Author: Emma Loggins
Date: 2007-06-26

Interview:
Jason Salfi, 34, is the co-founder of Comet Skateboards, which distributes a line of stylish skateboards made from bio-friendly materials such as carbon fiber, sustainably harvested bamboo, FSC certified maple, and water-based glues and paints. The boards are manufactured in a solar-powered facility in San Francisco that reduces carbon emissions by about 25,000 pounds each year. While skateboarding is the sixth most popular sport in the nation and third most popular in the 6 to 18 year old age group, traditional skateboards and skateboard parks are not sustainable. By next year, all Comet skateboards will be certified "cradle-to-cradle," a designation indicating that the company takes responsibility not only for where the materials to make the boards come from and how they're made, but also how they can be disposed of. Comet has dedicated itself to investing in the local community and along with Oakland High School visual arts teacher Keith "K-Dub" Williams and pro-skater Karl Watson, produces the annual Hood Games, Oakland’s version of the X-Games. Williams' students design artwork for Comet skateboards, which are sold at Oakland High School and at the Hood Games. We’ll meet Jason at the solar powered skateboard factory in San Francisco and see how the boards are made. Then we’ll meet arts teacher K Dub Williams and his art class students who are producing artwork for the Comet boards. We’ll watch the kids performing amazing stunts at a local skate park that will be performed at the Hood Games.

How did you become in touch with the Sundance Channel in order to take part in Big Ideas for a Small Planet?

I think that I was referred to them by Simran Sethi and they called to see what we were up to and liked what they heard.

What made you decide to start creating skateboards that were bio-friendly?

We never said we want to be the “greenest company’’, we just want to make the best boards possible. For us that includes making a minimal impact on the forest, the air, the water, etc. From day one we have used FSC woods, water coatings, and inks…We feel like these are the best materials available. After all we are making things for young conscious people, if we offer them a product that compromises their future, what good are we to them.