The history of skateboarding suggests that the sport has been on and off the mainstream sphere since the 1960s. It’s a sport that young people play that mixes agility, speed, and pure bravery. The equipment and techniques in this exhilarating sport have advanced since its debut to suit its competitors better.
Brandon Novak, a former professional skateboarder, knows that skateboarding is a way of life for many people. Skateboarding is more than simply moving from one place to another, it is a way of life. The previous 60 years have seen a kind growth in skateboarding.
Since the 1950s, skateboarding has developed into a multi-billion dollar industry that affects millions of people’s lives as both a sport and an art form. Skateboarding has established its own museums, received recognition from a hall of fame, and compiled a self-recorded history throughout its existence, securing a special position in the heart of freedom culture.
The Origin of Skateboarding
California and Hawaii are two locations where surfing the skateboard first gained popularity. Skateboarding first appeared in the 1930s, and surfing was its genesis. In Southern California, a skate-scooter built of wooden crates with wheels fastened to the bottom was the precursor to the skateboard. Surfers with the notion to bring the sensation of riding water to the streets to continue moving between periods of modest swells later invented the iconic skateboards in the 1950s.
In the 1950s
To combat the passing of the days with a modest swell, some surfers decided to bring the sensation of riding waves to the streets. These guys were dubbed “asphalt surfers” for a reason. They utilized shorter surfboards and metal wheels devoid of bearings.
The popularity of skateboarding peaked in the late 1950s. The U.S. economy had a boom after World War II, which had an impact on the toy business. The board with wheels came to the attention of the toy industry at that time.
In the 1960s
Before the market crashed in 1965, it reached its height of popularity in the US around 1963. Skateboarding was considered to be a passing trend. There was more to skateboarding than just cruising. The inaugural skateboarding competition, which took place in 1963 in Hermosa Beach, California, was another crucial landmark in the history of the sport.
At this competition, skateboarders demonstrated their prowess, and a number of businesses noticed and started supporting them. The Quarterly Skateboarder, the first skateboarding publication, was released in 1964 in reaction to the sport’s rising popularity. Then, in 1969, Larry Stevenson created the kicktail, a component that curls upwards at the board’s end, further refining the skateboard’s design.
Skaters may lift the board off the ground with their feet thanks to the tail. The numerous airborne tricks and moves that characterize modern skating would not be feasible without this essential component.
In the 1970s
In the middle of the 1970s, skateboarding eventually made its way to Germany via American servicemen. The invention of urethane wheels in the 1970s gave the sport a new boost. Munich established itself as Germany’s primary skateboarding center by 1976. The first German skateboarding competitions were conducted in Munich in 1978.
The first skate park was constructed in Munich Neuperlach, and the first German skateboard periodicals were published. Skateboarding tricks and styles evolved as more riders entered the skateboarding scene. As skateboards grew broader and more concave and a nose and tail were added, the curvature of the board changed.
All the different riders’ individual riding styles improved many new tricks. Because of this, skateboarding equipment continued to advance: Boards grew larger, more concave, and included a nose and tail.
In the 1980s
As skateboarding gained popularity, periodicals and other media started to target this distinct and expanding group. In 1981, Thrasher Magazine was established to promote street skating, the core scene, and the punk rock way of life. Skateboard cruising became a thing in the youth.
Since the middle of the 1980s, skaters have been able to start making money doing what they love, which has caused the industry’s growth in the US. In the late 1980s, businesses, including Powell Peralta, Santa Cruz, and Vision, dominated the domestic skateboarding market.
In the 1990s
Contemporary skateboarding started to take on a more concrete form around the mid-1990s, and important competitions like the X-Games started to be hosted and broadcast. Skateboarding journals, competitions, films, and of course, the internet all contributed to the sport’s globalization.
Events like Street League Skateboarding, a competition series for professional skaters from across the world, were further signs of the sport’s expanding popularity in the 1990s. Skateboarding’s emphasis on street style persisted at the end of the 1990s, and the market was crowded with producers and promoters.
The Present Era: The 2000s
Skaters gained enormous fame when skateboarding was recognized as a professional sport in the early 2000s. Rob Dyrdek, a professional skateboarder, appeared in shows like Rob and Big, which were eventually produced and were a success. Wooden skateboards and electric skateboards became a hit among people.
Reality may be one factor contributing to skateboarding’s minor drop in popularity. Many were driven to test their talents and buy skateboards by the sport’s online presence, but suddenly, progress seemed to come to a halt.
It is thought that at this time, participants may have understood how challenging the activity is and how much practice is needed. Skateboarders can now earn a living doing other jobs in addition to skateboarding.
Conclusion
The sport of skateboarding continues to develop. Along with developing their own relationship with their skateboards, each skateboarder also defines what skateboarding means to them. Skating continues to be shaped by those who require it most with every contribution.
This sometimes entails fending off outside forces, and other times it entails welcoming them in. Whatever the case, skateboarding’s past is still being written, and thanks to those who came before us, only those who truly love the sport will be able to define it in the future.
