Zero Deck Jon Allie Taxi Driver Gold Foil (8.5)
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The Zero Deck Jon Allie Taxi Driver Gold Foil (8.5) brings back one of the most memorable graphics from Zero Skateboards' early years as part of the company's 30th Anniversary Reissue Collection, celebrating three decades of skateboarding history from 1996 to 2026. Originally associated with Jon Allie's influential career on Zero, this anniversary release revives the unmistakable Taxi Driver graphic with a premium gold foil treatment, combining the gritty visual identity of late-1990s and early-2000s street skating with modern Resin-7 construction. It's a tribute to an era when Zero's team, videos, and distinctive artwork helped redefine the direction of professional skateboarding.
The bottom graphic features a striking combination of black, white, and metallic gold, built around a dramatic, high-contrast portrait inspired by the 1976 film Taxi Driver. The right side of the deck is dominated by a large black-and-white, halftone-style close-up of a man's face, featuring a closely shaved head with a narrow mohawk, an intense stare, dark shadows surrounding the eye, and heavily contrasted facial features. The portrait extends from the upper half of the deck toward the tail, with distressed printing and uneven textures giving it the appearance of a photocopied underground poster.
Running vertically along the left side is an irregular black-and-gold checkerboard pattern, with alternating metallic gold squares and dark blocks appearing chipped, faded, and partially worn away. The gold foil detailing gives the graphic a reflective quality while preserving the intentionally rough aesthetic of the original artwork. Across the nose, Jon Allie's name appears in large distressed white capital letters reading "ALLIE," with "ZERO" positioned directly beneath it inside black rectangular sections. The bold lettering resembles worn typewriter or stencil printing, tying the entire composition together. The combination of metallic foil, stark facial imagery, checkerboard elements, and distressed typography captures the unmistakable visual identity of Zero's classic street-skating era.
Measuring 8.5 inches wide by 32.3 inches long, the Jon Allie Taxi Driver reissue features a 14.5-inch wheelbase, a 7-inch nose, and a 6.75-inch tail. Its traditional popsicle shape and medium-to-mellow concave provide a familiar platform for street skating, transition, and skatepark sessions. The 8.5-inch width offers additional foot space and stability compared to narrower decks, making it a solid choice for riders who prefer a substantial board underfoot. The slightly longer wheelbase provides a planted, controlled feel at higher speeds and during landings, while the symmetrical-looking popsicle outline maintains the versatility needed for technical tricks, ledges, rails, and gaps.
Constructed using seven plies of North American maple bonded with Resin-7 epoxy, the deck is individually pressed to promote consistent shape, lasting stiffness, and reliable pop. The construction is designed to withstand repeated impact while maintaining the responsiveness expected from a professional-quality skateboard. The top veneer includes a laser-engraved 30th anniversary emblem, with assorted stained wood veneer colors selected at random. Finished with the distinctive metallic gold foil graphic, this commemorative release combines the durability of a modern skate deck with the character of a classic Zero collectible.
Jon Allie is an American professional street skateboarder whose powerful, technical approach to handrails made him one of the defining riders of the early 2000s. Born in 1981 and raised in West Bend, Wisconsin, Allie discovered skateboarding through neighborhood friends and quickly developed an obsession with progressing on increasingly difficult terrain. Growing up far from the industry's Southern California center, he spent years refining his skating through Midwest weather and rough local street spots. Influenced by the raw aggression of Toy Machine's Welcome to Hell video, he developed a distinctive combination of technical precision, powerful pop, and a willingness to take difficult tricks to intimidating obstacles.
Determined to turn professional, Allie filmed a sponsor-me video and personally delivered it to Zero Skateboards founder Jamie Thomas. His footage and strong performance at Tampa Am helped secure him a place on the Zero team, setting the stage for one of the most influential chapters of his career. At a time when professional street skating was progressing rapidly toward bigger handrails and more complicated flip-to-grind combinations, Allie stood out for performing difficult maneuvers with an unusually natural, controlled style.
His breakthrough appearance in Zero's Dying to Live (2002) established him as one of the era's standout street skaters. The part featured powerful kickflips, technical rail tricks, and difficult combinations performed on substantial obstacles. Allie followed that success with another memorable performance in New Blood (2005), further cementing his reputation as a rider who could combine high-impact skating with precise technical execution. His approach to kickflip frontside tailslides, switch crooked grinds, and other demanding rail maneuvers helped influence a generation of skateboarders who grew up studying Zero's full-length videos.
Beyond his Zero video parts, Allie appeared in C1RCA's It's Time (2006) and later became associated with $lave Skateboards, the brand developed by artist Ben Horton. His transition to $lave reflected an interest in a different creative direction while maintaining the uncompromising street-skating approach that established his reputation. Throughout his career, Allie remained closely associated with the raw aesthetics and independent spirit that made his original Zero graphics so recognizable.
Zero Skateboards was founded in 1996 by professional skateboarder Jamie Thomas, widely known as "The Chief." Thomas built the company around an uncompromising vision of street skateboarding, emphasizing powerful video parts, memorable graphics, and a team willing to take risks on the most demanding terrain. Releases such as Thrill of It All, Misled Youth, Dying to Live, and New Blood established Zero as a defining force in skateboarding culture. Jon Allie played an important role in that history, and the return of his Taxi Driver graphic for the company's 30th anniversary recognizes his contribution to one of Zero's most influential eras.
For STIX SGV, this anniversary release has a connection to the era when our own shop first opened. Zero Skateboards began in 1996, followed by our Monrovia location in 1997, during a period when full-length skate videos, independent shops, and local crews were central to skateboarding culture. Riders throughout Pasadena, Arcadia, Alhambra, Duarte, Azusa, and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley grew up with Zero's videos and graphics as part of the skate scene. The Jon Allie Taxi Driver reissue brings a piece of that history back to the shop, whether you're building a new setup or adding a classic graphic to your collection.
The Zero Jon Allie Taxi Driver Gold Foil 30th Anniversary Reissue measures 8.5 inches wide by 32.3 inches long, with a 14.5-inch wheelbase, 7-inch nose, 6.75-inch tail, traditional popsicle shape, and medium-to-mellow concave. It features individually pressed seven-ply North American maple construction with Resin-7 epoxy bonding, a laser-engraved anniversary top, randomly assorted stained top veneers, and the original Jon Allie Taxi Driver-inspired artwork enhanced with a reflective gold foil finish. Released as part of Zero's 1996–2026 anniversary collection. Style number: 11116. Grip tape is not included.
Stix SGV has proudly served the San Gabriel Valley skateboarding community since the late ‘90s. With three locations across Los Angeles County, we’ve been deeply rooted in the local scene. Our Monrovia shop has been a staple since 1997, followed by our Claremont location in 2014, and our South Pasadena shop opening its doors in 2022. Our mission has always been simple: to uphold skateboarding culture and stay true to our community.