The Spooner

The Spooner is a curved board, essentially a skateboard without wheels, that lets kids and adults practice the feel of surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding on almost any surface. You can rock, spin, balance, and ride it on carpet, grass, or pavement, which makes it part toy and part balance trainer. The product traces back to founder Randy Putland, who created the first prototype while cutting up a plastic dog crate at his San Diego surf shop, with Bernie Miller later helping bring it to a wider audience.

The Spooner appeared on Shark Tank Season 7, where the team came in seeking investment for the balance board business. After the pitch, Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran teamed up on a deal for $400,000 in exchange for 16 percent equity. The playful, hands-on demo of riding and spinning on the board helped the sharks see its appeal to active kids and families.

The Spooner stood out because it turned a simple piece of molded plastic into open-ended active play that works indoors and out, with no batteries or screens involved. Its origin story, born from a discarded crate, added charm, and the product fit neatly into the market for toys that get kids moving and build coordination.

The deal struck on air with the sharks ultimately did not finalize, but the company kept operating on its own. The exposure from the show helped drive a surge in sales and awareness, and the brand worked to get its boards into wider retail distribution rather than relying on direct sales alone.

As of 2026 The Spooner is still operating and continues to sell balance boards through its website and retail partners. Over time the company has broadened its lineup with freestyle and pro versions plus accessories, and it has pursued shelf space in big-box stores, keeping the simple wheel-free board concept alive for a new generation of kids.