The Invention of Skateboards: History and Design Evolution

Hey. And I am back here with a fresh article about skateboards invention. Yet, today on The Skateboard Perspective I will talk some evolution about skateboards. From its humble origins, skateboarding has evolved since then.

It began as an offshoot of surfing and a way for surfers to maintain their shoulder fitness between swells; now it is one of the most popular sports in Australia.

But where did skateboards come from, and what was there original skateboard to look like? If you ever wondered about the history of skateboarding, what kind materials are used in making skateboard decks boards, or how designs have changed and adapted over time than your at the right place.

In this interview, we’ll step back in time to focus on the past, present and future of skateboarding.

The Invention of Skateboards: How It All Began

That is why I am here, for the story of skateboards began to be almost as interesting as the skateboard itself. Necessity, creativity and a desire for fun gave birth to Skateboarding. Picture yourself as a surfer in the 1940’s or ’50s, fidgeting for a wave when one just wasn’t on offer?

What do you do? You hit the pavement instead!

Surfers down in Southern California were looking to surf the streets; Roller-skate wheels were nailed to the bottom of wooden planks and it was dubbed “sidewalk surfing. And boom! Skateboarding was born. These first skateboards were simple constructions — wide planks of oak with steel roller-skate wheels fastened to them, and we rode the same way surfers honed their skills.

The first mass-produced skateboard was invented by the Roller Derby Skate Company in 1959. All boards were made out of wood, rough and unpolished; it was all very different than what is imaginable today when looking at the highly engineered skateboard.

Who Invented the Skateboard?

So, you might be thinking…who invented the skateboard? Wait. Except; this is the shocking information I have for YOU – right here. I’m answering.

It is not attached to the identity of any one being.

Rather, it was a shared innovation established after trial and error because of the playful spirit that surfing was all about. And that is the beauty of it, skateboarding was not invented; rather —it grew spontaneously.

What Did The First Skateboard Look Like

You would hardly recognize a first skateboard if you saw it. The early skateboard designs were rudimentary.

Think of a skinny, little wooden plank with roller-skate wheels attached to the bottom.

These first boards had to be heavier and more difficult to ride. Wheels were made of metal or clay, which produced a crude and uneven ride compared to today’s wheels on skateboards.

The boards were usually made by hand, and certainly weren’t concerned with aerodynamics or ergnonomics. They had no cocktails, concave profiles or designs exclusively for tricks.

It’s the origin tale, doesn’t freaking matter. For the most part they were ridden around purely as a cruiser, pretending to surf moves on the sidewalk.

An In-depth Glance At The Original Skateboard Designs

First, Lets Look at Some Early Skateboard Designs Skateboarding hit en vogue in the 1960s, and with it came commercial manufacturers.

The first skateboard prodution went to companies like Makaha and Hobie in somewhat of an improved version the homemade originals. Even these proto-boards remained essentially flat and just a little bit longer than the surf-the -belly-models with few contours, no rocker and zero bounce to them.

Larry Stevenson, a lifeguard and surfer in 1963 refined skateboard design by utilizing the kicktail—the upturned back of the board. This element of design revolutionized contemporary skateboarding, making it possible for boarders to execute the ollie and kickflip(How does this conversation contribute?). One of the purest parts of skateboarding and without it, skating as we know It wouldn´t be even half what it currently is.

Handmade Skateboards

A lot of those early skateboarders made their own boards. Rollerskate wheels were fastened to a board and you whooshed off onto the pavementensed.closePath;ampied beaches letting exhaust into open freespeed.dense start — jet engined. These boards were made of wood, and the hard wheels most likely meant they didn’t ride well on terribly rough terrain.

Nonetheless, riders were as motivated as ever and the DIY ethos remains an integral part of skateboard culture to this day.

Skateboard History Foreword: A Decade-by-Decade Analysis

Skateboarding has seen a lot of rises and falls throughout the decades, but it still rides along. A brief skateboard history timeline to illustrate its evolution

The 1950s: when the common ground of Sidewalk surfing was born

• First skateboarding ever: surfers take roller-skate wheels and bolt them to a wooden plank.
• First boards are big and awkward — very inconvenient however a new sidewalk surfing craze is born in California.

1960: The Skateboard Revolution Begins

• Commercial skateboards are made by companies like Makaha and Hobie.
• Skateboard Contests ( freestyle and downhill racing) first contests held.
• Larry Stevenson develops the kicktail, transforming skateboard design.

1970s: A New Era of Skateboarding

• Everything in skating was changed when the first butterscotch wheels of polyurethane were introduced to the market in 1972. Which gives you better traction and a quieter ride.
• Designs of skateparks started to appear all over the US.
• Riding pools / development of vert skating.
• Pioneers, Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta were legendary skaters.

THE 80S: THE REBIRTH OF SKATEBOARDING

• Skateboarding takes a hit in the early ’80s but manages to bounce back with vengeance by mid-decade.
• Entrepreneurs build skateboard companies emphasizing the art and creativity behind deck graphics while innovating better truck technology.
• This is when street skating starts to become popular, and skaters venture on handrails, stairs and urban landscapes.
• Docs such as Powell Peralta’s Bones Brigade help broaden the appeal of skateboarding.

The 1990s: Skateboarding goes worldwide

• The streets are completely reimagined during this era, with skaters like Rodney Mullen and Eric Koston proving that everything is possible on a skateboard
• The skate brands explode into the mainstream, featured in video games and clothing lines.
• Indeed, the X Games have brought skateboarding into worldwide sporting limelight

Skateboarding in the Mainstream (1990s, 2000s and Beyond)

• Skateboarding progresses into new tricks, styles and inventiveness.
• Skateboarding entered the Olympics in 2020 — answering a historic debate regarding its validity as-a-competitive-sport.

These Wood to Composite Masterpieces • Skating Luxurve

One of the most fascinating things about skateboarding is how materials, more specifically what boards are built out of have evolved. Traditional skateboards were constructed from wood, often oak or pine — both exceptionally strong and durable wood types. Like everything else skateboard has progressed, lightweight but durable boards were needed.

Wood: The Classic Material

In the 1970s maple wood quickly became and remains today, the main type of material used in skateboard decks. Maple is a resilient and flexible material that allows air underneath the skateboard thus giving you an unpredictable guarantee for optimized durability combined with its nice pop on various different tricks. A standard skateboard deck is made up of seven laminated layers composed of Canadian maple. The end result is a sturdy board that VVS say can handle nose, risks without being weighed down to the point of affecting its mobility.

Fiberglass and Plastic

Fiberglass and plastic skateboards were experimented on in the 1970s. Although fiberglass was a stronger and more flexible material than wood, it was also heavier, which made production costs higher. Because of their durability and low price, the old-style plastic skateboards were common with beginner skateboarders since hardwood decks broke too soon.

That being said, they soon realized this wasn’t the stronger material around and while some moved to alternatives a higher fraction still stuck with wood due of its superior ride. Wood is better than plastic.

Composite Materials

Over the years, composite materials such as carbon fiber and Kevlar have come into use making boards lighter, stronger, more flexible with added longevity. Frequently seen at the feet of pro skaters when they need to have that extra competitive edge, these boards also make a great ride for everyone who just want performance gear.

Innovative Skateboard Design: Creating The Future of Skate

Skateboard design has come a long way, with each innovation done over the years that contributed to something much greater skaters get to use on.

The Kicktail

As we stated earlier in this post, the 1960s introduction of Larry Stevenson started all things off with his kicktail. This edge, raised at the back of the board keeps riders from scraping and allows them to spring tricks like an ollie.

Concave Decks

One other important innovation of the 1970s and ’80s was the arrival of concave deck designs. A concave board ah, as the name suggest, like a valley – any kind of looseness in your pet direction has to be corrected quickly or gravity does it on its own. With the concave design, skaters can have a better feel for their feet in order to change and spin easier.

Modern Skateboard Trucks

Skateboard trucks (the metal parts that attach your wheels to the deck) have also come a long way over their development. Newer trucks are response has also been improved, making it easier to turn and providing more stability when performing those tricks.

Where Skateboard Design Is Going next

What could serve as a follow-up step in the design of skateboards then? The technologies to do so are myriad, including modern manufacturing processes that substitute bamboo and recycled plastics for virgin materials. With growing concern about the state of our environment, skateboard brands have begun looking at how to limit waste and create a more sustainable option.

An exciting trend is the advent of electric skateboards. These boards have motors that help the riders reach very high speeds with almost no pushing at all. And electric skateboards are of course not the best for tricks or competing, but they make an interesting choice among commuters and anyone who just wants to travel distances quickly.

Wrapping It Up: The Ever-Evolving Skateboard

The growth of skateboarding, from a beach toy for some surfers to an international sport and culture. — Historically Skateboarding has journeyed significantly in the last 5 decades. While the first boards that rolling, wooden planks with wheels could technically be considered skateboards as well but through a myriad of advancements in both materials and design means we have come to what are called high-performance skateboard.

If you have been skating for years or are new to the scene, this is still interesting to see how far skateboarding has come and where it may possibly go in the future.

The next time you are bombing down the street, or sticking that gnarly trick, take a moment to respect all of those before who worked tirelessly to even get there.

Related Articles: More Skateboarding History and Innovation

• The Evolution of Surfing to Skateboarding
• From Flat Decks to Concave: The Journey of Skateboard Design
• Skateboard Construction: Wood, Fiberglass, and More
• Electric Skateboards: The Next Generation of Skating

Happy skating!

FAQ: The Invention of Skateboards