Skateboards, Complete, and Decks
Skateboarding
has seen waves of popularity since it was invented in the late ‘50s.
It all started when a California surf shop wanted to develop something
so surfers could ride even when the ocean wasn’t cooperating.
By fixating some roller-skate wheels onto a board, the skateboard was
born. The popularity of these grew so quickly that a company called
Makaha began to produce them exclusively. The sport grew and became
a national phenomenon – spawning international competitions and
specialty magazines like Skateboarder.
However, by the late 60s, the sport had practically disappeared as
quickly as it arrived; many were writing skateboarding off as a “fad.”
Luckily, there were a few niche groups that continued developing the
sport to keep it from falling off the radar completely. One of these
innovations was the development of the polyurethane wheel which made
rides smoother and faster. Also, plastic boards (commonly known as “banana
boards”) became a cheap and light alternative to wooden boards.
In the late 1970s, Larry Stevenson invented the kicktail – a
raised back that gave riders the ability to lift the front wheels and
make rapid turns. Skateboarding began to separate from the coasting
style of surfing, becoming its own independent sport.
During this same time, Southern California was experiencing a severe
draught. Taking advantage of empty pools, a group of skaters (known
as the Z Boys) used the pool-walls as ramps to hurdle themselves at
great speeds. These feats attracted much media attention and the Z Boys
became the first celebrities of skateboarding. All over the country,
kids wanted to drain their pools and become a professional skateboarder.
In the 80s, pro-skater Rodney Mullen further revolutionized the sport
by inventing the kick-flip. By simultaneously stomping on the kick tail
and jumping forward, he was able to become air-born without using a
ramp and flip his board around. Before then, a no-handed aerial was
unheard of. To his credit, Mullen invented over 30 tricks which helped
shape the world of modern skateboarding. These street tricks appealed
to the kids who didn’t have access to empty swimming pools or
large vert-ramps.
The anatomy of a skateboard consists of a deck, wheels and trucks (with
various other hardwares). A modern deck includes bent ends so riders
can perform jumping tricks (ollies, kick-flips, heel-flips) from both
sides of the skateboard. The trucks connect the wheels to the board,
acting as the axles. Trucks are made from durable metal to let riders
grind curbs, rails and other objects. Grinding means balancing your
trucks (the wheels don’t touch anything) on top of the object
as you slide along it.
Longboards are different from regular boards because they are used
primarily for transportation and speed. With bigger, softer wheels,
these boards recreate the flow and fluidity of riding a snowboard or
surfboard.