If you thought the name “Liquid Death” was a bit dramatic for canned water, you might want to sit down for the latest from the brand. They’ve joined forces with skateboarding legend Tony Hawk to create a limited-edition run of 100 skateboard decks painted with his blood.
Each board contains one vial of Hawk’s DNA mixed in with the red paint of the decks’ gruesome design, which depicts a decapitated body whose head has been replaced by a can of Liquid Death. “I am deeply thankful to have a connection with my fans, and I appreciate how Liquid Death connects with theirs,” Hawk said in a press release. “This collaboration is taking those connections to a new level, as I have literally put my blood (and soul?) into these decks.”
Dark humor is already a pillar of the Liquid Death brand, whose whole deal is (thankfully) a bit tongue and cheek. From their name to their death-metal-band imagery and typography, it’s clear that the water that threatens to “murder your thirst” is healthily self-aware. The brand even claims that they own Hawk’s soul, which he signed over to them for eternity in a legally binding contract. Customers are encouraged to do the same for exclusive access to Liquid Death merch and events.
But it’s not all guts and gore. A portion of the profits from these bloody boards will support the anti-plastic nonprofit 5 Gyres and Tony Hawk’s organization The Skateboard Project. At $500 a pop, I’d say that’s worth giving up a bit of blood for, and Hawk agrees. “I take pride in knowing that organizations fighting plastic pollution and creating skate parks worldwide will be supported through our efforts.”
It’s a comfort to know that while he might be a little light-headed, Tony Hawk is still out there putting himself at risk to entertain the masses.
