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Skateboarding is Born
During 1944, the first skateboard's where founded in Paris. The youth acquired planks and attached wheels to ride. -
Feeling the Wave's
Once surfing became popular, people became attuned of skateboarding giving the sensation of surfing. This began the age of skateboarding. -
Production Fires Up
As skateboarding accumulated an astounding amount of attention entrepreneur's rose to the occasion. The first skateboard was sold in 1959, trailed by over 50 million skateboards sold by the early 1960's. -
Professional Beginings
Once skateboarding became popularized the first competition was held in 1963 on Hermosa Beach, CA. -
The Wave Embedded in Stone.
Succeding the exponential growth of skateboarding, many 'Safety Experts' warned of injury and encouraged the boycot of skateboarding. This quickly killed the extreme attention skateboarding had acquired, and began a forever cycle of fluctuation in the skateboards production market. -
The Revolution
Accompanying the fall in skateboard demand Larry Stevenson invented the head turning kicktail! This expanded the possibilities of skateboarding, although held back of it's full potential by it's under preforming wheels and trucks. -
The New Beginning
As the outline of standard skateboards became trick oriented, the attention turned to the aged practice of stone wheels. Frank Nasworthy invented the Urethane wheel for skateboards, further revolutionizing the sport forever. The introduction of urethane wheels allowed for new terrain to be conqured, like empty swimming pools and allowing the riders to make their own skate spots! -
Revamping the Sport
During this time many ecstatic skateboarders scrambled to find new ways to ride, including plywood ramps, street skating, and professional meets. For the first time avid skateboarders could become famous and make money doing it, increasing the popularity once again, it arose through it's own ashes back to it's golden age. -
Skateboard Culture
Skateboarding, after reaching one of it's many peaks over it's lifetime, had directly effected international culture surrounding it. This varied from the edgy punk style to the more standard outfit of skateboarding's fans. -
Exposure
Ascending in popularity and descending from it's old skin as a rebel hobby, skateboarding rode the media like a wave. Gaining reputation from ESPN and broadcasts in the X Games. This rise in understanding of the sport as well as reputation rippled throughout the states and led to the introduction of skate related consumer products, further increasing it's reach across the globe towards the future.
