FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Carson Kropfl: Inventor and Chief Fun Officer of Locker Board

San Clemente, Calif (March 3, 2020) – Fourteen-year-old inventor and Chief Fun Officer of Locker Board®, Carson Kropfl, has landed a licensing deal with major toy company, Wham-O®, for his unique, rectangular-shaped sustainable skateboard that fits in a standard-size locker or backpack.

Kropfl designed the Locker Board in 2016, when he was just 11-years-old.  A skater and surfer from San Clemente, CA, Kropfl saw a need and filled it with his 17” skateboards. In 2017 he was an immediate hit on Shark Tank when three Sharks battled to invest in his company and he walked away with Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group, as his investor. Branson now owns a stake in the company.

Wham-O manufactures and markets some of the most recognizable consumer brands in the world today, from classics like Frisbee® discs, Slip ’N Slide® water slides, and Hula Hoop® toy hoops, to outdoor brands like Morey®, Boogie® body boards, Snow Boogie® sleds, and BZ® Pro Boards.

In 2019 Kropfl reached out to Wham-O’s president, Todd Richards, after reading an article about Wham-O’s Smacircle®, the world’s most compact and lightweight ebike that can be folded up to fit inside a small backpack. Kropfl said “After reading the article I knew Wham-O would be a great fit for Locker Board because that’s the whole concept behind my skateboard. I designed Locker Board so it would fit inside of a backpack for easy transport. Wham-O totally gets that customers like compact products that they can take with them anywhere.”

After Shark Tank aired, Kropfl was homeschooled for two years so he could help manage his business. “At the end of 8^th grade, I told my parents that I wanted to go back to school fulltime for high school. You’re only a kid once and I didn’t want to miss out on high school. Sir Richard told me I could experience everything I wanted to if I learned how to delegate. So, I started researching companies that could help me with Locker Board. When I read about Wham-O I knew they would be a great fit. They make all the toys I’ve grown-up playing with. It’s super cool that a company, who makes products for kids, has taken on products that were invented by a kid. I think their customers are going to like that. It’s rad that Locker Board and Streetubez are going to be part of Wham-o’s product line up,” said Kropfl.

The Locker Board patent, US Patent No D825700, is the second patent Kropfl has received. The young inventor received his first patent at the age of nine for a skateboard accessory called Streetubez®, US Patent No 9,409,095, which provides skaters a tube-like surfing experience on dry land so riders can surf anywhere, anytime. Streetubez and Locker Board are both Registered Trademarks in the U.S.

 “Everyone here at Wham-O is stoked to be in business with Carson and Locker Board.  These unique skateboards will be the center piece of our new Wham-O Wheelz category.  Personally, I’m looking forward to working directly with Carson and building this business together,” said Todd Richards, President of Wham-O.

When asked why he invested in Kropfl’s company, Sir Richard Branson stated, “I think it was because he was the mirror image of myself when I was that age. He saw a need that came out of personal experience; the need to be able to put his skateboard in his locker at school, and he designed a skateboard that fit in his locker at school. And then, he set about creating a business to sell that skateboard to as many people as possible that had lockers at school and nowhere else to fit their skateboards. So, I have enormous admiration for him and absolutely delighted to have invested in him.”

Kropfl explained, “These past few years have been exciting for me. Sir Richard and the Virgin Group have been awesome to work with and taught me so much. Kids all over world contact me about Locker Board, but I’ve only been able to focus on sales in the US. Wham-O is going to help me reach my goal of getting a Locker Board in every backpack and locker across America and eventually the world. I feel very blessed.”

Wham-O’s in the process of taking over the production of Locker Boards and will offer a sustainable, “Premium/Pro” Locker Board that will be available on Amazon.com and in Surf/Skate shops in the coming months. In Spring of 2021, Wham-O will offer a “Grom” Locker Board to major retailers in the US and Canadian markets. Wham-O is still working out details for their launch of Streetubez. You can currently purchase Locker Board through Lockerboard.net, Amazon.com and at local retailer, Jacks Surf.

Kropfl has become a public speaker. He's given a TEDx Talk, spoke to undergrads at USC Marshall School of Business on how to give a pitch, lectured at Chapman University and St. Louis University, and presented his story at IMPACT 18 in Las Vegas at the Aria Hotel. His goal is to inspire people to go after their dreams. He's created an inspirational and hilarious talk with slides and videos titled "How to Achieve Success at Any Age". His three secrets to success: Seize the moment, never give up and believe in yourself. If you are interested in having Kropfl speak at an event you can contact him through Lockerboard.net.

About Locker Board:

The only non-folding, sustainable skateboards on the market that can fit inside a backpack, Locker Boards are designed for school and traveling. A portion of proceeds are donated to Ocean Unite for ocean conservation. Made by a kid for kids. Locker Board’s 14-year-old CFO (Chief Fun Officer) designed Locker Boards to be fun to ride and easy to take anywhere. As seen on “Shark Tank” with Sir Richard Branson as a key investor. Wham-O recently licensed the rights to Locker Board. Wham-O’s in the process of taking over the production of Locker Boards and will offer a sustainable, “Premium/Pro” Locker Board that will be available on Amazon.com and in Surf/Skate shops in the coming months. In Spring of 2021, Wham-O will offer a “Grom” Locker Board to major retailers in the US and Canadian markets. You can currently purchase Locker Board through Lockerboard.net, Amazon.com and at local retailer, Jacks Surf.

 ##

Media Contact:

Carrie Kropfl
e: carriekropfl@lockerboard.net
p: 949-554-4448