Lonnie Toft was born in May 1958 in Oxnard, California, USA. He grew up surfing and skateboarding in the Oxnard region northwest of Los Angeles during the 1970s, witnessing skateboarding evolve from clay wheels to urethane. During this time Lonnie played a significant role in shaping skateboarding's development.

In the early 1970s, Toft was sponsored by Pepsi for skateboarding exhibitions across the United States. Later, he became a team rider for the California-based action sports company SIMS, which manufactured both skateboards and snowboards. Lonnie was one of the first professional skateboarders to embrace and promote snowboarding.

Toft is credited as the creator and popularizer of the eight-wheeled skateboard. In 1973, his older brother Dan gave him the idea, and Lonnie crafted an eight-wheeler by attaching clay-wheeled roller skates to an extra-wide skateboard deck.

In April 1979, Toft appeared on the cover of Skateboarder magazine, and in 2018, Surfer Today recognized Toft as one of the most influential skaters in history.

Toft also advocated for wide boards and snub noses, pushing the limits of what skateboarders could achieve.

Lonnie Toft remains a true renaissance man. Besides his contributions to skateboarding and snowboarding, he’s an athlete, artist, and master carpenter.

Lonnie Toft Skate Videos:

Lonnie Toft Skateboarding 8 Wheeler in Free Ride 1977 Skate Video

"I used to skate with Lonnie at SkaterCross in the late 70's early 80's, he ripped the 8skate and inspired me to build my own which I loved to ride, and all my friends thought I was crazy! Lol! Epic times!"

"We built an 8 wheeler out of spare parts. Had to just make a flat skateboard from a 25" x 1" plank with a little sliver of wood nailed at the back for a kicktail, but you actually could skate it. Even on our ramp. It was a fun experiment for a few weekends. I remember the official Toft 8 wheeler board. No telling what those are worth these days."

"Back then, there were all these slo-mo pool riding films/videos. When I finally made it to a real skatepark, and was rolling in to a bowl, then quickly slamming into the other side, I had to figure out why everything was happening so fast."

SIMS skateboard Team 1976 Lonnie Toft Steve Monahan Skate Video

"Pool riding with Lonnie Toft and Surfing with George Trafton one of the original members of the 1965 Hobie Skateboard Team hanging at Topanga Beach"

"What a great time to be alive, feel that stoke and live that vibe! Priceless! I skated with Lonnie at a place called SkaterCross and built my own 8Wheeler because of it. Epic memories!"

"Seeing that dude living out of his camper and chillin on the beach with his girlfriend just playing guitar and surfing, looks like pure joy and happiness, you can tell he just wants to enjoy life, and I aspire to eventually live this life of freedom just as this guy did almost half a century ago."

"Lonnie Toft and Alan Scott are the first people I ever surfed with and I owe the I’m 62 and still surf and think of them."

Lonnie Toft Skateboarding Hall of Fame, 1970’s Era 2 Inductee, 2021 Video