Fast
Life in the
Lane
Mitch Junkins , skateboard pro for Mattel and skateboard manufacturer , uses his innovation to improve the sport of pickleball .
T
by DREW WATHEY
The name Mattel began to resonate throughout neighborhoods across the country in the 1960s when kids of all ages were fascinated with the speed and acrobatic twists and turns of Hot Wheels , one of its signature toys . The attention on those classic cars and tracks continues today .
As a boy growing up in southern California , Mitch Junkins was introduced to Mattel at an early age since the company was based in Hawthorne , Junkins ’ hometown . And it was speed that drew 14-year-old Mitch to the world of skateboarding . “ My mom came home one day with a box of popsicles that featured a mail-in offer for a Hobie skateboard ,” he recalls .
“ I saved up my wrappers and sent away for the board . It was an ‘ old-school ’ board with clay wheels . I instantly became obsessed ! We had an underground garage nearby where I would spend three to five hours a day riding . Once urethane wheels were introduced , it brought the sport to a whole new level , allowing us to ride embankments and do tricks that weren ’ t possible before .”
Junkins ’ passion developed into a job as a toy tester for Mattel . Then , as company leaders realized they were on the cusp of something big with the sport , they formed the Mattel Athletic Group , and Junkins joined the team to manage the national skateboard demo program and new product testing . “ I stayed with Mattel for almost five years as one of their youngest managers at the time . I left the company to join the president of Mattel Electronics in a new start-up in 1982 as marketing manager ,” says Junkins . He was 22 years old .
As a leader in the toy industry , Mattel introduced Junkins to highly respected designers , engineers and partners who were paid to “ think outside the box .”
Mitch Junkins
“ Early on , I worked with Kryptonics , the top wheel provider . We studied the properties of various urethanes and vinyl that would maximize performance ,” he explains . “ We were also working with Hobie Sports to understand the flex properties of laminated wood and other composites that were wrapped in carbon fiber and fiberglass to maximize flex / rebound characteristics for downhill , slalom and high jumping .”
Junkins , now 65 and living in Newport Beach , California , has seen firsthand numerous fads and trends in skateboarding , along with roller blades , roller skates and snowboarding — some sustainable , others not so much . This vast knowledge bolstered the transition to his newest passion : pickleball .
“ I view pickleball as a ‘ four-quadrant ’ sport , an entertainment industry term that describes appeal to all four major demographics — male and female , and over and under 25 years of age . Pickleball is prevalent in schools , and the interest from younger kids at our club , The Tennis & Pickleball Club at Newport Beach , is exploding ! We are now seeing doubles games with 10- to 12-year-olds and the under-16 crowd emerging in tournament play ,” says Junkins , who was introduced to the game by his wife , Lori , during the pandemic .
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