History of skateboarding
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Skateboarding started in California in the late 1940s as "sidewalk surfing" and evolved into a global sport and cultural movement. Here's a quick summary of its journey:
- 1950s-60s: Surf-inspired "sidewalk surfing" led to the first commercial skateboards in 1959. Early boards had steel or clay wheels, which caused safety issues and led to temporary bans.
- 1970s: Urethane wheels revolutionized the sport, improving grip and ride quality. The first skateparks opened, and skateboarding gained popularity with pros like Tony Alva.
- 1980s: Street skating emerged as skateparks closed. Tricks like the ollie and skate media (e.g., Thrasher) reshaped the sport.
- 1990s-2000s: Skateboarding grew with improved board designs, the rise of street skating, iconic videos, and the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater game series.
- 2010s-Present: Skateboarding became an Olympic sport in 2021, and digital platforms like Instagram expanded its reach. Female participation and sustainable innovations are on the rise.
Today, skateboarding is a $4.8 billion industry with 85 million skaters worldwide, influencing fashion, art, and urban culture. Its future looks bright with growing inclusivity, technological advancements, and global recognition.
Early Days: 1950s-1960s
From Ocean to Street
In the 1950s, California surfers came up with skateboarding as a way to pass the time when the ocean was calm. They attached roller skate wheels to wooden planks to simulate the surfing experience on land. This activity, known as "sidewalk surfing", eventually led to the creation of "land surfboards." What started as a DIY hobby quickly set the stage for commercial skateboarding.
First Commercial Boards
The introduction of commercial skateboards completely changed the game. In 1959, Barry Jacobs' Roller Derby Skate Company launched the first mass-produced skateboard. Manufactured in their La Mirada, CA factory, these boards were sold through Roller Derby arenas and major retailers like Thrifty Drugstores and Sears.
Here’s how the early homemade boards compared to the commercial ones:
| Feature | Homemade Boards (1950s) | Commercial Boards (Early 1960s) |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | Wooden crates or planks | Standardized, factory-made materials |
| Wheels | Steel (from roller skates) | Clay wheels |
| Construction | Hand-assembled | Mass-produced |
| Quality | Varied | Consistent |
By 1963, the skateboarding industry had skyrocketed, selling over 50 million boards. Makaha, a leading brand of the time, reported $4 million in sales between 1963 and 1965.
Early Setbacks
Despite its early success, skateboarding hit a rough patch in the mid-1960s. The first major downturn in fall 1965 revealed some of the sport's technical flaws. Skateboarding historian Michael Brooke explained:
"The dawn of the commercial skateboard industry brought new and exciting technological advances, like clay wheels that made the ride smoother and new tricks possible."
However, these clay wheels often lacked grip, causing accidents. As a result, cities imposed skateboarding bans, and parents and retailers became wary of the sport. These challenges pushed the industry to rethink and improve its designs.
"Already, there are storm clouds on the horizon with opponents of the sport talking about ban and restriction."
A Brief History Of Skateboarding
Growth and Change: 1970s
The 1970s marked a turning point for skateboarding, with major advancements that transformed the sport and its culture.
Better Wheels, Better Riding
In 1972, Frank Nasworthy revolutionized skateboarding with his Cadillac Wheels, made from urethane. Starting with a $500 investment and an initial batch of 1,000 wheels, his creation quickly became popular. By 1975, Cadillac Wheels was selling 300,000 sets annually. At $8 per set, these wheels offered a massive upgrade over the older clay models:
| Feature | Clay Wheels | Urethane Wheels |
|---|---|---|
| Grip | Poor traction, prone to sliding | Superior grip and better control |
| Durability | Wore out quickly | Long-lasting and resistant to wear |
| Ride Quality | Vibrated excessively | Smooth and comfortable ride |
"Urethane has some unique properties. The first is that it has really good abrasion resistance, which means that the wheel will last a while. The second one, even more important, is that urethane gives a really good grip with the ground. It will slide if you push it hard, but it gives great traction. So that means you can control your board. And the last is that modern urethanes have a real high resiliency, or rebound, which means that although the wheels have no pneumatic tube or anything (they're solid), they're still able to be very fast."
These wheels didn’t just make skating easier - they paved the way for the creation of dedicated skating spaces.
First Skateparks Open
With the improved technology of urethane wheels, skateboarding saw another milestone: the opening of the first skatepark in Florida in 1976. Around the same time, Southern California’s abundance of swimming pools - over 150,000 built by the 1960s, with 20,000 new kidney-shaped pools added annually in the Los Angeles area - gave skaters new terrain to explore. These skateparks and pools provided skaters with spaces to hone their skills and push the sport forward. Soon, skateparks began popping up across the Americas and eventually spread to Europe and Asia.
Key People of the 70s
The 1970s also saw the rise of skateboarding's first professional athletes. The Zephyr skateboarding team, led by Tony Alva, made waves at the 1975 Ocean Festival in Del Mar, California. As the sport grew, Bahne skateboards - equipped with Cadillac wheels - experienced booming sales, moving 10,000–20,000 units per month in 1975. Meanwhile, Larry Stevenson’s invention of the kicktail allowed skaters to perform more advanced tricks and techniques. These advancements, combined with the emergence of professional riders, firmly established skateboarding as a recognized sport during this transformative decade.
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New Direction: 1980s
Street Skating Takes Off
The 1980s marked a turning point as street skating became the go-to style. With skateparks shutting down, skaters turned to urban landscapes, using curbs, stairs, and rails as their playground. Alan Gelfand's 1978 invention of the ollie - a trick that lets skaters lift the board without using their hands - was further developed by trailblazers like Rodney Mullen. This innovation became the backbone of street skating and helped redefine the sport, paving the way for a media boom that spread skateboarding's new image across the globe.
Skate Media Grows
Magazines like Thrasher (launched in 1981) and Transworld (debuting in 1983) shaped skateboarding culture. At the same time, skate videos became a powerful way to promote the sport. Companies like Powell-Peralta spearheaded this movement with videos such as The Bones Brigade Video Show and Future Primitive. Other influential releases, like H-Street's Shackle Me Not and Santa Cruz's Streets on Fire, introduced rising stars like Danny Way and Natas Kaupas.
"The edge… there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over." – Hunter S. Thompson
Skate Style and Fashion
As skateboarding gained more exposure through media, its unique style turned into a full-blown subculture. Brands like Powell-Peralta, Santa Cruz, and Vision, along with shoe companies like Vans and Converse, became staples of skate fashion. Skaters favored baggy clothes for mobility, durable high-top sneakers, and graphic tees with bold designs. By the mid-1980s, icons like Tony Hawk, Christian Hosoi, Steve Caballero, and Mark Gonzales had solidified professional skateboarding as a career path. However, the sport's popularity waned toward the end of the decade as other extreme sports began to rise.
Going Big: 1990s-2000s
Board Design Progress
The 1990s brought major advancements in skateboard design, coinciding with the rise of street skating. Boards became standardized, typically measuring between 7¼–8 inches in width and 30–32 inches in length. Polyurethane wheels with a 99A durometer rating became the go-to option, offering the perfect balance of grip and slide for street tricks. These updates built on earlier wheel innovations and helped shape skateboarding's growing presence in the media.
Media Spotlight
Skateboarding reached new cultural heights in the 1990s thanks to groundbreaking media. One of the biggest game-changers was the launch of 411 Video Magazine in the early 1990s. This series of VHS releases featured professional skaters and iconic urban skate spots, giving fans a closer look at the sport. Around the same time, Girl Skateboards made waves with their influential videos during street skating's golden years (1993–2006).
Then came the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game series, which introduced skateboarding to an entirely new audience. By 2010, the franchise had released 12 games, bringing the culture into countless homes and inspiring a new generation of skaters.
Big Business and Pro Tours
As skateboarding gained more media attention, its professional scene grew as well. Influential brands and athletes helped shape the sport during this era. Here are some of the standout figures:
| Pro Skater | Achievements | Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Hawk | Video game franchise & athletic milestones | Made skateboarding a mainstream phenomenon |
| Rodney Mullen | "Godfather of Street Skating" | Created foundational street skating tricks |
| Paul Rodriguez Jr. | First Nike-sponsored pro skater | Connected skateboarding with mainstream culture |
| Elissa Steamer | First woman with a pro model board | Opened doors for women in professional skating |
Established brands like Powell-Peralta maintained their influence, but new players also entered the scene. Nike SB's debut in skateboarding marked a turning point, blending core skate culture with mainstream athletic apparel. The creation of Street League Skateboarding (SLS) in 2010 further elevated the sport, offering the highest-paying competition circuit in skateboarding history and solidifying its professional standing.
Today's Scene: 2010-Present
Olympic Sport Status
Skateboarding made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games (held in 2021 due to the pandemic), signaling its evolution from a counterculture activity to a global competitive sport. The event featured street and park competitions, showcasing the sport's mix of technical skill and artistic flair. This milestone expanded skateboarding's audience while maintaining its roots in creativity and individuality. The Olympics not only elevated competitive skateboarding but also energized its online community.
Digital Skating World
Instagram and YouTube have revolutionized how skateboarding content is shared, allowing skaters to connect and grow without needing traditional sponsorships. These platforms enable skaters to share tricks, build communities, and improve their skills across borders.
Here's how digital platforms have reshaped skateboarding:
| Platform Role | Community Impact | Cultural Influence |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing tricks and skate spots instantly | Directly connecting skaters, pros, and fans | Breaking down geographical barriers |
| Streaming live events | Supporting local skate groups | Highlighting diverse voices in the community |
| Creating tutorial content | Spreading knowledge across all skill levels | Preserving skateboarding's history |
By amplifying skateboarding's reach, these platforms also fuel its influence on art, design, and culture.
Art and Design Impact
Skateboarding's DIY roots continue to inspire brands that combine its culture with social awareness. For example, Carbonated Thoughts creates products that blend street culture with meaningful messages. Skateboarding's influence goes far beyond boards and gear - it shapes streetwear, urban aesthetics, and even social movements. Many brands now use their platforms to address issues like LGBTQ+ rights and global humanitarian causes, reinforcing skateboarding as a driver of artistic and social change.
Looking Back and Forward
Lasting Effects
Skateboarding has grown from a simple pastime for surfers into a global phenomenon, shaping youth culture, sports, and artistic expression. With around 85 million skateboarders worldwide, it ranks as the 6th largest global sport. Interestingly, 60% of skateboarders are involved in creative activities.
The sport's influence goes beyond the skateparks, extending into fashion and design. One standout moment was Supreme's collaboration with Louis Vuitton in 2017, which brought skateboarding into the luxury fashion world. Similarly, Dylan Reider's 2013 appearance in Vogue alongside Alexander Wang showcased skateboarding's connection to high fashion.
With these lasting impacts in mind, skateboarding continues to evolve, offering new opportunities alongside fresh challenges.
What's Next
The skateboarding industry is expected to hit $4.2 billion by 2033. Several trends are shaping its future:
| Trend | Current Impact | Future Potential |
|---|---|---|
| Female Participation | Up by 40% over the last decade | Likely to grow even more |
| Sustainable Innovation | Eco-friendly materials gaining attention | Could become standard across the industry |
| Digital Integration | Boards with GPS and IoT features | Improved training and safety tools |
Despite its growth, skateboarding still faces hurdles. Many cities impose restrictions due to lingering negative stereotypes. On the brighter side, the number of skateparks is increasing, with over 3,100 in the U.S. alone, and educational programs like those at Bryggeriet Gymnasium High School in Scandinavia are making the sport more accessible. It's also worth noting that 65% of young skaters in 2024 are expected to have an adult mentor, highlighting the sport's ability to foster strong connections across generations.
With its inclusion in the Olympics and the rise in female participation, skateboarding's future is set to be more inclusive, exciting, and widely embraced.