Skateboarding

Skateboarding is an action sport where people ride and perform tricks using a skateboard. It began in the United States and has grown into a fun activity, a type of art, a way to earn a job, and even a form of transportation. In 2009, people learned that the skateboarding world was worth about $4.8 billion each year, with millions of people riding skateboards.

Over the years, many talented skateboarders have helped shape the sport. In 2016, it was exciting news that skateboarding would become an Olympic sport. It made its debut at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo for both men and women, and it was also part of the 2024 games.

Since the 1970s, special places called skateparks have been built for skateboarders, freestyle BMXers, aggressive skaters, and even people on scooters. While skateboarding is fun and legal, sometimes it can cause damage to places like curbs, steps, and parks, which can lead to some disagreements in different areas.

History

Skateboarding began with wooden boards fitted with roller skate wheels in the 1940s and 1950s. It was inspired by surfers in California who wanted something to do when the waves were calm, leading to what was called "sidewalk surfing." Early skateboards were made by attaching skate wheels to wooden planks, and the sport grew in popularity through the 1960s with magazines, television shows, and competitions.

The 1970s saw major changes with the invention of polyurethane wheels, which improved performance. Skateparks began to appear, and skateboarding styles evolved. The 1980s and 1990s focused more on street skateboarding, with new tricks and board designs. By the 2000s, skateboarding was widely popular, especially among young people, and was incorporated into school programs for physical education. The sport gained Olympic recognition in 2020, debuting at the Tokyo Summer Olympics with street and park events.

Main article: History of skateboarding

Trick skating

As skateparks and ramps became popular, skateboards evolved too. Early tricks were simple moves like riding on just two wheels or spinning on the back wheels. In 1976, a new trick called the ollie was invented by Alan "Ollie" Gelfand. This trick changed skateboarding forever because it could be done on flat ground. Later, Rodney Mullen adapted the ollie and created other cool tricks like the kickflip. These tricks let skateboarders do amazing moves in the air using just their skateboard. Recently, skateboarders have even started doing tricks in the air like the 1080, which was first landed by Tom Schaar in 2012.

Culture

See also: Skate punk, Punk fashion, Category:Skateboarding videos, and Skate video

Skateboarding became popular with the release of the 1986 film Thrashin', directed by David Winters and starring Josh Brolin. The film featured famous skaters like Tony Alva, Tony Hawk, Christian Hosoi, and Steve Caballero. Skateboarding started with surfing culture but grew into its own style, especially in places where surfing wasn't common. The short film Video Days (1991) showed skateboarders as rebellious figures.

Skate parks are sometimes opposed by some cities due to concerns about crime and drugs. Magazines like Thrasher show skateboarding as rebellious, while others like Transworld Skateboarding show a more diverse side. Many modern skaters enjoy music styles like hip hop, reggae, and hard rock, attracting fans of these genres to skateboarding. Female skateboarding groups, such as Brujas in New York City, create safe spaces for women and girls to skate together.

Skateboarding culture includes making and sharing videos of tricks and new skateboarding spots. Skateboarding video games, like the Tony Hawk series and Skate series, have also become very popular. Early skateboarders often went barefoot, leading to the creation of special skate shoes. Brands like Vans became famous for their skate shoes in the 1970s and '80s, and many shoe companies now make shoes just for skateboarding. Skateboard decks often have unique art, reflecting the personality of the skater. Famous artists have even created special designs for skateboards, making some decks very valuable.

Safety

Skateboarding can be risky because riders might fall over small cracks or bumps in the pavement, leading to injuries like scrapes, cuts, bruises, and sprains. While severe injuries are uncommon, sometimes people can break bones or suffer head injuries. Wearing a bicycle helmet and other protective gear, like wrist guards, helps keep skateboarders safer.

Skateboarders share the roads with cars and other people, so they can sometimes get into accidents. Some places have special areas for skateboarding to help prevent injuries. In the past, Norway even banned skateboards for a time because of safety concerns, but they now have places like Frogner Park in Oslo where people can skate safely.

Other uses and styles

For styles of skateboarding, see Skateboarding styles.

Skateboards can also be used for transportation, especially longboards, which are designed for smooth riding over longer distances. Some people like using skateboards because they are easy to carry, help with exercise, and don’t harm the environment like cars can.

In the late 1990s, the United States Marine Corps tested skateboards during military exercises to see if they could help soldiers move inside buildings and detect dangers. There’s also a fun activity called trampboarding, where you use a skateboard on a trampoline to bounce high and do tricks. Another exciting style is swing boarding, where the board swings like a pendulum, letting riders flip and spin while staying in the air. You can watch these tricks on YouTube.

Controversy

Skateboarding can sometimes damage city features like curbs and benches when tricks are performed. To prevent this, some places use special devices to discourage skateboarding.

Many cities have rules against skateboarding in certain public areas to protect pedestrians and property. In some places, like Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., skateboarding is not allowed because it has caused damage to important surfaces and structures. This has led to challenges for park managers and law enforcement.