Girls Riders Organization, Inc.

Interview: Joshua Reager
What is Bapple? Bapple Skateboards are quality decks for women and girls that have both functional performance and style.

What was the inspiration for Bapple? My daughter Mollie. I had closed the skate shop I owned and was concentrating on doing my own line of boards. When Mollie started to show an interest in skateboarding I wanted her to feel ownership in it. I didn’t just want to do a pink version of a deck in my other brand and call it a “girls” model so I set off to create a line of decks that Mollie and other girls could feel was theirs, that it was for them and not just some brands afterthought to address their demographic.

How many designs are available? Currently we have 3 graphics and two shapes plus a mini cruiser. I’m working on some longboard designs that I’m hoping will be sorted out for 2012. They have to be right before I attach the Bapple name to them. I don’t want to just do a cookie cutter shape, paint it pink and call it a girls or a women’s board. If it’s not something I’d be happy riding or have my daughter ride then I’m not going to put our name on it.

What sizes are available? As far as street boards go we’re doing 7.5 through 8.0 right now but we can do mini’s through 8.5 if the demand calls for it. There are currently nine shapes and three concaves that we can manufacture but again the demand isn’t quite there yet. Obviously as the brand grows the plan is adding more shapes and sizes. Since I’m still in the design stage with the longboards those sizes and shapes are still up in the air.

Current female brands range from high quality maple to china made intro boards. Where does Bapple fit in? Bapple Skateboards are manufactured 100% in the USA! We only use North American maple grown exclusively in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada for its unique properties of strength and flexibility. Without getting onto the whole China versus USA debate I’ll just say that I refuse to attach the Bapple name to anything substandard. My goal is for Bapple to be a high quality niche brand.

So Bapple is looking for some great riders to represent the brand. What are you looking for from a Bapple Rider? Skills are important but just as important to me is attitude. All the way back to when I owned a shop I looked for the skaters that were having fun and had a great attitude. You could be the best skater around your scene or in your crew but if you have an attitude you’ll be a detriment to your sponsor. I guess we’re just looking for skaters that respect themselves, love skateboarding, and believe in the brand.

So the name Bapple came from where? Back when my wife and I were kicking around the idea of doing the girls specific brand my daughter Mollie was just beginning to really talk and she loved apple slices. I was racking my brain for a name when she walked into the room and pointed at the fruit bowl and said “Bapple”. Bapple was just my daughters mispronunciation of apple and it stuck.

So lets talk with Mollie…