History Of Skateboard

In 1950's, skateboarding was born. It happened when surfers from California had an idea to try surfing in the streets. No one knows who made the first skateboard, but it seems like most people had the same ideas at the same time. Some people say that they where the one who invented the first skateboard, but nothing can be proved, and skateboarding remains a strange and unplanned creation.

In the beginning, skateboards were wooden boxer or boards with roller skate wills attached in to the bottom. A lot of people got hurt in the early years, when skateboarding was just invented, because it was a new thing. Then, the boxes turned into planks, and companies also started producing decks of pressed layers of wood similar to the decks of today. Back then, skateboarding was just a thing to do for fun after surfing.

In 1963, skateboarding became more popular, and companies like Jack's Hobie and Makaha started making skateboard competitions. Back then, skateboarding was just downhill slalom or freestyle. During that time, some well-known skateboarders were Torger Johnson, Woody Woodward and Danny Berer. Skateboarding was different from what it looks like today. The only style of skateboarding was called "freestyle" and it was more like ice skating with skateboard  or dancing ballet.

In 1965, the popularity of skateboarding just crashed. People said that skateboarding was just a short lived thing like the hoola hoop. So skateboard companies closed and people who wanted to skate had to make their own skateboard. People didn't stop from skating, even if parts where really hard to find, and it became more dangerous because skaters were using clay wheels for their skateboard. But in 1972, a man named Frank Nasworthy made a company named Cadillac Wheels. They made urethane skateboard wheels that are almost similar to the once that we use today.The invention became a huge thing, and sparked on surfers and young people.

In 1975, skateboarding started to became a sport like we see it today. In Del Mar, California, a freestyle and slalom skateboard contest was held in the Ocean Festival.  There were many members at the Zephyr team but the most famous once are Tony Alva, Jay Adams and Stacy Peralta. That day, the Zephyr team showed the world that skateboarding was more than a hobby. It was something serious and exiting and they proved it by showing some low and smooth moves like no one had ever seen in public eye.


Source  http://skateboard.about.com/cs/boardscience/a/brief_history.htm