Mike Carroll for Living Proof Radio. Full podcast episode now on the Living Proof Patreon.  http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork 

Mike Carroll is an influential skateboarder and a pioneer of modern day street skating. Coming up in the San Francisco scene of the late 80s / early 90s, he became a regular at Embarcadero Plaza during the spots hey-day. His approach to skateboarding and the brands he built had an immense impact on an entire generation's view of what skateboarding is. Thrasher Magazine recognized Carroll as the 1994 Skater Of The Year. 

Carroll co-founded the legendary Girl Skateboards alongside Rick Howard, Megan Baltimore, and Spike Jonze in 1993. Girl would quickly become a leading name in the industry, releasing several renowned videos, including Goldfish, Mouse, Yeah Right, and Pretty Sweet. These videos raised the bar, introducing a new level of creativity and artistic direction in skateboarding videos.

In 1999 Carroll and Rick Howard launched Lakai Footwear. Lakai was part of a generation of skater-owned companies that shaped the industry before the entrance of corporate brands. Lakai released Fully Flared in 2007, one of the most influential skateboarding videos of all time that featured an all-star roster from Eric Koston, Guy Mariano, Alex Olson and more. Although Lakai would eventually change hands, its legacy will always be tied to the vision of Caroll and Howard.

Today Carroll continues his leadership at Girl and Crailtap, remaining closely involved in the brands direction and commitment.