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Skateboarding is an extreme sport that involves skating, as well as performing various tricks on a skateboard. A person engaged in skateboarding is called a skateboarder, or skater.

Since 2017 it is considered an Olympic sport. For the first time in history, skateboarding medals will be played at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

1940-1960 

Skateboarding appeared in the late 1930s - early 1950s, among California surfers who could not surf when there were no waves. The first skateboards were boxes and boards with wheels attached. Later, the boxes were replaced with boards made of pressed layers of wood - similar to those that are currently used.

In the early 1960s, manufacturers of surfboards began to produce skateboards. At the same time, thanks to Skateboarder Magazine, the popularity of skateboarding has increased. In 1965, several championships were held. But, already by 1966, the popularity of skateboarding fell and began to increase only in the early 1970s [1] [2]. However, already in the mid-60s and early 70s, skateboard companies began to develop, which are most popular today (Vans)

1970

In the early 1970s, Frank Nasworthy created polyurethane wheels. Thanks to their properties such as improved grip and lightness, the popularity of skateboarding is increasing dramatically. Companies are launching pendants specifically designed for skateboarding. The decks become wider, reaching 10 inches (25.4 cm), thus giving the skater more control over the skate.

Manufacturers begin experimenting with new deck materials such as fiberglass and aluminum, but most decks are made from maple plywood. Skaters are starting to invent new tricks. Also, California skaters, including Ty Page, Bruce Logan (Russian) Russian, Bobby Piercy (English) Russian, Kevin Reed Russian, and the Z-Boys team, begin to ride in pools empty from due to the drought of 1976. They are the first who began to ride in the style of vert.

The result of the vert-movement was the struggle of skate parks with high responsibility, which led most of them to closure. In response, vert-skaters began to build their own ramps, and freestyle skaters continued to evolve in the flatland style. Thus, by the beginning of the 1980s, the popularity of skateboarding fell again.

1980

The invention by Alan Gelfand of the handless jump (later called the ollie) in 1976 [3] and the development of grab tricks by George Orton and Tony Alva, allowed skaters to perform tricks in vertical ramps. But, since most skaters at that time did not have access to the ramps and could not afford their own ramps, the street style gained popularity. One of the pioneers of street style was Rodney Mullen, who invented many modern tricks such as impossible and kickflip.

The influence of freestyle on the street has been noticeable since the mid-80s, but the skateboards were still designed for the vert style: wide decks with a narrow bow and large soft wheels. However, in the late 80s, skateboarding developed rapidly. Due to the small number of skate parks, skaters began to ride in shopping centers. This led to public hostility towards skateboarding, lawsuits against skaters and a ban on skating in public places.

1990

Currently, most skaters ride in the street style, so the skates have undergone changes. Their length is from 30 (76.2 cm) to 32 inches (81.28 cm), width - from 7 to 8.6 inches. But there are exceptions, both downward and upward. For example, 6-inch wide skateboards designed for children, or 9 and even 9.5-inch wide boards, the so-called cruise boards, are produced, but they are made in the traditional design, that is, in the form of a "fish". Most of them ride in pools and ramps, but there are people who are comfortable riding these in a street. The wheels are made of very hard polyurethane, with a hardness of approximately 99A, but their size is reduced, which makes the skateboard easier and easier to perform tricks. The skateboard shape was formed on the basis of freestyle skateboards and has become a standard since the mid-1990s. There are also skateboards of other forms, as a rule they are collectible and are not intended for skating.

2020

In 2017, the International Olympic Committee will include skateboarding in the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2020.