Skateboarding organizations, industry partners, and family representatives confirmed the passing of Peter Dashwood-Connolly, a pivotal figure in UK downhill longboarding and product design. Born in St Albans and long associated with the London skating scene, Connolly established himself as a prominent figure in the sport through both high-speed riding achievements and equipment engineering. Connolly notably held the Guinness World Record for the fastest speed achieved on a skateboard in a standing position, clocking 91.17 mph (146.73 km/h) in 2017. Following a private health battle with cancer, Connolly passed away peacefully surrounded by family and close friends.
Contributions to Skateboard Engineering and Design
Beyond his competitive accomplishments, Connolly spent two decades shaping equipment standards across the longboarding industry. Joining Lush Longboards in 2006, he served as a primary team rider and product developer, contributing to deck ergonomics and stability design. Beginning in 2008, Connolly directed research and development for Cult Wheels and collaborated closely with Sabre Trucks, refining urethane formulas, hanger geometries, and speed-oriented hardware used by riders globally. His work in combining practical riding experience with mechanical precision left a lasting mark on contemporary skateboard manufacturing.
Tributes and Memorial Services
News of Connolly’s passing prompted a widespread outpouring of grief and tributes from friends, former teammates, and longboarding communities across the UK, Europe, and North America. Fellow riders remembered him for his generosity, technical expertise, and dedication to supporting youth and grassroots skating through local projects, including The Pioneer skatepark initiative in St Albans. Formal memorial services and celebrations of life are being organized by his family, with memorial contributions designated toward youth skateboarding programs in lieu of traditional floral arrangements.
