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1950 skateboarding
The popularity of skateboarding grows rapidly as many non-surfers begin to skate. Skateboarding grows from street and pool riding to downhill slalom and freestyl -
1960 skateboarding
The popularity of skateboarding grows rapidly as many non-surfers begin to skate. Skateboarding grows from street and pool riding to downhill slalom and freestyl -
1972 skateboarding
Frank Nasworthy invents urethane skateboard wheels. Until this point, skaters used clay, or even metal wheels. These wheels spark new interest in skateboarding. -
1978 ollie
Alan Gelfand invents the Ollie. -
1980 new skateboards
Skaters continue to skate, but in a more underground way. Small privately owned skateboard companies pop up, owned by skaters. These small companies encourage creativity in designs. Skateboarding evolves into an even more personal style of expression. -
1989 the movies
The movie Gleaming the Cube comes out, starring Christian Slater as a skateboarding teenager. The movie has cameos from famous skaters like Tony Hawk, and makes a strong impact on people's view of skateboarders. -
1990 streets style
Street skateboarding grows in popularity, but with a new edge. Skateboarding grows along with punk culture, and skateboarding gains a strong angry image. -
1995 x games
1995The first X Games are held, giving a lot of attention to skateboarding. The X Games bring in new money and interest, helping to propel skateboarding in popularity, and pushing skaters to new levels of invention (read more about the History of the X Games. -
2000+
Throughout the 2000s, skateboarding contests and competitions grow in popularity. The Dew Tour begins in 2005 and quickly grows to rival the X Games. Small local contests and international skateboard contests pop up all over the world. Skateboarding becomes mostly mainstream, but retains a strong dose of the punk, anti-establishment, individualistic attitude.
