Powell Peralta Mike Vallely Elephant Deck | Blue Foil | 10"
The Board That Put Street Skating on the Map.
In 1988, a teenager from Virginia Beach showed up at a contest and changed what street skating looked like. Discovered by Neil Blender and Lance Mountain, Mike Vallely was asked to join Powell-Peralta on the spot — and the Elephant graphic, designed by VCJ after Vallely rejected an earlier concept, became one of the most iconic boards in skateboarding history. It wasn't just popular; it was the board that a generation of kids learned to skate on, passed around, and wore through to the wood. This is a faithful reissue of that deck — Shape 163, SP2 concave, 15" wheelbase, 10" wide — in blue foil that gives the elephant the treatment the graphic deserves. Not a nostalgia piece. A proper reissue of one of the great boards.
Powell builds their reissue series as close reproductions of the original 1980s decks — same shape, same concave, same proportions, same truck hole pattern. The Vallely Elephant uses the Short 4 / 2.1" new school truck hole pattern, which means it mounts standard modern trucks without adapters — an important practical advantage over old school Long 4 pattern reissues. Construction is 7-ply US hard rock maple via Powell's manufacturing partner in Mexico, built to the same specifications and material standards as Powell's US factory decks, and warranted against delamination for the useful life of the deck. The SP2 concave is mellow — shallower than the SP3 of the Saiz Totem — giving the Vallely Elephant a flatter, more fluid feel underfoot that suits the wide platform and transition-oriented riding this shape was designed for.
Specs
✅ Width: 10"
✅ Length: 30.25"
✅ Wheelbase: 15"
✅ Nose: 4.375"
✅ Tail: 6.625"
✅ Shape: 163 — Original Vallely Elephant
✅ Concave: SP2 — Mellow
✅ Truck Hole Pattern: Short 4 — 2.1" New School (standard modern trucks fit)
✅ Construction: 7-ply US hard rock maple reissue
✅ Originally Released: 1988
✅ Artwork by: VCJ
✅ Made in: Mexico (Powell-Peralta partner facility, US maple)
✅ Griptape: Sold separately — wide grip (10"+ sheet) recommended
What width is right for me?
At 10" wide with a 15" wheelbase, the Vallely Elephant is built for transition, bowl, pool, and larger terrain — not for modern technical street tricks. The wide, flat platform gives you a stable, surfy feel on banks, bowls, and anything with flow. If you're building an old school complete for the skatepark bowl or the local pool, 10" is exactly right. If you're coming from a modern popsicle deck in the 8.0"–8.5" range, expect a dramatically different feel — more planted, more directional, slower to flip but incredibly confidence-inspiring on larger terrain. Not sure if 10" fits your skating? Come into the store at 435A Bridge Rd Richmond or call 03 9421 2293.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this deck use standard modern trucks or old school trucks?
The Vallely Elephant 10" reissue uses Powell's Short 4 / 2.1" new school truck hole pattern — which means standard modern trucks mount directly without any adapter plates or special hardware. This is a meaningful practical advantage over other old school reissues that use the Long 4 pattern and require adapters. For a 10" wide deck, look for trucks in the 169mm–180mm axle range — Independent 169 or 215, Ace 77, Thunder 170, or similar. Standard 1" hardware works without risers; go to 1" or 1.25" if you're running larger wheels and want to add a riser for clearance.
What wheels suit this deck — and do I need wide griptape?
For transition, bowl, and park riding on a 10" deck, wheels in the 56mm–60mm range at 95a–99a are the sweet spot — enough diameter to roll smoothly over rough concrete and maintain speed through bowls, and hard enough to slide predictably on coping. For mixed street and park use, 54mm–56mm at 97a–99a works well. For cruising around on smooth surfaces, 58mm–60mm at 78a–87a gives a comfortable, fast roll. On griptape: most standard sheets are 9" wide, which won't fully cover a 10" deck — you'll want a wider sheet (10" or above) for proper coverage. We stock wide griptape in store and can apply it before you leave, or include it with your order.
Is this the same Vallely Elephant as the Flight deck version — what's the difference?
No — these are two completely different decks. The Flight version of the Vallely Elephant (available in 8.38" and 8.63") is built on Powell's modern K26 mold with Flight composite construction — fibreglass, epoxy resin, modern popsicle shape. It's a contemporary performance deck that happens to carry the Elephant graphic. This 10" reissue is a faithful reproduction of the original 1988 Shape 163 deck — same dimensions, same concave, same truck hole pattern as the original, built in 7-ply maple. They are different products for different purposes: the Flight Elephant is for riders who want the graphic on a modern performance board; the 10" reissue is for riders who want the actual original shape, whether to skate transition and bowls or to have the real thing on the wall.
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 professional skating through the 1980s. Mike Vallely was one of the most significant members of that era, and after decades away he has returned to Powell-Peralta while simultaneously running Street Plant, his independent family skateboarding business — "100% Independent Skateboarding for Love, for Fun." The reissue series is Powell's commitment to getting the originals right: same shapes, same concaves, same materials, same feel as the boards that built the sport.
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
