Skiate

History of Skateboarding

  • Beginning

    Beginning
    Skateboarding was first started in the 1950s, when all across California surfers got the idea of trying to surf the streets.
  • Roller Derby

    Roller Derby
    By 1959 the first Roller Derby Skateboard was for sale. Which led to the invention of a skateboard.
  • Raging in the 60's

    Raging in the 60's
    In 1963, skateboarding was at a peak of popularity, and companies like Jack's, Hobie and Makaha started holding skateboarding competitions.
  • Popularity is popping

    Popularity is popping
    Over fifty million skateboards were sold within a three year period, and the first skateboard contest was held in Hermosa Beach, CA in 1963.
  • The end to a beginning

    The end to a beginning
    Then in 1965 for some reason Skateboarding seems to simply die. It could be in 1965 a slew of so-called safety experts pronounced skateboarding unsafe - urging stores not to sell them, and parents not to buy them.
  • Rebirth

    Rebirth
    The invention of urethane wheels by Frank Nasworthy in 1972 made it possible for skateboarding to make its comeback.
  • The Ollie is born

    The Ollie is born
    Then in 1978 Alan Gelfand (nicknamed “Ollie”) invented a maneuver that gave skateboarding another revolutionary jump.
  • Dieing down again

    Dieing down again
    At the end of the 1970s skateboarding took another hit when the public skateparks that were being built suffered from the outrageously hight insurance rates due to the danger factor of skateboarding.
  • Evolution in the style of skating

    Evolution in the style of skating
    This time the cycle peaked around 1987 after skateboarding had directly influenced international culture ranging from the hard-edged punk style of music that most skaters preferred to the baggy, earth-tone clothes and retro tennis shoes that skaters wore.
  • X Games

    X Games
    In 1996 the Extreme Games were again held in Rhode Island, once more exposing the sport of skateboarding to millions of people.