[2] George Powell studied engineering at Stanford University and started making homemade skateboards in 1957.

When Powell was laid off from his job in the aerospace industry, he moved from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara to start his own skateboard manufacturing business.

Notable Bones Brigade members throughout the years have included:[4][5] Powell Peralta produced the Bones Brigade videos, starting in 1982, and they became some of the most influential skateboarding videos of the era: In the late 1980s, smaller companies like World Industries appeared and took market share from the bigger companies.

Powell Peralta suffered as many of their riders defected and either set up or rode for those new independent companies.

George Powell and Stacy Peralta have teamed up once again to re-issue some of the original pro models under the Powell-Peralta brand.

[6] In March 2011 it was announced that artist VCJ (Vernon Courtlandt Johnson) has returned to Powell-Peralta, and is working on new art for the brand.