The skateboarding world is about to enter uncharted territory. The Skate Board Association (SBA) today announced the launch of the world’s first co-ed, equal-pay professional skateboarding league — a bold new era that blends sport, culture, and innovation.
Co-founded by Sheldon Lewis, Royce Campbell, and NBA Champion Gary Payton II, the SBA is not just building another sports league. It is pioneering a global cultural movement that champions inclusivity, equity, and storytelling while giving skateboarding a true professional platform.
A League Built for the Future
The SBA reimagines the professional sports model. From its foundation, the league is designed to reflect the authenticity of skateboarding culture while elevating it with world-class infrastructure, technology, and athlete opportunity.
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Equal pay: Both men and women skateboarders will receive six-figure guaranteed annual draft salaries.
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Co-ed teams: The SBA becomes the first league to fully integrate male and female athletes at the professional level.
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Year-round ecosystem: Beyond competition, the SBA offers media, commerce, and cultural programming to engage fans and brands.
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Innovation at its core: Partnerships with Hyperice (recovery technology) and HYPERVSN (immersive visuals) position the SBA at the cutting edge of sports science and fan engagement.
Big Bear, California will serve as the global headquarters, training complex, and creative media hub for the SBA.
Vision from the Founders
Gary Payton II, who brings championship experience and cultural credibility, is not only a co-founder but also the league’s first official team owner.
“Skateboarding has always been a culture of creativity and resilience, and the SBA represents a new era where that culture is elevated onto a global stage,” said Payton II. “This league isn’t just about competition. It’s about opportunity, innovation, and giving the next generation of athletes a platform to shine.”
Other owners joining the SBA roster include:
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Pamela Rosa – Professional Brazilian skateboarder.
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Robert Neal – American skateboarder and model.
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Samarria Brevard – Olympian and musician.
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Manny Santiago – Legendary Puerto Rican professional skateboarder.
For co-founders Lewis and Campbell, the SBA represents more than a league — it’s a movement.
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“The SBA is about more than launching a league, it’s about building a cultural movement that gives skateboarding the platform it deserves on the world stage,” said Lewis.
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“We’re creating a space where athletes, brands, and fans can come together to shape the future of the sport,” added Campbell.
The Road to 2026: Draft & Season One
The first-ever SBA Draft is scheduled for late Q4 2025, setting the stage for the inaugural season in spring 2026. The league will feature 36 athletes (men and women) competing across a six-month schedule.
Eighteen athletes have already been announced as part of the draft class, with 18 more slots open for rising stars:
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Christiana Means
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Pamela Rosa
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Kylie Frank
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Gabriela Mazetto
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Isabelly Avila
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Carlos Ribeiro
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Dave Bachinsky
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David Reyes
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Robert Neal
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Keelan Daad
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Micky Papa
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Dashawn Jordan
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Boo Johnson
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Julian Agliardi
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Leo Romero
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Kevin Hoefler
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Manny Santiago
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Ryan Decenzo
Why It Matters
The SBA’s launch represents more than a new league; it’s a reset for what professional skateboarding can look like on the global stage.
Key impacts include:
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Equity in sports: Setting a new standard by guaranteeing equal pay across genders.
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Global relevance: Elevating skateboarding from subculture to professional mainstream, while honoring its grassroots roots.
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Youth inspiration: Offering a clear pathway for the next generation of skateboarders to pursue professional careers.
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Cultural connection: Blending fashion, music, art, and digital media to keep skateboarding aligned with its authentic cultural DNA.
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Innovation hub: Using technology and partnerships to redefine how fans engage with the sport in arenas, on screens, and online.
An Invitation to Innovators
The SBA is actively inviting brands, innovators, and visionaries to join as founding partners in this historic venture. By supporting the league’s mission, partners align with a platform built for long-term cultural relevance and generational global impact.
About the SBA
The Skate Board Association (SBA) is the world’s first professional skateboarding league built at the intersection of sport, culture, and innovation. With Big Bear, California as its flagship hub, the SBA merges elite athletic performance with immersive media storytelling, community engagement, and brand partnerships. Its inaugural season launches in Spring 2026, setting a new benchmark for professional skateboarding worldwide.
For more information, visit www.skateboardassociation.org and follow @skateboardassociation on Instagram.
