Santa Cruz’s Pokémon decks put a raffle on the collector calendar

Card art at a different scale

Santa Cruz’s official collection page confirms randomly assorted decks measuring 8 by 31.6 inches, with 30 card-based designs. Each includes a booklet showing the designs and three additional chase variants. That makes the booklet useful for identifying what you receive.

Before joining the release, try marking that footprint on your intended display area. A favorite Pokémon can connect a board with an existing card collection. Lugia, Charizard and Pikachu are three starting points for that exercise, without assuming the cards below match particular board graphics.

Read the reporting: Santa Cruz Skateboards ↗

Zumiez has its own purchase schedule

Zumiez says its stores will hold drawings at 1 p.m. local time on October 17 for the opportunity to buy a board, with a limit of one blind bag per person. Its app will offer an additional allocation after the store raffle, and app orders begin shipping October 19.

Treat the drawing as a purchase opportunity rather than a free-board giveaway. Contact your intended store beforehand to ask how entry works and when you need to arrive. The published page gives the drawing time, but collectors still need the local entry details before planning a trip.

Read the reporting: Zumiez ↗

Choose the cards for the display separately

Our latest card snapshot, dated October 7, gives three possible companion cards: Base Set Pikachu 058/102 at $9.73, 30th Celebration Charizard 4/102 at $138.89 and 30th Celebration Lugia 149/147 at $208.54. These are card-market estimates, not seller offers or skateboard prices.

The two 30th Celebration cards offer an anniversary set connection; Base Set Pikachu offers another set choice. Pick the card you would enjoy displaying on its own, then check whether you already own it before adding it to a wish list. A species connection can be enough, even when the printed designs differ.

Set a limit before release day

PokéBeach’s October 6 reporting says an official suggested retail price had not yet been announced. Its estimate based on an earlier collaboration should not become your assumed checkout price.

Ask the retailer for the actual price and include any display hardware in your spending limit. Because the packaging is randomized, decide beforehand whether you would be happy with an assortment rather than one particular design. If your plan depends on an exact board, wait until you can identify an available example. The strongest starting plan is one board with a clear place to go.

Read the reporting: PokéBeach ↗Santa Cruz Skateboards ↗