Since Michael Akira West first stepped on a skateboard in the early eighties, he always had quirky ideas. Mike spent most of his time street skating in Los Angeles and Venice Beach, until 1985, when a good friend introduced him to snowboarding. The concept of actually skating on the snow added a new element to his life. Throughout the following years, Mike worked and rode at a local mountain in Big Bear, listened to punk-alternative, hip-hop, and jazz music, collected loads of sneakers, artwork, vintage clothing, and finished school at the University of Southern California. Controlled growth, clean design, an obsession to make products better, and a belief to enjoy life is what 686 is all about.