A Brief History of Skateboarding

Olympics welcome skateboarding 2020 Tokyo Games will feature men’s and women’s park and street events 40 men and 40 women will compete Not without controversy. World Skateboarding Federation & the International Skateboarding Federation both want oversight at Olympics WSF alleges that ISF fails to drug test contestants and offered bribes to IOC ICO announced the Tokyo 2020 Skateboarding Commission will oversee competition. It includes IFS and Federation of Internationale Roller Sports members but not WSF

The Olympic events 2016 Vans Pro Skate Park Series Highlights 2016 X Games Women's Street Skating Recap

Surfers bring their craft to the streets 1950’s Surfers create the first skateboards The sport’s humble beginnings

Just a fad? 1960’s early competitions included the downhill slalom and freestyle Sponsors included Jack’s, Hobie, and Makaha As suddenly as it started, skateboarding faded from the mainstream Clay wheels likely prevented the initial growth of the sport

Frank nasworthy & Cadillac wheels Urethane wheels brought back skateboarding enthusiasm Greater control and ability to turn

Zephyr team revolutionizes the sport Rode their boards performing low and smooth moves that had not been publicly displayed at competitions Sparked an enthusiasm for what could be done on a board Team members included Stacy Peralta, Tony Alva, and Jay Adams Dogtown and Z Boys

The “ollie” 1978 Alan Gelfand invented a new skateboarding maneuver that would change the sport forever The “Ollie” would require the rider to slam their back foot down to propel the rider and the board into the air The Ollie performed by Alan Gelfand

1980’s and 90’s highlight ramps and street boarding

Vhs and the bones brigade Stacy Peralta, of Zephyr fame, and George Powell partnered to create Powell Peralta skateboards They also sponsored the Bones Brigade The invention of VHS made distributing skateboarding films possible on a large scale Bones Brigade and the Search for Animal Chin

1995 espn holds first x games X Games brought skateboarding and other extreme sports to a larger audience Tony Hawk lands the first 900 in the 1999 X Games in San Francisco Tony Hawk's 900

Skate parks and video games Skate parks become popular additions to city’s recreational venues Skateboarding themed video games rise in popularity

2000 to present Skateboarding popularity has been maintained Professional skateboarders have sponsors and can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money In 2013 the Street League Skateboarding’s premier event, the Super Crown, awarded it’s winner with $200,000 cash as well as additional prizes Skateboarding attire brings in millions of dollars for companies like Diamond Co., Hurley, and Vans

I feel like skateboarding is as much of a sport as a lifestyle, and an art form, so there's so much that that transcends in terms of music, fashion, and entertainment.  Tony Hawk MTV Sports History of Skateboarding

What will the future hold