over $100 whenever one surfaces! Along our journey tracing the history and demand behind this grail piece, we‘ll uncover other impossibly rare Tech Decks you should keep an eye out for.
Tech Decks 101: Understanding the Mini Fingerboard Craze
Before diving into the world of elite Tech Deck rarities, let‘s kickflip back to a quick history lesson on Tech Decks themselves. Chances are you, like me, first discovered these playful finger-sized skateboards back in the late 1990s during their initial boom.
As street skating culture spread globally, the budget-friendly Tech Deck line masterfully brought authentic skate style into every suburban household. Kids went crazy accessorizing Tech Decks to mimic their favorite pros‘ full-sized deck set ups. For a few years in the early 2000s, Tech Decks actually outsold video games even!
Skating legend Josh Kalis cemented his influence across three decades of professional street skating since turning pro in 1993 for Toy Machine skateboards.
Like all fads though, fingerboarding eventually faded from its halo days. Yet much like vinyl records for music lovers, Tech Decks endure as more than just toys. A thriving adult collector scene developed valuing rare and limited edition pieces.
Now in 2023, Tech Decks once again claim prime real estate on toy store shelves thanks to nostalgic adults like us reliving our glory days shredding the mini half pipe. Plus a new generation gets introduced to the same Tech Deck magic we loved.
As diehard enthusiasts though, we collectors desire those unattainable holy grails. Enter the DGK Josh Kalis pro model…
Who is Josh Kalis – From Street Legend to Tech Deck Fame
To understand why the Josh Kalis signature model Tech Deck drives fingerboard fanatics into a collecting frenzy, we must first appreciate Josh Kalis the skater.
Hailing from Philadelphia in a pre-internet era, Kalis rose to prominence in the 1990s East Coast skating scene. He pioneered a smooth technical style redefining what street skaters could pull off.adwal sponsored by leading skate brands like DC Shoes, Thunder Trucks, and Toy Machine, Kalis toured the world leaving jaws on the floor everywhere he shredded.
Beyond the deck, Kalis further cemented his influencer status across three decades by embracing opportunities outside just competitive skating. He guest designed shoe colorways for DC. He appeared as an unlockable character in early skating video games. He collaborates frequently with brands on limited release merchandise bearing his name, image, and apparel lines.
Kalis always understood the importance of scarcity for collecting culture. Today at 45 years old, with legs still ripping as strong as guys half is age, he now passes wisdom to new generations. Somewhere in his 20+ year career he found time to launch one more crucial endeavor further fueling demand for his coveted namesake Tech Deck…the DGK brand.
DGK & Josh Kalis: From Street Cred to Tech Deck Fame
In 2003 at the height of his skating reach, Josh Kalis founded DGK Skateboards. Short for Dirty Ghetto Kids, the edgy irreverent branding built tremendous subcultural clout among hardcore skaters.
Riders rep their DGK gear as a badge of honor and commitment to keeping skating raw as an expressive artform. As Josh told Thrasher magazine, DGK exists "to inspire kids from nothing into something."
Beyond apparel and its core skateboard business, DGK sometimes collaborates with larger brands for limited merch drops. Perhaps you own a rare DGK-branded shoe or accessory already. One such holy grail collaboration of course brings us to the 2018 Josh Kalis Tech Deck…
Introducing the Legendary Tech Deck x DGK Josh Kalis Pro Fingerboard
In 2018, Spin Master‘s Tech Deck brand collaborated with DGK Skateboards to produce an ultra exclusive Josh Kalis signature model professional fingerboard. Even more limited than typical pro model Tech Decks, this instant classic came packaged with DGK branding across a sheet of limited release stickers, a custom display stand, skating tool, and extra wheels granting supreme playability.
For devoted Tech Deck collectors, especially ones like us worshipping at the church of street skating history, the DGK x Josh Kalis deck ticks every box. It pays tribute to one of the culture‘s foundational legends through authentic branding. It captures a retro 90s aesthetic. And most appealingly, scarcely any units were produced before an immediate sell out across shops and the web.
Officially a Series 6 Extremely Limited Edition release, the Josh Kalis pro model fingerboard‘s specs break down as:
| Length | 18.29 cm |
|---|---|
| Width | 13.97 cm |
| Height | 2.54 cm |
| Weight | 10 grams |
| Model Number | 43234-686 |
| Release Date | May 15th, 2018 |
The packaging and inserts themselves perhaps matter just as much to collectors. Alongside the actual Kalis pro model Tech Deck, you get:
- Full DGK logo and graphics by Josh Kalis
- Sheet of two limited edition Josh Kalis/DGK stickers
- Black fingerboard display stand
- Tech Deck branded skating tool
- Two sets of Tech Deck performance wheels
This launched not as a typical mass market release, but intentionally as an immediate collectors‘ item for fingerboarding fanatics and street culture devotees. As such a minuscule quantity entered circulation before a lightning fast sell out.
Today in 2023 as an admirer of Josh Kalis, DGK, and Tech Deck scarcity, you likely won‘t find this beauty on Amazon. Instead, you must devote yourself to deep digging specialist secondary markets hoping you someday score this $100+ gem!
Other Impossibly Rare Tech Decks You Can Collect
I don‘t want to discourage your collecting hopes entirely my friend! Yes, discovering a DGK Josh Kalis pro model in the wild today costs as much luck as cash. Yet other unbelievable rare Tech Deck special editions similarly command healthy resale values. Consider adding these to your want list as well:
Chris Pastras Series 8 Pro Model
Arriving as part of Tech Deck‘s Series 8 release way back in 2000, this pro model honoring Ohio innovator Chris Pastras receives equal holy grail admiration today from collectors as the Josh Kalis deck. Good condition Pastras decks easily fetch $100+ price tags.
Aquatic Night Series Fingerboards
Part of Tech Deck‘s premium "Throwback Series" range, the Aquatic Night series dazzles with airbrushed graphics submerged in sparkly aquatic theming. Initially a Walmart exclusive upon 2020 debut, these fast became collector catnip for their mesmerizing graphics and capped production runs under 10,000 units.
DLX Signature Series Pack
The ultimate chasing challenge for obsessive Tech Deck collectors comes via the diffuse 14-count Signature Series pack. You get your own mini fingerboard for iconic skater-owned brands like Flip, Girl, and Toy Machine skate companies. Initially $40 at retail (for all 14!), a complete set now auctions for up to $150!
Where to Find Your Own Grail Tech Deck Collectibles
As fellow Tech Deck collectors with refined tastes, where should we aim to find our own DGK Josh Kalis deck alongside other impossible to find grails?
eBay offers an obvious treasure trove given their sized userbase. Facebook Marketplace and collector community groups similarly provide breeding grounds to surface elusive decks from old school enthusiasts. Don‘t sleep on your local OfferUp and Craigslist either!
Thrill of the hunt moments can strike at thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales too if you don‘t mind some dig time. In fact, finding a unicorn deck priced ignorantly low by a mom clearing her son‘s childhood storage adds immeasurably more satisfaction than merely buying a deck outright!
I suggest always inspecting any mega rare fingerboard purchase closely upon delivery as well. Especially in Facebook groups, counterfeit knockoff Tech Decks attempt stealing money from earnest collectors like us. Telltale signs include shoddy plastic molds with imprecise graphic application or fake superficial aging. Don‘t get ripped off from shady sellers! Only you can know common pricing for the original DGK Kalis deck.
Keep Riding and Collecting, My Fellow Tech Deck Fanatics!
Thanks for letting me indulge in this definitive backgrounder on the impossibly rare Tech Deck DGK Josh Kalis pro model – easily the most coveted fingerboard among diehard collectors today. I had a blast sharing my skating fandom, collector insights, and tricks for scoring your own fingerboarding grails.
Here‘s hoping you discover a real DGK Kalis…or any early limited release Tech Deck highlighted here! Whether you collect to display as monumental skate history or actually ride with imagination drifting to an epic line on a 20 stair rail, Tech Decks like this one properly pay respect to authentic legends advancing skating itself.
In ending, if you ever want to chat Tech Deck collecting finds or trade fingerboarding tales, you know how to reach me!
