http://www.estiloskateboards.com/surfing-skateboard/
The history of skateboarding … in a word
Skateboarding has a rich history of innovation and is full of interesting stories.
The first type of skateboards were actually more like scooters. These contraptions, which date back to early 1900 appears roller skate wheels attached to a two by four. Often wood had a milk crate nailed to the handles out of control. In the next five years, children have changed the look of the bike and removed the box and began to cross in two by fours with steel wheels. Tens of thousands of skates were dismantled and joyfully hammered on to planks of wood.
In the decade 1950, modifications were made to the trucks (the device that keeps the wheels) and kids started to maneuver more easily. Towards the end of 1950, surfing became increasingly popular and people began to tie surfing together with cruising on a land board. In 1959, the first Roller Derby Skateboard was for sale. Clay wheels entered on the scene and sidewalk surfing began to take root.
By the time 1960 roll around, skateboarding had gained an impressive following in the crowd Surf. However, when Larry Stevenson, publisher of Surf Guide begins to promote skateboarding, things started to take off. Larry company, Makaha designed the advice professionals for the first time in 1963 and formed a team to promote the product.
The first skateboard contest was held at the Pier Avenue Junior School in Hermosa, California in 1963. In 1964, surf legend Hobie Alter teamed up with the Vita Pakt juice company to create Hobie Skateboards. Although most of the skaters came the street or sidewalk, some brave souls decide to ride empty swimming pools. In 1965, international contests, movies (Skater Dater), a magazine (The Skateboarder quarterly) and cross-country trips by teams of skateboarders elevated the sport to enormous heights. More than fifty million cards were sold within three years then suddenly died skate in the fall of 1965.
The first skate accident occurred due to inferior product, too much inventory and a public nuisance for reckless driving. Manufacturers of products is so busy that he did little in the way of research and development. Although some companies developed better quality wheels, clay wheels were the cheapest to manufacturer. However, clay wheels did not grip the road and fell everywhere and skaters. Cities started to ban skateboards in response to the concerns of health and safety and after a few fatal accidents, skateboarding was expelled from the existence (for the moment at least!). Manufacturers like Vita Pakt and Makaha lost enormous amounts of money due to canceled orders during the Christmas season.
Over the next eight years, skateboarding remained fairly underground, appearing only in areas like Santa Monica, California. During this period Larry Stevenson invented the kicktail and tried to resurrect skateboarding but he met only a small amount of success.
In 1970, a surfer by the name of Frank Nasworthy visit a friend at a plastics factory in Purcellville, Virginia. The factory made urethane wheels for Roller Sports, a chain of roller skating tracks. Urethane said roller skaters would have decent traction and Frank realized that the urethane wheels would fit in his Hobie Skateboard. Decided to develop a skateboard wheel made of urethane. As expected, the journey is magnificent compared to clay wheels. Frank promoted the product in the area of San Diego and at first met with great resistance. Over time, however, the urethane wheel and got a room following the word throughout California of these tremendous wheels.
In 1973, Frank Cadiallac Nasworthy skateboardings Wheel launched the second boom. Truck manufacturers like Bennett and Tracker began making trucks specifically designed for skateboarding. Board manufacturers sprung up during the night and suddenly, the industry was awash with new products and new ideas. In 1975, Road Rider came out with precision bearing wheel first ending decades of loose ball bearings. Slalom, downhill and freestyle skateboarding were practiced by millions suddenly the fans. Skateboarder Magazine is resurrected and is soon joined by other publications with the hope of getting back skateboardings. Bruce Logan, Russ Howell, Stacy Peralta, Tom Sims and Gregg Weaver are large as magazines. The sport is on a roll once again.
The skate park was built outside the first of the skaters Florida in 1976. It was soon followed by hundreds of other parks throughout North America. Skateboarding moved from horizontal to vertical and slalom skateboarding freestyle and became less popular. The look of the scooter also happened to be six to seven inches in width to over nine inches. This increase in size to ensure better stability on vertical surfaces. The best riders, Tony Alva, Jay Adams and Tom "Wally" Inoyoue. Humpston Wes and Jim Muir marketed the first successful line boards with graphics under the Dogtown label. Soon after, almost all board manufacturers put graphics on their boards.
In 1978, Alan Gelfand invented the "ollie" or air without the hand and moved to the next level skate. The roots of streetstyle developed when skaters started to have movements vertical flat land. Skateboard culture began to blend in with the punk and new wave. Images of skulls appeared on skateboards thanks to the creative genius Vernon Courtland Johnson at Powell Corporation.
Pool skating was very popular and as a result of better technology, skaters were able to perform aerials and go far beyond survival. Skatepark insurance became an issue because the issue of liabilities. In fact, skatepark insurance was too expensive for most owners that closed its doors and the bulldozers were brought in late 1980, skateboarding died another death and once again, many manufacturers are facing huge losses. As BMX became popular and became a skateboarder magazine Action Now, most skaters deserted the sport. Skateboarding moved underground one more time. A contigent kept hardcore skateboarding and half-finished tubes and backyard ramps as more skateparks closed.
In 1981, Thrasher Magazine began publication in an effort to provide hardcore skaters with information on the skateboard scene. Although conducted skating competitions, participation was small and the prize money was even lower. In 1982, Tony Hawk won his first competition at the Skate Ranch del Mar. In 1983, skate manufacturers like Santa Cruz, Powell Peralta and Tracker begin to see the sport on the rise. That same year, Transworld Skateboarding entered the skate scene.
In 1984, vert off, followed closely by streetstyle skating. Launch ramps became popular. Powell Peralta created the first "Bones Brigade" skate video thanks to the creative talents of CR Stecyk and Stacy Peralta. The video showed all team skaters and helped to propel skateboarding to new levels of popularity. Dozens of new manufacturers sprung up and skateboarding entered its third wave of popularity. Numerous vertical champions emerged including Tony Hawk, Christian Hosoi, Lance Mountain and Neil Blender. On the street, Mark Gonzales, Natas Kaupas and Tommy Guerrero took the ollie to new heights. skate freestyle was also a part of the scene and Rodney Mullen dominated all competition.
A mid to late 1980, the three main manufacturers handled most of the market skate-Powell Peralta, Vision / Sims and Santa Cruz. royalites Board and profits climbing contest and some professional skaters down the income of ten thousand dollars per month. The Association Skateboard National, headed by Frank Hawk, held numerous contests across North America and eventually worldwide. Airwalk skate shoes, Vans and Vision became enormously popular along with skate clothes.
Towards the end of the decade, skateboarding shifted focus to street skating and vert riding horse became less popular. A number of pro skaters decided to leave the larger manufacturers and start their own skate company. One of the first skaters to do this was Steve Rocco who started World Industries. Over time, the personality of the skateboard world changed and new school skateboarding was born. His focus was on ollies and technical tricks, and took a totally different attitude.
By 1991, a global recession hit the world and the skate industry was deeply affected. As in the past, a number of manufacturers are facing major economic losses. The industry turned extremely negative and began the process to reinvent itself. Big Brother began publication in 1992. As in the past, a hardcore contingent remained with the sport, but this time not as wear is great as it was in the past. In the mid 1990's, skateboarding once again reemerged and the fourth wave started. In 1995, skateboarding gained a great exposure on the ESPN 2 Extreme Games. Skateboard shoe manufacturers like Etnies and Vans began selling huge quantities of product and joined other soft good manufacturers forward once again to capitalize on the popularity of skateboarding.
Towards the end of the decade of 1990, the focus remains on the street skateboarding and industry is filled with numerous manufacturers and marketers. In many cases, pro skaters develop their own product and manage their own businesses. Longboard, once forgotten art (with large tables), began making a comeback and downhill skateboarding enters a new dimension to street luge. In California, skate parks have begun to build once again thanks to a change in legislation. The hard work of Jim Fitzpatrick and the International Association of Skateboard Companies has ensured that other states will follow California and more parks are scheduled for construction in the coming years.
During the past 40 years, skateboarding has had its ups and low popularity. product failure, safety issues, insurance issues and recessions have contributed to the low. However, technology has greatly improved skateboarding since clay wheels. In terms of injuries, the sport remains much safer than football, rollerblading or hockey (when you look at the percentage of participants injured). Despite security concerns or economic recessions, the sport remains simply because it's fun to do. "
Extract "The Concrete Wave" by Michael Brooke Warwick Publishing Books
Figure 1. Skateboard 'Roller Derby' image produced in 1959, courtesy of flickriver.com
Figure 2. Image courtesy tbonephoto.com
Figure 3. Frank Nasworthy, image courtesy of rfskate.ru
Figure 4. Image courtesy hopkin.com.au
About the Author
Liv Williams is a 28 year old extreme sports fanatic, who enjoys researching urban sports and dangerous activities for her extreme sports blog which she writes with wit and an easy reading style. She won the Junior Welsh Triathlon Championships in 2000 and 2001, surfs, snowboards, is learning to fly a helicopter and makes her own extreme sports films. She has lived in New Zealand where she surfed everyday and now resides in Cornwall. She worked for the BBC in London for 3 years making programmes for BBC2 and BBC3. She supports organisations such as Surfers Against Sewage and presents extreme sports programmes for the web as well as writing treatments for TV.
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