The Skate World

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The beginnings

THE 1950S

By the early 1950s, surfing can be traced as the source of skateboarding. Some surfers had the idea to transfer the feeling of riding waves onto the streets to defy times of days with a gentle swell. Not without any reason these dudes were called “asphalt surfers”. At two spots in the world a kind of a skateboard was developed at the first time in the early 1950s: California and Hawaii. They used shorter surfboards and wheels made out of metal without some bearings. In the late 1950s, skateboarding had a first peak. During the post-war period, the U.S. economy boomed and this also affected the toy industry. During that time, the toy industry became aware of the board with wheels. In 1959, Roller Derby released the first official skateboard with some new technical developments. Thereby, the handling characteristics have been improved. For this reason, skateboarders were able to develop new tricks and maneuvers.

THE 1960S

Between the years 1959 and 1965, skateboarding became more and more popular in the United States. Particularly affected were the states on the east and west coasts. Due to the industrial development, the skateboard’s status changed from toy to sports equipment. In 1962, the surf shop “Val-Surf” in Hollywood sold the first self-produced skateboards. These boards featured a typical surfboard shape and roller skate trucks and were sold as complete boards. In the same year, the company Patterson Forbes developed the first industrially produced complete boards with more developed trucks. In 1963, the publisher of the “Surf Guide Magazine” Larry Stevenson released the first advertisement for skateboards in his magazine. Also the clothing industry specialized more and more on skateboarding. One of the most famous skateboarding shoe brand named Vans was established in 1966. From this day on, Vans supported skateboarders from all over the world. Especially shoe companies like Vans, Etnies, Converse and DC Shoes developed and manufactured skateboarding related footwear and streetwear.

Another landmark event in 1963 was the first skate contest in Hermosa Beach, California. Skateboarding was not just cruising anymore. Skateboarders showed their skills in different disciplines like slalom or freestyle and companies started to assemble a team to sponsor the riders. As the popularity of skateboarding began to expand, the first skateboarding magazine “The Quarterly Skateboarder” was published in 1964.

A next big step was the further development of the shape of the boards. Larry Stevenson invented the “kicktail“, and with it came a lot more possibilities to ride a skateboard.

THE 1970S

The only consistent thing is change and so it came to a point where everything changed for skateboarding. Frank Nasworthy’s invention of urethane wheels in 1972 made it possible for skateboarding to come back. Nasworthy started the company Cadillac Wheels and with the new material it was possible to ride smoother, faster and more comfortable. A variety of disciplines such as freestyle, downhill and slalom experienced a real high point. New magazines like the “Skateboarder Magazine” from 1975 were published and new events were launched. In 1976, the first artificially created skate park was inaugurated and new parks emerged with new elements such as vertical ramps and kickers.

In the mid-1970s, skateboarding reached Germany. The American soldiers brought the trend with them and by 1976 Munich became the first German skateboard center. In Munich Neuperlach, the first skate park was built, first skateboard magazines followed and in 1978 the first German skateboard championships were held in Munich.

All the different riders with their individual styles enhanced lots of new tricks. Therefore, skateboarding hardware was developed further and further: Shapes changed, boards became wider, got more concave and they featured nose and tail.

Then in 1978, Alan Gelfand invented a maneuver that gave skateboarding another revolutionary jump: The “Ollie”, which counts as the greatest trick ever invented and completely revolutionized skateboarding. That was the birth of street skateboarding!

Legends of skateboarding

Tony Hawk

Tony Hawk is probably the best-known legend of the sport. Even those who are not die-hard fans of this sport have heard of him at some point. He has many significant accomplishments on his resume, which include being the first individual to land a trick known as the “900.” He is also widely known for the extremely successful video game franchise that bears his name.

Rodney Mullen

Rodney Mullen is another name in the minds of most fans, and many are still quick to cite Mullen as the most influential skater of all time. He is known to have created many of the most significant tricks in the sport’s history. Some include the kickflip, the flat ground ollie, and the heelflip.

Bob Burnquist

Bob Burnquist is another very popular skater among fans. He is also credited with landing some of the most difficult tricks in the business, including the “mega fakie to fakie 900″. He specializes in switch stance skating and has been responsible for the creation of many innovative vert tricks. He is widely known for his come from behind win in the 2001 X-Games.

Geoff Rowley

Geoff Rowley is another fan-favorite who has inspired many young skaters to explore this fast-growing activity. He appears alongside Tony Hawk in many of Tony Hawk skateboarding games. This icon is also known for his 50/50 trick performed on the Staple’s Center ledge in Los Angeles in 1999. This trick, and the subsequent photograph of the trick, helped to launch him into the upper echelon of popular skaters.

Eric Koston

Eric Koston began skating in 1986 while growing up in San Bernardo, California. He gained sponsorship in 1991 and quickly became a professional in 1993. He is a favorite among fans, and he has appeared in many skating videos and skateboard games as well. Koston popularized a trick known as the “crooked grind”, and he also invented the “banana bunny grind” and the “fandango”.skater nowadays

Standing of the best skaters nowadays

PLACE	SKATER	AGE	POINTS	COUNTRY
1st	Nyjah Huston	25	62,790	USA
2nd	Pedro Barros	24	50,440	BRA
3rd	Alex Sorgente	22	47,241	USA
4th	Luan Oliveira	29	42,065	BRA
5th	Kelvin Hoefler	26	41,060	BRA