Mike Carroll was born on August 24th, 1975, in San Francisco, California. Mike grew up surrounded by the vibrant skate culture of the Bay Area. His journey into skateboarding began with local skate shops and the camaraderie of fellow riders. Carroll’s first sponsors included H-Street skateboards, Concrete Jungle, and FTC skate shop in San Francisco.

Carroll’s impact on skateboarding extends beyond his tricks. He co-founded Girl Skateboards in 1993, alongside fellow Plan B rider Rick Howard. This move came after Plan B was “retiring” team members, and Carroll saw an opportunity to create something fresh. Girl Skateboards became a powerhouse in the industry, and Carroll’s influence was pivotal.

Carroll was at the forefront of innovative street skateboarding in the early '90s. His style blended technical precision with effortless flow and Carroll was often seen rocking Vans Half Cabs, a shoe he helped popularize.

Mike was also known for his skating at Embarcadero Plaza, the iconic San Francisco spot that witnessed Carroll’s creativity and mastery, and his lines there remain legendary, along with the famous San Francisco skate landmark, 3rd and Army, which Carroll is credited as discovering.

Throughout his career, Carroll rode for several influential brands including:

Girl Skateboards: As a co-founder, he represented Girl with passion and style.
Lakai Limited Footwear: Carroll co-founded Lakai after leaving DC Shoes in 1999.
DC Shoes: He briefly rode for DC Shoes, releasing a signature model called the “Cosmo.”
Vans: Carroll’s early Vans ads showcased his skills in Half Cabs.

Carroll’s impact was felt in videos including:

Mike Carroll Plan B Questionable 1992 Skate Video Part

"Mike Carroll, tried everything to get original music, its not gonna happen. Hope this is better then nothing. Plan B Questionable 1992"

"The second song on original is called "Burnt" - one of the best Del/Heiro joints ever because the beat changes for each rapper. Classic. my entire skateboarding life in long isle and nyc was based on this video here. Wow...classic..."

Mike Carroll Plan B: Virtual Reality Skate Video Section

"Early to mid-90's was the golden age of skating and hip hop. And the cultures were very intertwined as well."

"This part blew my mind in 93 and it still does to this day"

"Tre flip noseslides in 93! That last line was incredible, nollie backside flip up a curb at that angle is hard and finishing a line with a back lip on a handrail in 93 was insane!"

 Mike Carroll: Girl Skateboards - Goldfish Video Section

 "Mike Carroll's part from Girl Skateboards 1994 film "Goldfish" A film by Rick Howard, Spike Jonze, and Wing Ko."

Mike Carroll: Girls Skateboards "Yeah Right" Skate Video Part

"I love how he pulls his board out the water and throws it back in"

"ive seen "yeah right!" at least 300 times. back in the day, if the weather was too shitty to skate, wed run this tape, Flip's "Sorry", és "Menikmati" and Zero's "Misled Youth" over and over.. Best skate parts and music ever in my opinion."

"One of my favorite parts. There's just something about Mikes style like how his hands face out that just looks so cool. Still watch yeah right on dvd constantly"

Mike Carroll: Lakai - Fully Flared Skate Video Part

"Mike Carroll in lakai fully flared.
Songs: Riding on The Wind-Judas Priest.
Triple Six Clubhouse-Three Six Mafia."