Locker Board Update | Shark Tank Season 9
A young, daring, self-proclaimed skater and surfer, Carson Kropel, at just 11 years old, faced a common school transportation dilemma. He loved skateboarding to school but then had nowhere to keep his board during the day. This frustration sparked a clever solution: Locker Board, a skateboard that fits not only in a school locker but also in a backpack. Let’s see if the sharks saw this as an answer to a need in our Locker Board update and pitch recap.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Locker Board after
Carson Kropel and his mother, Carrie, appeared on
| Shark | Result |
| Richard Branson | Accepted deal for $65,000 for a 20% equity stake |
| Mark Cuban | $60,000 for a 20% equity stake |
| Robert Herjavec | $60,000 for 8% equity as loan |
| Daymond John | No Offer |
Shark Tank Locker Board Pitch
- Entrepreneur: Carson Kropel
- Business: Locker/backpack-sized skateboard
- Ask: $60,000 for 15% equity
- Result: $65,000 for 20% equity
- Shark: Richard Branson
Despite being only 11 years old, the sharks wasted no time grilling Carson about what made his skateboard unique. He countered that his boards were the only ones on the market that fit conveniently in backpacks and lockers and were also made from recycled Vans materials.
Citing his reasons for seeking investment, Carson explained he needed the money for manufacturing, upgrading his website, and buying essential components like trucks, wheels, hardware, and bolts.
Carson said he had been selling his skateboards through social media, generating over $10,000 in revenue and selling 231 units before his appearance on
He initially said his production cost was around $3, but since Vans linked him up with their manufacturers, he now produces them for $13 and sells them for $52 at wholesale and $99 retail. This means that Carson’s business enjoys a profit margin of over 50% for both retail and wholesale.
However, Lori Greiner wasn’t impressed and opted out. Daymond John echoed Lori’s concerns and advised Carson to hold off on seeking investors, as bringing them in now could dilute his ownership stake down the line. He, too, decided to pass.
Meanwhile, Mark Cuban made a $60,000 offer to Carson for a 20% stake and also offered to help Carson build up his social media and improve his manufacturing.
Guest shark Richard Branson proposed working together with Mark, but Mark quickly rejected the idea. This prompted him to offer Carson a better deal of $65,000 for 20% equity, besting Mark by $5,000.
With two offers on the table, Robert Herjavec agreed with Daymond that Carson didn’t need investors right now. But then he offered him a loan of $60,000 at a competitive interest rate of 8%.
Carson directly asked Richard how he would help his business. Richard said he would be able to help him on an international scale and would be able to push Carson. Carson took his offer without a second thought.
Was this a good deal for Carson? Let’s find out in our Locker Board update.
Shark Tank Locker Board Update
In March 2020, at only 14, Carson Kropfl struck a deal to license Locker Board to California-based toy manufacturer Wham-O. The company, which was founded in 1948, is the innovation hub behind popular products like the Slip ‘N Slide, the Hula Hoop, the Hacky Sack, and the Frisbee.
The business has continued to thrive since partnering with Wham-O, who began selling the skateboards on Amazon in March 2021.
As a result of this deal, our Locker Board update research found that the decks are no longer produced from recycled materials. They are now made from 100% maple wood, a more sustainable choice than plastic.
Furthermore, this deal allowed Carson to prioritize other aspects of his life, such as attending school full-time and spending time with friends while still managing the business.
Wham-O also licensed another of Carson’s inventions, Streetubez, a skateboard attachment that simulates surfing. He invented Streetubez and began selling it before his appearance on
Shortly after the episode aired, he partnered with PS Stix for manufacturing to meet the surge in demand.
Locker Board experienced great success after its
In 2022, at 16, Carson remains the face of the business, which also offers Streetubez, his product for street surfing.
In 2024, the partnership with Wham-O wrapped up, and Carson decided to sell the business. At the time of writing, Locker Board is currently listed for sale for $150,000, according to the website.
If you’d like to buy a board, you can purchase them directly from their website. Or you can purchase it in-store at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Big 5 Sporting Goods, and two local California stores: Dana Beach and Jack’s Surfboards in Huntington Beach.
We’re excited about the positive outcome of this Locker Board update and can’t wait to see what the future holds for young Carson and his company!
For more on
Don’t forget to take a look at our Season 9 products page!
Andrew Smith is the founder and owner of Shark Tank Recap. He is a longtime Shark Tank fan that has been watching it for years and has seen every episode multiple times. His friends know him as the Shark Tank expert, because he can answer any question about the show! His favorite Shark Tank products are Bertello's pizza oven and Bug Bite Thing!