Phil Esbenshade
Phil Esbenshade, also known as Phil E., was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a well known professional skateboarder from the second skateboard heyday of the late 1980s. Five pro model skateboard decks bearing his name and 'E' initial were made by Skull Skates. Also on the Skull Skates team at the time were Duane Peters, Josh Marlowe, Dave Hackett, and Steve Olson. He retired from the sport in the 1990s and later became a Prosecutor and College Professor in California's Central Valley. Esbenshade also played bass guitar and sang in the post-punk rock band Custom Floor with Miki Vuckovich, Garry Davis, and then later, Atom Willard (longtime drummer for Rocket From The Crypt, The Offspring, Angels & Airwaves, and currently for Against Me!.) Goldenrod Records released one 7" for Custom Floor while Phil was in the band on Goldenrod Records. Phil E. appeared in Transworld Skateboarding magazine, Thrasher Magazine, Freestylin', Homeboy Magazine, Warp Magazine, Skateboard!(UK), Poweredge Magazine, and Concrete Wave Magazine numerous times between 1987-1992. Phil's sponsors included Skull Skates, Gullwing Trucks, Santa Cruz Speed Wheels (OJ Wheels), Venture Trucks, Smallroom, Zorlac Skateboards, and G&S Skateboards. He was also featured in the skate videos "Skateboarding Inside Out", G&S Team