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Skateboarding has rich history full of innovation and fresh ideas. But how did all of this come to be? It all started back in the early 1900s when boys decided to try something new. They tore the wheels off of roller skates and hammered them onto a piece of wood, often just a two by four. These early skateboards were incredibly difficult to ride. They couldn’t perform any tricks. In fact, you were considered the best if you could just make it to the bottom of a hill. Skateboards like these were invented and reinvented all across the country hundreds and possibly even thousands of times. Because of this, there is no true father of skateboarding. It all started in the creative minds of those who longed for a different kind of fun.

In the 1950s, improvements began to be made to these crude skateboards. Modifications were made the to the trucks and kids were able to maneuver more easily. In the late 50s, surfing became increasingly popular and people tied it in with cruising on a board. In 1958, Bill Richards, the owner of a surf shop in North Hollywood California saw some boys riding surfboards which they had attached wheels. He ordered some wheels from a roller skate company, attached them to boards, and sold them as “Sidewalk surfboards.”

When the 1960’s came around, skateboarding had amounted an impressive popularity among the surf crowd. Things really took off when Larry Stevenson, the publisher of Surf Guide began to promote the sport. His company Makaha designed the first professional skateboards in 1963 and started a skate team to help advertise the product. Finally, the first skateboard contest was held at the Pier Avenue Junior School in Hermosa, California.. While most skaters took to the street or sidewalk, a few brave souls like the Zeypher skate team went with skating empty swimming bowls. By 1965, skateboarding had reached enormous height. There had been national contests, movies (Skater Dater), a magazine, and many other skate teams who toured across the country. Over 50 million skateboards had been sold and the sport seemed to be unstoppable. Suddenly, in the fall of 1965, skateboarding became extinct. This first crash was due to inferior product, and reckless riding. The clay wheels of the skateboard didn't grip the road well and after a few fatal accidents, city after city began to ban skateboarding. Many of the top board manufacturers lost huge amounts of money because of canceled order for the Christmas season.

Over the next few years, skateboarding remained underground where only true skaters continued. Again, a few brilliant minds came up with ways to improve the skateboard. In 1970, surfer Frank Nasworthy visited his friend plastics factory. Here they made urethane wheels for Roller Sports, a chain of roller ranks. These wheels helped roller skaters to have much better traction then the clay wheels from the 60s. Frank soon discovered that the urethane wheels would fit on his Hobie Skateboard. He decided to develop a skateboard wheel from urethane. He promoted this product in the San Diego area but met little success. Then in 71', Richard Stevenson designed a skate board with a kicktail, an upward curve on the back of the board which made it much easier to control. Along with these two improvement, boards were widened from 6 or 7 inches to 9 or more. This enabled skater to have a much smoother and more stable ride and by 1973 had started skateboarding's second boom.

As its popularity increased, additional improvements were made. Truck manufacturers such as Bennet and tracker began to design trucks specifically for skateboards and in 75’, Road Rider came out with the first precision bearing wheel. Skateboarder magazine was resurrected and over 40 million skateboards were sold. Some of the popular skaters of the time included Bruce Logan, Russ Howell, and Stacy Peralta. In 1976, skateparks began to pop up in cities all over North America and skaters began to move into vert skating and slalom and freestyle became less popular. In 1978, the sport was revolutionized once again when Alan Gelfand invented the “Ollie” which allows skaters to leave the ground without using their hands to do so. The roots of street style began when vert tricks were taken to flatground with the newly discovered Ollie. Skateboarding culture began to mesh with punk and new wave music. Pool skating was immensely popular; and because of this new technology, skaters could complete more aerial tricks.

But, as before, skateboarding began to die out. The cost of insurance for skateparks began to sky rocket and many were destroyed. By the end of 1980, skateboarding was dead and BMX became more popular. Skateboarding moved underground where the hard-core skaters lived on using backyard half-pipes and ramps as more skateparks shut down.

In 1981,Thrasher Magazine began publication to provide those remaining hardcore skaters with information on the skateboard scene. Although skate contests were held, the turnout was low and the prize money even lower.

Around this time the National Skateboarding Association(NSA) was established with Frank Hawk (Tony’s father) at the head. It held national contests across the country. This gave the sport at least the veneer of respectability and served as an incentive for many cities to create skateparks. Other areas eased ant-skateboarding ordinances as long as skaters wouldn’t interfere with traffic.

By 1984, the major manufacturers began to see the sport on an upswing and vert and street riding took off. Launch ramps also became popular. Powell Peralta created the first “Bones Brigade” skate video thanks to the genius of CR Stecyk and Stacy Peralta. The video featured all the teams skaters and has been the model for most skate videos since then. Many vert champs rose to the top including Tony Hawk, Lance Mountain, Neil Blender, and Christian Hosoi. In the street  Mark Gonzales, Natas Kaupas, and Tommy Guerrero were taking the Ollie to new heights. There was also freestyle skating in which Rodney Mullen dominated all others.

In the mid to late 80s there were three major skate companies: Powell Peralta, Vision/Sims and Santa Cruz. Board royalties and prize money rose and some pro skaters pulled in as much as 10,000 dollars per month. Even skate shoes emerged onto the scene with Vans, Airwalk, and Vision.

Towards the end of the decade the focus in skateboarding switched from vert skating to street skating. Numerous pro skaters left their sponsors to create their own teams. One of the first to do this was Steve Rocco who created World Industries. Eventually, the attitude of skating changed. Skaters focused on the Ollie to create more technical tricks and “new school” was born.

By 1991, a world wide recession had begun and the skate scene was deeply affected. For the third time major manufactures experienced great losses. Another reason for this third downturn was because of the increase in popularity of other sports which cut into skateboarding's. Once again, skating was forced to move underground.

The final comeback of skating  was led by the International Association of Skateboard Companies, which has worked with local and state governments to develop sensible laws that keep skateboarding safe and assists communities in building indoor and outdoor skateparks. Then in 1995 when ESPN founded the X-Games, it created a new younger generation of skaters and helped the sport reach its highest point ever. Skateboarding companies like Etinies, Vans, and many others have sold and continue to sell enormous amounts of products. The main focus of the sport in the 90’s is still vert and street skating. Progression of skateboarding has reached mind-blowing levels compared to its humble beginnings; skaters are now able to do things never before imagined. The hard work of Jim Fitzpatrick and the International Association of Skateboard Companies insure that more skateparks will continue to be built across the country. Skateboarding has remained immensely popular here in year 2003 where there are now hundreds of skateboaders among the pro ranks, and millions who enjoy it just as much.

Through the decades, skateboarding has had its highs and lows. Poor product, safety concerns, insurance issues, and reccesions have all had there part in creating creating the lows, but every time it falls, there has always been a way for it to return. There have been great leaps in technology and the sport remains to be safer than football rollerblading or hockey( when you look at the percentage of participants injured). Most skateboarders would agree that the main reason it has endured is because it is so much fun to do. It has effected people’s lives in huge ways, helping them to realize their potential and to commit to something they love.

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This page was last updated: May 20, 2003A

Designed By: Cory Fugate skater0382@juno.com