| you ever known how skateboarding came to be | | | | taking a new interest in skateboards by the early |
| a sport? The history of it is quite interesting. It | | | | 1970’s. This was due to the introduction |
| started out in the 1950’s and many | | | | of a variety of great moves and tricks. This |
| believed it would just be one more passing fad | | | | added a new dimension to skateboarding that |
| that people took part in. While it has had peaks | | | | hadn’t been there in the past. Now there |
| and valleys since its introduction, skateboarding | | | | was much more involved with it all than just |
| has proven it is much more than just a passing | | | | simply riding a skateboard. Many of the top |
| fad. | | | | competitors out there took things to the |
| The first skateboard was quite different from | | | | extremes and continued to push the limits. |
| today’s skateboard. They offered a | | | | In 1974 a huge change too place regarding the |
| handle bar on them, just like many types of | | | | size of the skateboards. Up to this point the |
| scooters that we see on the market today. This | | | | standard was either 6 or 7 inches in width. It now |
| handle bar is what allowed these early | | | | became 9 inches which consumers were very |
| skateboards to be maneuvered and controlled. | | | | pleased with. These additional few inches offered |
| However, it didn’t take long for the idea | | | | riders more stability and that meant it was easier |
| to remove the handle bar to come along. Many | | | | for them to control regardless of what they liked |
| believe this early idea was the result of the | | | | to do on their skateboard. |
| popularity of surf boarding at the time. | | | | The availability of ramps and other materials that |
| By the 1960’s, the most popular one was | | | | skaters could use at home in the 1980’s |
| the Roller Derby Skateboard. It was actually | | | | kept the trend of skateboarding going strong. |
| introduced in 1959 just ahead of the competitors. | | | | Now people didn’t have to rely upon just |
| However, it took many of these companies to | | | | skate parks for them to enjoy. However, you |
| keep up with the demand for them. It is | | | | also had an abundance of city ordinances around |
| estimated that between 1960 and 1963 more | | | | this same time. Many of them prohibited the use |
| than 50 million skateboards were sold. Keep in | | | | of skateboards on public sidewalks and streets. |
| mind that we didn’t have the technology | | | | As a result, the sales did dip into the |
| that we have today in order to mass produce | | | | 1990’s. Yet once again the idea of |
| such items in large buildings. | | | | skateboarding was thriving. Many believe it had to |
| When the skateboarding official contests were | | | | do with the availability of the internet. People could |
| started by manufacturers in 1963 it only further | | | | view plenty of skateboarding action online. At the |
| fueled the frenzy to have one. So what happened | | | | same time the sporting channel ESPN took on this |
| that slowed down the craze for skateboards? | | | | sport as well. |
| There are two main reasons that cause the sales | | | | One thing is for sure, skateboarding has enough |
| down. First, the economic status of the United | | | | of a following that it is here to stay. It is fun to |
| States began to slow down so people | | | | look back at where it has been though over the |
| weren’t able to buy as many extras as | | | | years. What is also exciting is to speculate about |
| before. Second, many so called experts out there | | | | what the future holds for the sport of |
| were talking about how unsafe skateboards were. | | | | skateboarding. With the worldwide presence it |
| However, there were plenty of people that were | | | | has, there is always plenty going on concerning it. |