The original Schmitt Stix Yard Stix, 36 Inch skateboard, shown here, was designed, made and used by Paul Schmitt. It is a laminated wood deck with black grip tape strips at the front and back, a kick tail and a rounded nose. The bottom surface resembles a yard stick with two black Schmitt Stix attached to each side and a rounded yellow Schmitt Stix attached to the nose of the board. Schmitt, President of PS Stix, Inc., CreateASkate.org and The New Deal Skateboard Products, Inc. owns and operates one of the largest and most successful skateboard manufacturing companies in the United States and is known in the industry as 'Professor Schmitt’. For almost 30 years Schmitt’s companies have been considered an innovative leader in the design and the manufacture of high quality skateboards. Schmitt has been involved with many different brands throughout the skate world including Schmitt Stix, the New Deal and Element. His CreateASkate.org program started in 2004 and teaches kids from 5th to 12th grade how to build a skateboard while learning about math, science, physics and chemistry. The kids don’t even realize they are learning, they just know they walk away with a cool skateboard that they designed. Schmitt, a skater himself works with skaters and industry leaders to constantly transform the sport and is one of the most respected innovators in the skate industry.