Celebrating 25 Years of Rocket Power

25 years ago, ‘Rocket Power’ first premiered on Nickelodeon and changed the lives of action sports enthusiasts forever.

The significance of Rocket Power does not necessarily need to be defined in words, because every board sport kid who grew up in this era knows the impact that this show had on them.

A popular Nickelodeon animated TV show, Rocket Power aired from 1999 to 2004, the prime of childhood for millennial children. Created by Arlene Klasky and Gábor Csupó, it followed the adventures of four friends—Otto Rocket, Reggie Rocket, Twister Rodriguez, and Sam "Squid" Dullard—as they navigated life in the fictional beach town of Ocean Shores, California. The show centered on extreme sports like skateboarding, surfing, rollerblading, and snowboarding, capturing the essence of youth culture in the late '90s and early 2000s.

Before iPads and iPhones, for kids in this generation (myself included), when we were not outside enjoying what the world had to offer us, we would be inside watching television together with our siblings. And the result of watching Rocket Power was just wanting to get back outside.

Each character in Rocket Power had a distinct personality, and their group and family dynamics helped to show the importance of friendship, teamwork, and pursuing your passions. Otto was the daring leader, Reggie was the smart and creative older sister, Twister was the thrill-seeking cameraman, and Sam was the brainy newcomer. "Rocket Power" resonated with a generation of kids who loved action sports and its laid-back, West Coast vibe made it a staple of early 2000s Nickelodeon programming.

Personally, Reggie Rocket was my idol. Growing up on the east coast, girls doing activities like snowboarding, skateboarding, and surfing was not commonplace. Those were for the boys. But seeing Reggie Rocket shred with the boys and also run her own magazine, it probably unconsciously started my career wanting to be a journalist in the board sport industry.

So thank you Rocket Power!!!!!!