December Fingerboards: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Tiny Board

In the niche but fiercely passionate world of fingerboarding — where riders flip, grind, and ollie on scaled-down skateboards using just their fingers — few brands have generated as much quiet reverence as December Fingerboards. Launched in 2022 from a workshop in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the brand quickly earned a reputation for hyper-responsive decks that feel like an extension of the hand. By early 2026 it had sold more than 2,000 boards to riders in over 35 countries. Then production paused as the operation prepared to relocate to France.

What made December special wasn't hype or volume. It was the relentless, almost engineering-obsessed approach of its founder.

From Blackriver Rider to Independent Maker

Joaquim Guigo-Méndez (better known online as Jojo or FrenchMeFrenchYou) spent years as a Blackriver-Ramps team rider. With more than 15–20 years of fingerboarding experience, he set out to build what he believed could be the best deck possible. Partnered with Mauro, he invested heavily in research, custom tooling, and prototyping. The result was the S18 mold — “Shape 18” — the culmination of nearly a year of development and dozens of earlier iterations.

The S18 delivers medium-high kicktails, a medium wheelbase, and medium concave. Riders consistently describe it as extremely responsive with a short adaptation period. Decks are pressed from five maple plies, then finely sanded and rounded by hand for tight tolerances (around 0.2 mm parallel consistency). They receive a high-quality water-based, low-VOC lacquer finish. Widths typically range from 32 mm to 34 mm (with lengths around 98–99 mm), though narrower and wider options have appeared.

The process is deliberately technological and hands-on at once. Joaquim and the team designed their own tooling and refined every step for precision and reliability. The boards arrive in distinctive floating blister packaging, often accompanied by grip tape and stickers.

Why Riders Keep Coming Back

Community feedback has been consistently strong. Reviewers and everyday riders praise the pop, the way the shape locks fingers in place, the clean finish, and the overall “premium” feel that holds up under heavy use. Many rank December alongside or above established names such as Blackriver, FlatFace, and others. Collabs (including with FlatFace and Fingerboard Connoisseur's limited “Entourage” series) and special graphics — marble Kintsugi colorways, Lotus designs, real-wear graphics, split-ply and dyed options — further cemented the brand's cult status.

December also stood out for experimentation. Joaquim's “Strange Boards” series turned scrap fingerboard and skateboard material into unique bottom plies, tested carbon-fiber constructions for rigidity, and even pressed decks from Quebracho Colorado (one of the world's hardest woods). These projects doubled as entertaining workshop videos that showed the obsessive craft behind the product.

A Pause, Then a New Chapter

In early 2026, December announced it would pause deck fabrication for most of the year to relocate and set up shop in France. The official site noted the move while keeping a premium fingerboard mold 3D-modeling service available. As of mid-2026, the next drop was targeted for September 2026 through FlatFace (USA) and FBS (EU). Instagram activity continued under @december.fb, with the brand still describing its boards as “unparalleled fingerboards with a hyper-responsive shape.”

The break has only heightened anticipation. Riders who already own S18 decks treat them as keepers; those still hunting one watch the calendar.

More Than a Deck

December Fingerboards represents a particular strain of maker culture: deep domain knowledge combined with an engineer's willingness to build the tools required to solve a problem. In a hobby often dominated by mass-produced plastic or simpler wooden blanks, the brand offered consistency, responsiveness, and a sense of care that felt personal.

Whether the French chapter brings refined molds, new shapes, or further material experiments, the core idea remains the same: treat the tiny board with the seriousness usually reserved for full-size skateboarding. For many fingerboarders, that seriousness is exactly what makes a December deck worth waiting for.

Keep an eye on december.ar and @december.fb. The next chapter is already in motion.