Powell Peralta Steve Saiz Totem Deck | Gold Foil | 10"
Late 80s Street Power. Exactly As It Should Be.
Steve Saiz was the fourth Powell-Peralta street pro — a Long Beach local spotted by the team as the company moved to grow beyond its established vert roster of Hawk, Caballero, McGill, and Mountain. His Totem graphic, illustrated by Sean Cliver in 1989 and originally Cliver's second design for the brand, became one of the most recognisable boards of the late-80s street era. This is a close reproduction of the original — the same shape, the same concave, the same truck hole pattern, the same non-symmetrical nose-to-tail proportions — finished in gold foil that brings the totem artwork to life without compromising on the authenticity of the reissue. A 10" wide board built the way it was built in 1989, for the riders who want exactly that.
This is a classic 7-ply maple reissue, not a Flight deck — which is exactly right for what it is. Powell builds their reissue series to be faithful reproductions of the originals: the same materials (US hard rock maple), the same mold, the same shape and concave. The SP3 concave is a medium curve — characteristic of late-80s street and transition skating, where boards were wider, shapes were less symmetrical, and the riding style demanded a stable platform rather than the steep concave of modern popsicle decks. The 15" wheelbase is notably longer than a contemporary deck, and the short nose (4.47") with longer kick tail (6.34") reflects the directional skating of the era. Constructed with Powell's manufacturing partner in Mexico using US hard rock maple and high-strength glue, warranted against delamination.
Specs
✅ Width: 10"
✅ Length: 30.81"
✅ Wheelbase: 15"
✅ Nose: 4.47"
✅ Tail: 6.34"
✅ Shape: 282 — Old School Directional
✅ Concave: SP3 — Medium
✅ Truck Hole Pattern: Old School Long 4
✅ Construction: 7-ply US hard rock maple reissue
✅ Originally Released: 1989
✅ Artwork by: Sean Cliver
✅ Made in: Mexico (Powell-Peralta partner facility, US maple)
✅ Griptape: Sold separately — wide grip (10"+ sheet) required
What width is right for me?
The Saiz Totem at 10" is a full old school wide — it's not designed to be a modern all-around street deck. If you're building an old school complete for transition, pool, bowl, or cruising with character, 10" is exactly where it should be. If you're coming from modern popsicle decks in the 8.0"–8.5" range, 10" will feel enormous underfoot at first — but that's the point. For riders who skate larger terrain and want the stable, planted platform of an old school shape, 10" is the right choice. Not sure if it's right for your setup? Call 03 9421 2293 or come into the store and we'll talk you through it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a deck to skate or a collectible?
It can be both, but it's built to skate. Powell's reissue series are faithful reproductions made with proper materials and construction — this isn't a display-only piece. The gold foil graphic is premium and looks exceptional, but the 7-ply maple construction is robust enough for real skating. That said, at 10" wide with a 15" wheelbase and an old school shape, this deck is genuinely designed for transition, pool, and bowl riding rather than modern street tech. If you want to display it, it'll look great. If you want to ride it at your local bowl or skatepark transition section, it'll do exactly what it was built for.
What trucks, wheels, and hardware work with a 10" old school deck?
Old school shapes typically use a different truck hole pattern to modern popsicle decks — the Saiz Totem uses Powell's Long 4 old school pattern. You'll need trucks with old school mounting geometry or an adapter plate. For width, look at trucks in the 169mm–180mm range — Independent 169, Ace 77, Venture 7.75 or similar. For wheels, old school transition setups typically run larger diameter wheels: 56mm–60mm at 95a–99a for smooth concrete bowls and skateparks, or softer 78a–87a if you plan to cruise street. Hardware is standard 1" bolts. One important note: at 10" wide, most standard sheets of griptape (which are 9" wide) won't fully cover this deck — you'll need a wide sheet of 10" grip. We stock wide griptape in store and can apply it before you leave.
What's the difference between this and a Flight deck reissue — and why isn't the Saiz Totem in Flight construction?
Flight construction is Powell's modern performance technology — fibreglass-reinforced, epoxy-resin composite — designed for contemporary popsicle shapes and the demands of modern technical skating. The reissue series uses 7-ply maple construction because the goal is faithful reproduction: the same feel, flex, and character as the original 1989 deck. Flight construction would change the ride characteristics and wouldn't be true to the source material. If you want the Flight performance, Powell makes Flight decks in their modern K26 mold shapes. If you want the Saiz Totem the way it was, 7-ply maple is the right answer.
About Powell Peralta
Founded in 1978 by Stacy Peralta and George Powell in Santa Barbara, California, Powell Peralta is one of the most important companies in skateboarding history — home to the Bones Brigade and the team that defined the sport through the 1980s. Their reissue series is one of the most respected in skateboarding: faithful to the originals in shape, concave, graphic, and construction, made with proper materials rather than cut-price reproductions. Sean Cliver, who illustrated the Saiz Totem in 1989, went on to become one of skateboarding's most celebrated graphic artists — his work for Powell and later for World Industries is foundational to skateboard visual culture. Powell Peralta still manufactures in the USA and still cares about getting it right.
Why Buy from Twelve Board Store?
✔️ Free shipping on orders over $90 Australia-wide
✔️ Melbourne showroom at 435A Bridge Rd Richmond — come in, touch the gear, get proper advice
✔️ Genuine skate knowledge — we ride what we sell
✔️ Flexible payment options including Afterpay & Zip
✔️ Specialists in snow, skate, and electric — 12 months a year
