The skateboard consists of a wooden or plastic board with four wheels that is ridden like a surfboard. Once considered merely a toy, the skateboard has grown into a legitimate mode of urban transportation as well as a popular spectator sport. Throughout the last few decades, the skateboard has also been associated with various artistic and cultural movements.
The First Skateboards
The basic form of the skateboard dates back to the 1950s, according to Michael Brooke, author of "The Concrete Wave: The History of Skateboarding." The first skateboards were not sold in stores, but rather made from wood planks and the metal wheels from roller skates. Due to the primitive nature of their designs, skateboards were used primarily for transportation, with few tricks possible.
Surfers and the Skateboard
In the 1960s, skateboards became popular with surfers who viewed it as a way to practice surfing on dry land. As surfers learned to perform tricks on skateboards, skateboarding began to gain popularity as a sport in its own right. Although these skateboards were more advanced than previous versions, they were still limited by their fragile clay wheels
Urethane Wheels
Skateboarding saw an explosion in the 1970s due to a major advancement in wheel design. The invention of urethane wheels allowed riders to perform more advanced tricks with relative ease. Urethane wheels provided more traction, control and comfort than the metal and clay wheels used in the past. Urethane was also more resistant to wear and breaking, which made the sport safer. As time passed, skateboarders were beginning to gain acceptance as professional athletes.
Present Day
Skateboarding is more popular than ever, with veteran athletes like Tony Hawk and Rob Dyrdek becoming CEOs of their own companies. Still maintaining its rebellious image, skateboarding culture now influences popular art, music and entertainment. A far cry from the home made toys of the past, skateboards are now carefully engineered pieces of equipment, with some models selling for hundreds of dollars.
References
- The Concrete Wave: The History of Skateboarding: Michael Brooke: 1999
- Exploratorium.edu: Science of Skateboarding
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