There are some skateboard team changes that make sense immediately. Then there are announcements that make you stop, stare at your phone, and wonder if you somehow missed an April Fool’s joke. On May 27, 2024, Toy Machine officially announced that Geoff Rowley had joined its legendary team. The news came as a genuine surprise to skateboarders around the world, but the more you think about it, the more it feels like one of those partnerships that was destined to happen.
Rowley is one of the most influential skateboarders of his generation. Coming out of Liverpool, England, he became known for a combination of speed, power, commitment and an almost ridiculous willingness to slam for a trick. His skating helped define the hesh style of street skating of the late 90s and early 2000s, and his video parts became essential viewing for an entire generation of
skaters.
The connection between Rowley and Templeton also goes back decades. Rowley has spoken about seeing Templeton riding for Television in the early 1990s and being inspired by what he represented. Their relationship eventually developed into a friendship, making Rowley’s arrival at Toy Machine feel like more than a business decision. It feels like a piece of skateboarding history coming full circle.
The announcement was especially interesting because Rowley had already established himself as a legend long before arriving at Toy Machine. He didn’t need the move to validate his career. Instead, the excitement comes from imagining what a skater with Rowley’s history can bring to a company with Toy Machine’s personality. Rowley clearly wasn’t joining just to collect a paycheck and disappear. In January 2025, he revealed that he was steadily working on his first Toy Machine video part, giving fans something much bigger to anticipate.
For longtime fans, it brings back memories of the era when skateboarding felt dangerous, unpredictable and completely authentic. For younger skaters, it introduces one of the sport’s most recognizable legends to a new generation through one of skateboarding’s most recognizable brands. Check out Geoff Rowley’s latest Toy Machine pro model at Orbit Skate and Boutique!
