After completing his high school from Switzerland, Marius went for an apprenticeship and picked up carpentering as his course of study. It was then when he started designing wooden skateboards. He gave his passion of making skateboards a continuation, and with the knowledge he had, he came back to Nepal and decided to run an outlet of skateboards made in Nepal.
“Initially, it took me three months to build two skateboards. But as I did, I knew that this was what I wanted to do. And I knew that Nepali hands are masters when it’s about carving in wood,” said Marius Arniko. Interestingly, his parents decided to put Arniko as his last name because they wanted him to remember that he was born in Nepal and has emotional attachments with the country. Perhaps that is why he decided to name his showroom of skateboards in Thamel as “Arniko Skateboard.”
With limited manpower, Marius has opened a small factory in Pulchowk where the entire construction and designing of the skateboards are done. He says he presses the boards on his own and leaves for his workers to bring it to shape and carve. Finally, he does the entire polishing and finishing before they are brought to his Thamel outlet where his elegant and sophisticated products are put up for sale.
The most important fact is that Marius’ Arniko Skateboard is reportedly the only company that produces hand-carved skateboards in the world.
Sadly, Nepalis have not understood the idea of skateboarding, and there are no events to celebrate this genre of sports, explained Mairus and unveiled this is why he has been exporting his products to Switzerland and other European countries.
“With nerve-breaking traffic jams in the Valley, people can’t think of skating on the roads,” he added, sharing how he has to go to the villages in Lalitpur if he wants to skate. Besides, he loves going to field trips outside the capital as that is the time he says he gets to enjoy quality time with his best friend – his skateboard.
Marius is accompanied by Jimmy Carson, his friend, who looks after his business and takes care of everything, especially when he leaves for Switzerland to market the wheelers.
These skateboards that are more technically known as “cruising boards” are mostly made of maple wood, which is imported from Canada. It usually takes four to five days for each item to be built. The wheels are attached to the trucks of the board once the carving is completed, informed the creator. Other sorts of skateboards that are popular for racing and professional skating are freestyle skateboards, salmon skateboards,and long boards. However, Arniko Skateboard has only been producing cruising boards because, as per Marius, they are more flexible and easier to try on for everyone interested.
Recently, Marius has also started exporting these materials to different states of the US and is hopeful of promoting skate culture in Kathmandu, too. A ready to try skateboard at his shop is available from Rs 18,000 to Rs 22, 000, depending on the carving done onto them.
Another attraction at the Arniko Skateboard is its branded attire. Branded as “Arniko”, just like the skateboards, Marius and his girlfriend design the cotton-made chic garments that are undeniably elegant and fashionable to carry. They are also printed in the capital. Marius and his partner Jimmy are lately looking forward to introduce more brands of attires in stores if other designers are keen on joining them.
“For now, my priority is to expand the popularity of skateboards in Nepal. Hopefully, I’ll be opening up a large factory outside the Kathmandu Valley soon. If that happens, I’ll buy additional land to promote skate culture among the youths of Nepal. You never know when we may get to experience the first ever skateboard competition in Nepal. That way I may also be able to give employment to some more Nepali carpenters too,” he concluded.
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