Packard Institute and Dogtown Connection

It's no secret why the skaters and other extreme types gravitate to the institute. Our founder Raynard has his roots in Venice, California of the 70s and 80s - where he grew up among the infamous Z-Boys of Dogtown.

As a recovering survivor of these rather wild times, Raynard has a very personal understanding of overcoming adversity as a child, and turning one's life's challenges into one's greatest strength.