The Next Tony Hawk?
The History of Skateboarding

The first skateboard originated in the early nineteen hundreds and was actually more aof a scooter like contraption. It took nearly five more decades until people realized to take of the "scooter" parts and make a real skateboard. during the 1950's is when the skateboard became more innovated for the first time. Instead of having rollerskate bottoms as the trucks actual trucks were designed for the skateboard. By the year 1959, the first Roller Derby skateboard entered the market with fashionable clay wheels made for cruising the streets.

As the sixties rolled around skateboard started to gain a following and the first skateboard team was designed to promote the up and coming sport. With the strong following, the first skteboard contest was held in Hermosa, California in the year 1963. Over fifty million skateboards were sold in a two year period and in 1965 due to too much inventory, pissed of civilians and inferior product, skateboarding died for the first time.

Cities started banning skateboarding due to uptight citizens and skateboarding vanished. Over the next decade skateboard mainly stayed underground yet the kicktail was invented but had little success. In 1970, the urethane wheels was invented for skateboarders all alike and by 1973 skateboarding started an entire new boom. Board manufacturers were popping up all over and Road Rider precisely developed a wheel designed for ball bearings ending the loose bearing phenomenom. the sport is rolling once again. Skateboarding stayed pretty steady until the 1980's when it went from slalom to do-it-yourself skateboarding. Street and home made ramps were what the emphasis was put on. With the invention of the kicktail skateboarding sailed to new heights. the oliie was invented which is the basis of most tricks done today. But a mear seven years late skateboarding found itself in a slump again. With the publication Big Brother being released a short five years pass and skateboarding is back into the mainstream with an edgier look. Skaters are wearing big pants and were feared by most people.

Today skateboarding has innovated itself into a mainstream sport such as soccer and football and parents are pushing there kids to be the next Tony Hawk. Companies such as Nike and Mountain Dew are trying to cash in on a sport we had to keep alive. In a way, skateobrding almost needs to die once again to weed out this negative vibe that has been created. Skateboarding isn't about whose the best, it is about individuality and progression. So if your busting your ass on the streets for yourself you are doing the right thing and lets keep skateboarding as a form of expression instead of an after school activity.