Santa Cruz Skateboards has partnered with Pokémon to release a range of 30 unique skateboard decks, each featuring artwork from popular Pokémon Trading Card Game cards. These decks were sold in sealed, "blind bag" packaging for $140 each, and have since sold out immediately across the U.S. and UK.
The excitement surrounding the release mirrors the surprise element of opening a Pokémon TCG booster pack. "What you find in a Pokémon TCG booster pack is always a surprise," according to the Pokémon Center website, "and now you can experience that same excitement with a limited edition blind bag skateboard deck from Santa Cruz!" Despite a purchase limit of one per customer, the novelty of the blind bag format proved irresistible to consumers.
The collection includes artwork from various eras of the Pokémon TCG, ranging from the iconic Base Set trio of Venusaur, Blastoise, and Charizard, to more recent popular cards such as Moonbreon from Evolving Skies. However, the blind bag format means purchasers could also receive decks featuring less sought-after or lower-value cards, like Sylveon V or Vaporeon GX from Evolving Skies, which can be found for around $5.
The limited-edition decks quickly sold out on both the Pokémon Center and official Santa Cruz online stores, as well as their respective international storefronts. This rapid sell-out has led to a surge in resale prices on platforms like eBay, where the decks are currently listed for significantly more than their retail price. Depending on the rarity of the card art, sealed bags are fetching prices from approximately $300 upwards. The most coveted designs, such as Base Set Charizard or the Umbreon (Moonbreon) card, have seen listings reach as high as $1,800, though others are selling for more typical secondary market prices between $500 and $800.