Snow Ballah

Snow Ballah is an unfortunately named "holidude" from the Tech Deck Dudes line. He was released in 2007, shortly after the line had passed from X-Concepts to Spinmaster. Unlike the previously featured limited holidude Sumo Santa, Snow Ballah was a regular issue figure available for purchase.

 

Skateboard Acrobat IV

One more entry for the Skateboard Acrobats, a line of bendy figures from the late '70s by Imperial. This rabbit was made in 1979 and has a bit different face than the similar Action Animal rabbit. Previous acrobats include mouse, cat, & dog.

 

Skateboard Acrobat III

The Skateboard Acrobat returns, this time in dog form from 1979. We've previously featured a cat and a mouse, and a few very similar "Action Animals" - giraffe, rabbit, & a rather different dog.

Skateboard Acrobat II

The Skateboard Acrobat returns, this time in cat form (you can be forgiven thinking this might be a fox or dog). I'm not sure what other animals might be out here in the skateboard acrobat or action animal lines, but so far we've seen a giraffe, rabbit, dog, & mouse.

 

Skateboard Acrobat

The Skateboard Acrobat performs your favorite stunts. Made by Imperial in 1978, the acrobat is very similar to the Action Animal made around the same time. I thought this guy might be a bat for a second but I'm pretty sure he's a mouse. 

Sumo Santa

This is a limited edition Sumo Santa figure from Tech Deck Dudes released in 2005 (I think) as a gift at the company holiday party. These appear on eBay from time to time and I managed to snag one on a cheap buy-it-now. There is a 2nd limited Holidude dressed as a reindeer, as well as a regularly released snowman Holidude figure.

Nathan's Extreme Bendy

Here at BPA we go the extra mile to track down every skateboarding hot dog figure. Just when I think I have them all another pops up. This frank is from Nathan's and is from a 2004 set called "Extreme Bendies" that also featured a blader, surfer, and biker. He's fully padded up with an oversized bike helmet.

Previously featued hot dogs: Franksters, The Delicious One, Boarder Frank, Boarder Frank II

 

Boarder Frank II

The Boarder Frank returns, in bendy form. Once again, he's part of a set called Fantastic Franks from Kid Stuff Marketing. The original version was from 2009. I think this version is 2019. His back foot is connected so he's forever pushing mongo.

Other skateboarding hot dogs include The Delicious One & the Franksters.

Skateboardin' Tugs

Those of us who lived through the Koosh fad of the mid-'90s look back in confusion and regret, or have just completely blocked it out of our minds. Building on the momentum provided by The Rosie O'Donnell show, Koosh branched out from the ball market to include Koosh Kins, balls with a face and arms, and Koosh Lings, balls with a face, arms and legs. Koosh Kins had a much more extensive backstory thanks to an Archie published comic, but Koosh Lings were promoted by various female child stars of the time. After the original line of Koosh Lings in 1996, a follow-up line called "Wild Times" was released which made the child stars exclaim "They're into the same stuff we are!" These were followed by the "Cool Scenes" line with the updated tag line "Doin' the same stuff you do!"

Tugs was in the original line and marketed as a body builder. Skateboardin' Tugs is from the "Wild Times" line and has traded in his boots for some fake Chucks and donned elbow and knee pads. The main thing I remember about Koosh products was the unique rubbery smell. This guy's still got it after nearly 20 years.

Sweathogs

The Sweathogs definitely did not suffer from a lack of merchandizing. They appear here as bendy figures on skateboards from 1977. These were produced by Gabriel and were released alongside Mickey, Donald, and Goofy. I picked these up recently as a lot of 3 and unfortunately I'm missing Vinnie Barbarino. Horshack, Juan Epstein and Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington are still a pretty sweet skate crew. I'm too young to have watched Welcome Back, Kotter during its original run but I did watch it when was picked up by Nick at Nite in the mid-'90s.

Edit - found Barbarino!

Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse makes his first appearance here on BPA rather late, especially considering Donald Duck and Goofy have already had multiple showings. This bendable figure is from the same 1977 three-figure set that also included the previously posted Donald and Goofy. Mickey is shown below in the original package, which shows him in a rather unusual stance. The back of the card has some even more unorthodox poses (although some of these were pretty standard tricks in the mid-'70s).

Action Animal III

This dog is an Action Animal, a bendable animal figure on a skateboard from 1979. Both the rabbit and giraffe action animals were previously featured on BPA. Similar to the rabbit, the dog has large feet which make it easier to balance him on the skateboard (unlike the giraffe's hooves). Unlike the rabbit, who has human hands, the dog has front paws that are pretty much identical to his back paws. This guy did not come with a hang-card but I included the one from the giraffe which also shows the dog. This is a pretty random menagerie of skaters.

Goofy II

Goofy returns in bendable figure form. He is from a 1977 set that also included Donald Duck (featured here recently) and Mickey Mouse. Unlike Donald, Goofy has changed his outfit to skate, giving up his usual jeans, turtleneck, vest and boots look for a polo shirt, shorts and sneakers (although he retained his hat). Although his feet are not as large as Donald's, he is still not too difficult to balance in boneless action.

Donald Duck II

Donald Duck makes his second appearance on BPA. This time in the form of a bendable figure from 1977. Donald is part of a three figure set that also included Mickey and Goofy. The figures are similar to the Action Animals but these are clearly higher quality. Donald's big feet make it easier to balance him in boneless action. 

Edit: I ended up acquiring Donald in his original packaging. Check below for his original stance as well as suggested poses.

Action Animal II

The Easter Bunny is here on wheels. This rabbit is an Action Animal (his giraffe bud was previously featured on BPA). He has a slightly different cardboard hang-card than the giraffe. This one shows a date of 1979. Unlike the giraffe's hooves, the rabbits feet and hands are much easier to balance on the skateboard.

Edit: Picked up a pink rabbit

Decker

This smooth-wheeling, high-kicking skateboard champ of the backstreets is named Decker and he is a Bendos. Bendos are a series of bendable figures involved in various activities/sports/vocations.  This guy is pretty bendable although his torso doesn't bend so it is hard to get him into some grabs (stalefish for instance). There are no tabs or magnets connecting his feet to the board so it is hard to keep him on it without some sort of grab. The card below came with him and gives his issue date (1999) as well as his birthday for some reason.

 

Frankster

Franksters are anthropomorphic hot dog figures made by Nathan's. This guy is from 1992. He is not quite as rad as the last skateboarding hotdog featured on BPA but he is still a skateboarding hotdog, which is pretty awesome by default. In addition to his enormous shoes he is also rocking a helmet, fingerless gloves and what appears to be sweatbands on his knees but may be knee pads. He is also bendable although there isn't much to bend. There is also a slightly older skateboarding Frankster that has blue accessories.

Edit: I found the blue Frankster:

Action Animal

This giraffe is a bendable dude with holes in his hooves that stick on the three metal tabs on the top of his deck. He's from Hong Kong and there is no year but I'm guessing he is probably from the 70s. I have seen a similar Mickey Mouse toy that displays various moves on the back and states that, in addition to other Disney characters, they also made Sweathog (!) versions.