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.

 

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