Model: Ray Barbee Pro Model
Manufacturer: Powell-Peralta
Year: 19898
The Ray Barbee ragdoll graphic seen on this deck – the first pro model made for Barbee—was the first-ever graphic Sean Cliver did at Powell-Peralta after taking over for legendary artist Vernon Courland Jones (VCJ). It is also widely known as his most popular graphic.
Growing up, Barbee was greatly influenced by a friend who had a loose style of skating and reminded him of a ragdoll. This memory inspired Cliver’s creation of the doll wearing Ray Barbee’s signature ball cap and beads.
Barbee, from San Jose, California, was one of the first famous African-American skaters. He was a pioneer in bringing freestyle/flatland tricks to street skating. He used the Ragdoll image throughout his career, including on the “Hydrant” deck which shows the ragdoll perched on a fire hydrant; on the“Tarot” deck; on the “Death of the Ragdoll” deck; and on the “Ascension” deck.
