In a VHS tape from the early 2000s, a fingerboarder flips over a metal rail somewhere in France. No sponsors. No merch. Just pure movement. The world might not know his name—but it knows the brand he built.
There are names in fingerboarding that became brands. And then, there are names that became foundations. Damien Bernadet never really asked to be either, yet Close Up Fingerboards quietly shaped how thousands of kids around the world experienced their first “real” setup.
And yet, somehow, the man behind the iconic skull hand catching a board logo remains one of the most overlooked figures in fingerboard history.
We reached out to Damien via Instagram DM expecting a short chat. What we got instead was a deep, generous look into a lifetime spent building—deck by deck, trick by trick—far from the spotlight, and often with no one really watching.
This is the long-overdue story of one of fingerboarding’s most important and overlooked figures.
Why Damien Matters
- First registered brand to mass produce full set professional fingerboards (wood decks, real trucks, urethane wheels),
- Collaborated with real skate brands: Heroin, 5Boro NYC, Magenta, and more
- Featured in Powell Peralta’s “Magic” video XVI (1998)
- Founder of Close Up Fingerboards, still active and fully independent today
- Fingers of Fury Video!
Trocadéro, Tony Hawk, and Autographs That Meant More
On June 21, 1990—Skateboarding Day—Damien was just a kid hanging out at Trocadéro, Paris, during the legendary Bones Brigade European Tour. There, he got his first autograph from a young Tony Hawk, who signed his Sims shirt.
Later that summer, at a skate contest in Grand Bornand (French Alps), he added Ed Templeton’s and Alan Peterson’s signatures to the same shirt.
These early brush-ins with skate legends planted something deep in Damien—a reverence for culture, and a desire to contribute something real.
“I kept these pieces because they remind me why I started. Not for business. For inspiration.”
Damien about his museum worthy collections
California, Powell, and the Beginning of ‘Fingers of Fury’
In September 1997, Damien went to California for three months—just skating, exploring, and sharing tricks with locals who were surprised by his fingerboard skills.
He returned in February 1998 to attend the ASR Trade Show in Los Angeles, where he met Chris Ortiz from 411VM Magazine, and later, George Powell himself. This meeting led to Damien being featured in Powell Peralta’s video “Magic” XVI.
“That’s skateboarding history, Angga. Just a 15-minute meeting at the Grand Prix of Skateboarding in Lausanne, Switzerland—but it’s forever.”
Around this time, he also visited Deluxe Distribution, where Jim Thiebaud handed him his first signed Tommy Guerrero EP. That EP and his original Powell deck from Dijon became cultural anchors in his journey.
Shortly after, he began working on Fingers of Fury—You might remember a grainy VHS tape with the title. If you were around in the early YouTube era, you’ve probably watched it. It’s been uploaded, re-uploaded, and commented on by nostalgic viewers from across generations.
“That video? We just did it for fun. But people still bring it up.”
It became a cult classic, thanks to the realism, flow, and simplicity of what Damien and his friends filmed. But behind the scenes, things weren’t so easy.
More Trips, More Reality
In September 2001—just after 9/11—Damien returned to California for another 3 months. He skated parks and pools, met locals in San Diego, and hoping to pitch his vision to someone. A company. A skateshop. A scene.
“I tried to find something, someone, some company…”
Even visited Tech Deck HQ in Escondido.
“They didn’t offer anything except a few full-plastic setups. They weren’t run by skateboarders.”
In May–June 2003, he went back with four French skaters, but a series of personal mistakes—mostly driving-related—led to a rejection from U.S. immigration for years.
“Maybe I could’ve stayed, sold out, chased the dream. But even $10,000/month wouldn’t be worth it.”
Return to Paris — and Creation of Close Up
Disillusioned by the American system, Damien returned home and focused on building something from the ground up. Paris had what he needed: lights, culture, history, friends.
Damien started working in a skate shop in Paris in 2002. There, he realized something bigger was still possible. Real wooden decks. Metal trucks. Urethane wheels. Something Tech Deck hadn’t done yet.
By 2004, the iconic Close Up logo and brand identity were ready. He had already started developing the first turn-table park prototype. In June 2005, Damien went to Tianjin, China, for his first production trip—and randomly witnessed Danny Way jump the Great Wall of China.
“That wasn’t even planned. I was just there—and saw it happen.”
Close Up was officially registered in 2006. By 2007, the first 20,000 wooden complete setups were shipped worldwide.
Accessibility Over Hype
From the start, Close Up was about keeping things affordable.
“It was about 15 euros at launch. I just did less margin$, but made it available to more kids.”
Damien’s response when I told him the reason I bought Close Up as my first wooden fingerboard setup
With simple, yet revolutionary packaging—zip-up bags. Early setups had no bearing wheels, just white urethane with metal core. The board shapes evolved over time—at least six iterations so far—from 29mm to 35mm, including custom cuts for Heroin Skateboards.
Decks, Culture, and Real Collabs
Before it was cool, Damien was already collaborating with real skate brands in the fingerboarding world. Around 2009, when he met Fos in Paris.
“We met again years later in Lyon, at a fun slappy challenge.”
That led to the collaboration with Heroin Skateboards. A collaboration that not only slaps skate graphics into fingerboards, but also scaling down the shape of the actual skate decks.
Prior to this, he also worked with 5Boro NYC, Magenta, FTC Tokyo, and connected with Japan’s FB120 (who would go on to start HOODED).
Don’t Compete: A Way of Life
The words “Don’t Compete” are printed on stickers and decks, but for Damien, they go way beyond branding.
“It’s not just a slogan. It’s a mindset.”
Damien never ran Close Up like a hype machine. No contracts, no sponsored “pros,” no chasing social metrics.
“Fingerboarding isn’t pro sports. You don’t drop riders like marketing tools. That kills the soul.”
He kept it fun. For himself, and for the scene.
“It’s always been fun for me. Even now. In the riding, and in the business.”
So… Can You Live From Fingerboarding?
I then asked the million dollar question to Damien – as someone who had the dream but fail in realization- I had to know what he thinks.
“In a way, yes. I live in Dijon. I keep it simple. Close Up still supports me.”
He distributes to shops that care more about history and quality than clout. He doesn’t reply to random collab requests. He just builds, packs, and ships.
“I’ve had so many ‘pros’ ask for marketing sets. I don’t respond. That’s not how I work.”
What’s Next: Made of Decks, Turntable V2
A new Close Up video is coming—with better angles, real grip, and roots in skate culture.
Damien is also rebooting the Turn-Table Park V2 and working on a new project: Made of Decks.
“Close Up keeps me running. Even on Sundays. But this time, it’ll be stronger.
My final take after talking with Damien for hours, which I had to cut short – if not this will be at least 3 posts worth of article- is that there’s a quiet power in what Damien has built. In a world where scenes rise and fall, apps change, and trends burn out overnight… Damien still makes fingerboards. Quietly. Consistently. With care.
No spotlight. No influencers. No ego. Just decks, tape, wheels—and a deep respect for the roots of fingerboarding.
From plastic zip bags to the decks under your fingers right now—Damien Bernadet’s legacy isn’t loud, but it runs deep.
In a world chasing hype, he chose honesty.
If you’ve ever gripped a Close Up deck, landed your first trick on one, or watched Fingers of Fury at 2AM… You’ve already been part of Damien’s legacy.
“Don’t Compete. Just Ride.“
Damien Bernadet – Close Up Fingerboards
If you haven’t, make sure you’re following Close Up Fingerboards on the net
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/closeup_damien/
youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CLOSEUPFR
web and store: https://closeup-fingerskate.fr/
