Pro skaters Rick Howard and Mike Carroll have officially said goodbye to Lakai after spending 25 years building the shoe company from the ground up.
The announcement came through Crailtap's YouTube channel, where the two shared a heartfelt message with everyone who has supported Lakai over the years.
The post read:
"Hard to put 25 years into words or a paragraph. We want to take this moment to THANK EVERYONE that rode the Flare, held the Flare, waved the Flare, and shared the Flare ✊🏾 What a run with the best humans, wouldn’t have done it any other way. Until we meet again ✌🏾"
It is a short message, but it says a lot.
After spending a quarter of a century with Lakai, Howard and Carroll chose to thank the people who believed in the brand from the beginning until today.
Lakai was founded in 1999 by Howard and Carroll after the end of their previous footwear company.
Their goal was simple. They wanted to create skate shoes that they believed in and build a company with people they enjoyed working alongside.
Lakai became home to many respected skateboarders and released countless shoe models and video projects that earned a loyal following.
The Flare logo became a symbol that many skateboarders proudly wore on their shoes, shirts, hats, and stickers.
Their words also thanked the team members, riders, shops, photographers, filmmakers, distributors, and fans who spent years helping Lakai grow.
Rather than focusing on business accomplishments, the message was about the people who stood behind the company for more than two decades.
Their departure also comes after Lakai entered a new chapter under new ownership.
Marc Roca has taken over as the company's owner and CEO, with YouTube skater Luis Mora joining the company as a part owner.
The leadership change represents a new direction for Lakai as Howard and Carroll step away from the brand they created.
Lakai was much more than a shoe company.
It produced memorable skate videos, introduced signature shoes that became favorites for many riders, and built a reputation through its team and creative projects.
Howard and Carroll played a huge role in shaping that identity from the very beginning.
Their closing words, "Until we meet again," leave the door open for whatever comes next. While their time with Lakai has come to an end, both have spent decades contributing to skateboarding, and many fans will be watching to see what they decide to do next.
After 25 years of building Lakai, Howard and Carroll are saying goodbye to the company they created.