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1920s
The first known skateboard type product
is a three-wheeled, stamped metal device with pedal-car
like wheels, and an adjustable heel cup and toe clip.
Usually sold in pairs with a set of poles, they are
apparently designed to mimic cross-country skiing. It has
a 3" by 10" riding surface, and no steering
mechanism.
1930s
Another three-wheeled device, the
"Scooter Skate" is a skateboard/scooter hybrid;
it can be ridden with its included handle or without. The
bulbous rocket-ship style metal deck has a riding surface
of 6 1/2" by 13", with steel roller-skate style
wheels. There is no turning or steering mechanism.
1940s
A four-wheeled device made from
aluminum, the "Skeeter Skate" is created around
1945. With a 4 3/8" by 15 3/4" riding surface,
this scooter comes with a removable handle and pedal-car
style wheels. This device introduces a unique innovation,
the first steering axles, or "trucks," which
allow riders to turn for the first time.
1947
Peter Parken, a local San Diego surfer,
is the first known person to skateboard on a wooden plank
mounted with rollerskate trucks.
1950s
A crude form of skateboarding as we know
it today begins to develop. Kids create their own
home-made boards by nailing roller-skate assemblies to the
bottom of a wooden plank. Often the wood has a milk crate
nailed to it with handles attached for control. Late in
the 1950s, surfers discover skateboarding and embrace the
feeling of wave riding on flatland.
1957
Point Loma, California locals, Jim
Fitzpatrick and friend, George "Buster" P.
Wilson nail rollerskate trucks onto 6" by 1' wood
planks to make homemade skateboards.
1960s
The early 1960s bring the introduction
of the first manufactured skateboards. The following are
some of the popular mainstream skateboard designs from the
1960s: Scooter Skate (three-wheeler), Roller Derby, Skee
Skate, Sokol SurfSkate, Nash Sidewalk Surfer, Sincor, and
Super Surfer. Gren Tec, Hang Ten, and California Free
Former join the mass-production skateboard market in the
1970s.
1962
A southern California surf shop, Val
Surf, begins making its own skateboards. Owner Bill
Richards makes a deal with the Chicago Roller Skate
Company to produce sets of skate wheels, attaching them to
squared-off wooden boards. Val Surf is the first known
retail shop to sell skateboards.
Kids begin referring to skating as "sidewalk
surfing." The strong connection with surfing gives
skateboarding a direction that influences everything to
come, from maneuvers and style to fashion and attitude.
1963
Larry Stevenson designs and manufactures
the first professional skateboards, which becomes Makaha.
Larry and his wife, Helen, initially work from their
garage building and shipping boards. Surf legend, Mike
Doyle later works with Larry in developing future board
designs. The Makaha Phil Edwards (another legendary
surfer) model is the first pro model skateboard ever
produced. The board introduces two revolutionary
components - clay wheels, and Chicago trucks (the first
double-action, adjustable truck). That first skateboard is
ordered through the mail for $10.95, shipping included.
Makaha's early team riders are Phil Edwards, Jim
Fitzpatrick, Brad "Squeak" Blank, Bruce Logan,
Danny Bearer, Torger Johnson, John Freis, Brendan
"Woody" Woodward, George Trafton, Danny
Schaefer, Joey Saenz, and Mike Hynson. The original team
captain is Dave Rochlen. Larry later publishes Surf Guide,
which becomes a popular surf magazine.
The first known organized skateboard contest, sponsored by
Makaha, is held at the Pier Avenue Junior High School in
Hermosa, California.
1964
Working with Bill Richards at Val Surf,
surf legend Hobie Alter introduces the Hobie Super Surfer
skateboard. Surf legend, Charles "Corky" Carroll
III is also involved with Hobie in developing its
products. Hobie Alter later teams up with the Vita Pakt
juice company to create Hobie Skateboards. Hobie's early
team riders are Skitch Hitchcock, Danny Bearer, Brendan
"Woody" Woodward, Pat McGee, John Freis, Joey
Cabell, and Davey and Stevie Hilton.
Mahaka team member, Jim Fitzpatrick, takes a two-month
tour to promote Makaha and introduce skateboarding to
countries all over Europe and the U.K.
Larry Gordon and Floyd Smith, co-founders of Gordon &
Smith Surfboards, develop a revolutionary new board
manufacturing process which combines Bo-Tuff (a
fiberglass-reinforced epoxy) with a maple wood core to
create the Fibreflex skateboard. This is the first
laminated board created for the skate market. G&S's
early team riders are Harry "Skip" Frye, Willie
Phillips, Mike Hynson, and Vince Turner.
The musical group Jan and Dean appear on Dick Clark's
American Bandstand and sing "Sidewalk Surfing."
Dean performs a few tricks and rides the board across the
stage.
1965
Skateboarding becomes widespread and
very popular, and companies are struggling to keep up with
demand. While most skaters take to the streets or
sidewalks, some skaters begin to explore skating in
backyard swimming pools.
For A Better Living, Inc. publishes The Quarterly
Skateboarder, which releases only four issues that year.
John Severson is the publisher and editor. When the
magazine begins publishing again as a bi-monthly in 1975,
the name is changed to Skateboarder magazine.
On May 22, 23 the National Skateboard Championships are
held in Anaheim, and is shown on ABC's "Wide World of
Sports."
The first skateboard organization, the
National Skateboard Championships Association (NSCA) is
formed in Anaheim.
San Diego skater, Pat McGee is featured on the cover of
Life magazine.
The first skateboard movie, Skater Dater is released, and
later wins an Academy Award for Best Movie Short.
Hobie Alter looks into using urethane for skateboard
wheels but is turned down by Vita-Pakt executives because
the price is too high. It will be nearly 10 years before
urethane is used for skateboard wheels.
Later this year many public officials
and safety organizations begin condemning skateboarding as
unsafe – urging stores not to
sell them, and parents not to buy them. Many cities start
banning skateboarding on public streets. The skateboarding
fad dies primarily due to inferior product, too much
inventory, and a public upset by reckless riding.
1966
Vans shoes get their start in the surf
and skateboard scene after brothers Jim and Paul Van Doren
build a shoe factory in Anaheim, later opening a chain of
stores in California. Vans are popular with surfers, then
become popular with skaters in the 1970s after the company
introduces their Off the Wall line shoes which are
designed for skateboarders. Their stores even offer
skaters the ability to choose from a selection of
materials and colors to create their own custom shoes. For
many years, Vans shoes are considered "the"
skateboard shoe.
Summer - Surfer's World, the world's first known skatepark
opens in Anaheim, California. Hobie and Vita Pakt sponsor
a contest at the newly opened park.
1967
The National Film Board Of Canada
releases, “The Devil's Toy,”
a documentary movie about the skateboarding craze in
Montreal, Quebec.
1968
Skip Engblom, Jeff Ho and Craig Stecyk
co-found Zephyr Surfboards, in Santa Monica, California.
1969
Larry Stevenson invents and patents the
kicktail. Though not accepted at first, other
manufacturers eventually copy the idea. All the companies
but one balk at paying a royalty to Stevenson and he
eventually loses his patent rights in court. Gordon &
Smith is the only company to ever pay a royalty on the
design.
1972
Frank Nasworthy creates a skateboard
wheel design using urethane after seeing the material
being used on rollerskates by the Roller Sports Company.
He begins producing the first urethane wheels made
exclusively for skateboarding. He promotes the wheels
heavily at surf and skate shops, but meets with a great
deal of resistance because of the much higher cost over
clay wheels. After selling Cadillac to Bahne, urethane
wheels become a hit around 1973-74.
1973
Ron Bennett builds one of the first
skateboard trucks specifically designed for skateboarding.
Board manufacturers spring up everywhere and the industry
is booming with new products and ideas.
Kent Sherwood (Jay Adam's step-father), who owns a
fiberglass shop, is approached by Jeff Ho, Skip Engblom
and Craig Stecyk of Zephyr Surf Shop to create a Zephyr
skateboard. The Zephyr surf and skateboard team is formed
to promote the company. The team becomes known as the
Z-Boys, with Tony Alva, Jay Adams, Wentzl Ruml IV, Bob
Biniak, Jim Muir, Nathan Pratt, Stacy Peralta and Shogo
Kubo as the original members. Craig Stecyk is credited
with giving Santa Monica the Dogtown name.
Northern California surfing buddies, Rich Novak, Doug Haut
and Jay Shuirman join together to form NHS, the powerhouse
behind Santa Cruz Skateboards. Jay Shuirman is later
instrumental in the development of Independent Trucks in
1978, but dies in 1979 of leukemia.
1974
James O'Mahoney creates the U.S.
Skateboard Association (USSA), and later creates the World
Skateboard Association (WSA) to bring the world's skaters
together.
Dave Dominy approaches Larry Balma and his partner to
create a wider, more stable truck for use at the slalom
races at La Costa. Trackers are the first truck that can
handle the more aggressive skating that is developing at
the time.
Gordon & Smith begin production again on their popular
skateboard line, the Fibreflex. As skating style and
terrain changes in the following years, the company offers
a variety of stiffnesses and shapes in the Fibreflex line.
1975
Skateboard magazine is published by
James O'Mahoney, who also forms a team consisting of Russ
Howell, Steve Monahan, Gordy Lienemann, Tom Sims, and
other top skaters.
Skateboarder Magazine begins publishing again as a
bi-monthly. Warren Bolster is the editor and principal
photographer, and Steve Pezman is the publisher (he is
later replaced by Dave Dash).
The coastal hills of La Costa in northern San Diego County
become the most popular local skate spot in history. The
hillside streets and sidewalks had been built in
preparation for a new housing tract, but construction is
delayed for years and La Costa becomes a Mecca for skaters
from all over southern California. Slalom and downhill
skaters like Steve Sherman, Curt Kimbel, Lee Gahimer,
Marty Schaub, Greg Taie, Bobby Piercy, Tommy Ryan, Henry
Hester, Bob Skoldberg, Denis Schufeldt, Bobby Turner, and
Mike Williams hold regular races there.
Mike Williams is the first to promote
wearing safety gear at La Costa, which was mostly
equipment used by the hockey industry. Bob Turner makes
major innovations with his Turner SummerSki boards, which
were widely used at La Costa and elsewhere. Over the next
few years, many of the top freestyle and street skaters
also enjoy the smooth asphalt and curbs of La Costa. Kim
Cespedes, Steve Cathey, Ellen O'Neal, Laura Thornhill,
many of the Dogtowners, Bruce Logan, Robin Logan, Brad
Logan, Jim Goodrich, Di Dootson, Curtis Hesselgrave, Brian
Beardsley, Ty Page, Warren Bolster, and Curt Lindgren are
among the regulars.
Fausto Vitello and Eric Swenson form Ermico to create a
skateboard truck that would turn well in the streets.
Fausto's friend, John Solomine creates a complex steering
system truck design, and production begins on the Stroker
truck. Though the truck turns too much for street riding,
it proves popular for downhill skating.
Road Rider wheels are developed by Quality Urethane in
Rhode Island. It is the first wheel to use precision
bearings, ending decades of loose ball bearings. Road
Riders are an immediate success, soon bringing an end to
the very popular Cadillac wheels which are still using
loose ball bearings.
Surfer Mitch Haake, together with friend
Michael McCreary, found Tunnel Products in San Mateo. Some
believe Tunnel is named after a favorite skating spot –
concrete tunnels (pipes) – while
others say it was named after the signature Tunnel
product, skateboard wheels that look like small “tunnels.”
Mike Rector and Bob Wolfe create the first safety gear
designed specifically for skaters. Prior to this, injuries
are common since most skaters didn't give much thought to
safety gear.
The skateboard movie, Spinnin' Wheels is released,
featuring the skating of Mike Weed, Ty Page and Skitch
Hitchcock.
Surfer and slalom skater, Mike Williams, looking for a new
truck design to use in the La Costa slalom races,
approaches San Diego aerospace tooling company, HPG IV.
Mike works with owners Bill Brawner and Walt Tiedge to
design what will become the first product from the newly
formed Gull Wing Products.
March - Huntington Beach City Skateboard Contest, Dyno
Championships. Held in the Huntington Beach Mall and
sponsored by Dyno Surfboards. Surfer, Corky Carroll is the
MC.
Men's Freestyle: 1-Russ Howell, 2-Tom Sims
Junior Freestyle: 1-Fred Flavell, 2-Don Weaver
12-14 Freestyle: 1-Jay Adams, 2-Steve Monahan
May 24, 25 - Huntington Pier City Contest. Held in the HB
Pier parking lot, skaters from all over southern
California compete. Many new faces emerge that will go on
to higher recognition.
Men's Freestyle: 1-Russ Howell, 2-John Denny, 3-Chris
Cahill
Junior Freestyle: 1-Bob Neishi, 2-Fred Flavell, 3-Stacy
Peralta
Boys Freestyle: 1-Steve Monahan, 2-Paul Constantineau,
3-Jay Adams
Women's Freestyle: 1-Patti Monahan, 2-Janet Larruea
Men's Slalom: 1-Don Andre, 2-Jim O’Mahoney
Women's Slalom: 1-Denise Shaw, 2-Tina Trefethen
April 26, 27 - Bahne-Cadillac National Championships are
held as part of the Del Mar Ocean Festival. This contest
leads to the creation of the first skate celebrities,
which are heavily featured in the magazines. The
appearance of the Z-Boys, with their unique and aggressive
style, causes a major sensation and controversy at the
competition.
Senior Men's Freestyle: 1- Russ Howell, 2- Skitch
Hitchcock, 3-Bob Mohr, 4- Bruce Logan
Senior Men’s Slalom: 1-Chris
Yandell, 2- Dan Trailer, 3-Woody Woodward, 4- Larry Crow
Junior Men's Freestyle: 1- Steve Picciolo, 2- Ty Page,
3-Jay Adams, 4- Tony Alva
Junior Men's Slalom: 1- Paul Engh, 2-Dennis Harvey,
3-Steve Shull, 4- Nathan Pratt
Women's Freestyle: 1-Peggy Oki, 2-Robin Logan, 3-Michele
Brunot
Women's Slalom: 1- Michele Brunot, 2- Loretta Rogwold
July 3 - Long Beach Arena City Championships.
Men's Freestyle: 1-Russ Howell, 2-Torger Johnson, 3-Tom
Sims, 4-Bob Jarvis
Men's Slalom: 1-Don Andre, 2-Jim O’Mahoney,
3-Bruce Logan
Women's Freestyle: 1-Desiree Von Essen, 2-Robin Alaway,
3-Mary Zorkie
Women's Slalom: 1-Andra Malczewski, 2-Desiree Von Essen,
3-Tracy Green
Northern California Pro-Am Skateboard Championships, Cow
Palace, San Francisco. Broadcast on Ara's Sports World.
Jon Malvino and John O’Malley are
co-directors.
Summer - Southern California State Championships, Orange
County Fairgrounds.
Men's Freestyle: 1-Russ Howell, 2-Bob Mohr, 3-Tom Sims
Men's 14-17 Freestyle: 1-Kelly Mahon, 2-Ty Page, 3-Stacy
Peralta
Women's 17 and over Freestyle: 1-Andrea Malczewski, 2-Debi
Eldredge, 3-Desiree Von Essen
USSA President Jim O' Mahoney receives a call from a
producer of the TV show The Guinness Book of World Records
looking for event to televise. O’Mahoney
came up with three events – a
high jump, a barrel jump, and a downhill race at Hill
Street in Signal Hill, California which came to be the
annual Signal Hill Speed Run. Most experts say that the
Signal Hill Speed Run was the first true, sanctioned
downhill skateboard race.
The first year at Signal Hill, there
were about a half dozen entrants, but only two actually
tried to skate the hill, Garrison Hitchcock and Guy
Grundy. Hitchcock fell and dislocated his shoulder. Grundy
completed the run without incident, clocking 50.2 miles an
hour which netted him a trophy and entry into the Guinness
Book of World Records.
Ventura Pro contest
Toms Sims, working from his father's woodworking shop,
begins manufacturing the first Sims skateboards. The first
team riders are Lonnie Toft, George Orton, Brandon
"Woody" Woodward, and Laura Thornhill.
September 7 – Jack Murphy Stadium
World Invitational contest (now Qualcomm Stadium).
September 20, 21 - Los Angeles Sports Arena World
Championships. Tom Sims and a friend streak down the
slalom ramp.
Men's Freestyle: 1-Bruce Logan, 2-Tom Sims, 3-Stacy
Peralta
Men's Slalom: 1-Henry Hester, 2-Tom Sims, 3-Dan Trailer
The Zephyr team begins breaking up - Kent Sherwood leaves
Zephyr and starts making his own boards (Z-Flex), taking
Jay Adams, Tony Alva and Jim Muir with him; Tony Alva, Jay
Adams and Bob Biniak switch to Logan EarthSki; and Stacy
Peralta starts skating for Gordon & Smith. Shogo Kubo
is the only skater who stays with Zephyr up until the
company folds. Skip Engblom later starts Santa Monica
Airlines.
Wes Humpston and Jim Muir trademark the Dogtown name and
start Dogtown Skates. Wes begins creating the first real
graphics for skateboard decks.
1976
January - Gull Wing Products releases
the Gull Wing truck, a revolutionary split-axle truck
design which allows adjustment of both the tension and
radius.
Don Branker promotes the World Skateboarding Championships
at a series of rock concerts with the Beach Boys, Jethro
Tull, Peter Frampton, Santana, and Rick Derringer.
Early March – Skatboard City
Skatepark, in Port Orange, Florida, opens. The builder is
Joe Quinn. In late March, Carlsbad Skatepark, designed and
built by Jack Graham and John O'Malley, opens in northern
San Diego County, California. They also consult and design
a dozen skatepark projects including, Concrete Wave in
Anaheim and Shady Acres in Long Beach. They publish a
skatepark builder’s guide, "Skatepark
Development." This is the beginning of the
construction of skateparks all over southern California,
the U.S., and eventually worldwide.
"Wee" Willie Winkels, an avid Canadian skater
and skier, begins making his own boards at his father's
door manufacturing company because skateboards are so
expensive to buy from the U.S. He creates one of the first
maple laminate decks, and forms a skate team to promote
it. His new board design soon comes to Tom Sims'
attention, and Sims switches to having their boards
manufactured by Willie. Soon, many other board companies
begin having their boards made in Canada. Willie is also a
pioneer in developing modular, mobile half-pipes.
Yo Yo wheels, the first radius-ed wheel, is released by
Gordon & Smith. Steve Cathey, a G&S team rider,
noticing that his Road Rider wheels rode better after the
edges wore down, approached Dave Mc Intyre (G&S sales
and team manager) about making radius-ed wheels. G&S
designed and manufactured the wheels shortly afterwards.
Challenge of the Sexes on the CBS TV Network, with Robin
Allaway and Chris Chaput.
Spring/Summer - Two brothers in Saskatchewan, Canada, Rick
and Peter Ducommun, form Great North Country Skateboards.
In 1978 they change the name Skull Skates. In the early
80s they move operations to Vancouver, B.C. Skull Skates
is one of the few Canadian skateboard companies to gain a
widespread popularity worldwide. Over the years, top
skaters Christian Hosoi, Duane Peters, Steve Olson and
Dave Hackett are connected with the company.
The skateboard movie, Freewheelin' is released. Produced
by Scott Dittrich, and starring Stacy Peralta, Camile D.,
Russ Howell, Kenny Means, Tom Sims, and Mike Weed.
June 19, 20 - New York Nassau Coliseum Invitational World
Contest. The contest uses an applause meter to determine
the winners.
Results: 3-Way Tie for 1st place in Men’s
Pro Freestyle - Russ Howell, Steve Cathey, Gary Kocot.
June 27 - Second Annual Signal Hill Speed Run. The $1000
first prize is claimed by Sam Puccio, Jr. who clocks 54
miles an hour while riding on his back.
Jack Smith and two of his friends skateboard across the
United States, completing the trip in 32 days. Jack
completed the trip again in 26 days in 1984 with Bob
Denike, Paul Dunn and Gary Fluitt.
Tunnel comes out with the Tunnel Rock
wheel, which due to its hardness quickly proves itself to
be a premiere pool riding wheel. Tunnel's team consists of
many top riders of the time: Steve Alba, Ray Flores, Doug
Schneider, Rick Blackhart, Tom “Wally”
Inouye, Gregg Ayres, Waldo Autry, Steve Rocco, Chris
Chaput, Kevin Thatcher, Chris Strople, Marshall Coben,
Steve Weston, and more.
California Free Former World
Professional Skateboard Championships are held at the Long
Beach Arena, California.
Men’s Freestyle: 1-Chris Chaput,
2-Ed Nadalin, 3-Mike Weed, 4-Gary Kocot, 5-Russ Howell
Men’s Slalom: 1-Henry Hester,
2-Bob Piercy, 3-Mike Williams
Women’s Freestyle: 1-Ellen
Berryman, 2-Laura Thornhill, 3-Ellen O’Neal
Women’s Slalom: 1-Desiree Von
Essen, 2-T. Brown, 3-Robin Logan
Consecutive 360’s: 1-Bob Jarvis,
2-Chris Chaput, 3-Gary Kocot, 4- Steve Shipp, 5-Ed Nadalin
September 11 - The first major skateboard contest in
Canada is held in Vancouver's Stanley Park with Canada's
National TV news program “W5”
covering the event.
September - 2nd Annual Hang Ten Pro Skateboard
Championships, held at Carlsbad skatepark. It is broadcast
by ABC Wide World of Sports.
November - George Powell teams up with Tom Sims to produce
the Quicksilver Pro Slalom deck, constructed of fiberglass
and aluminum. Shortly afterwards the company produces the
Quicktail to appeal to the growing freestyle/vertical
market. Powell also introduces Bones, the first
double-radial wheel.
The skateboard movie, That Magic Feeling is released by
Jon Malvino. Shot in and around San Francisco and Marin
County, it features Kim Cespedes and Nick van Krydt.
1977
From the summer of 1976 through 1978
many new skateparks begin construction around the U.S.,
especially in southern California. Some of the most
popular parks in the Los Angeles area are Concrete Wave,
Skatopia, Pipeline (Upland), Lakewood, Reseda, Oxnard, Big
O and Whittier. The main San Diego skateparks are
Carlsbad, Del Mar, Oasis, Movin' On (Home Avenue), Vista,
La Mesa and El Cajon. The main skateparks in the San
Francisco bay area are Winchester, Newark, Campbell and
Milpitas. The best parks across the rest of the U.S. are
Cherry Hill (New Jersey), Sensation Basin (Gainesville,
Florida), Rainbow Wave (Tampa, Florida), Solid Surf (Fort
Lauderdale, Florida), Clearwater (Florida) and Kona
(Jacksonville, Florida). Wally Hollyday is one of the main
skatepark designers and builders.
February - Hang Ten Championships held
at Carlsbad Skatepark, California.
March 20 - Third Annual Signal Hill
Speed Run. 4,000 spectators attend. This event was
considered to be the birth of “skatecars,”
enclosed skateboards with lean steering and a variety of
braking systems including parachutes and friction. Dave
Dillberg and Henry Hester both went 57 miles an hour in
their skatecars and split the $1,000 prize, although
Dillberg took home the winner’s
trophy with a faster alternate run. Michael Goldman is the
fastest stand-up skateboarder at 50 miles an hour. Leslie
Jo Ritzma places first in the womens' division at 51 miles
an hour.
On April 21 the Canadian Pro-Am Skateboard Association is
formed by Monty Little, who serves as its President for
several years. Although the association's name changes
twice over the years, CASA is still recognized as the
oldest active governing body of skateboarding in Canada.
May - Skatetopia Skatepark opens in
Buena Park, California
Gordon & Smith begins manufacturing a new series of
boards made from solid wood; the Warptail.
Brad Dorfman gets his start in skateboarding helping his
sister distribute Mad Rats (a popular skate short). With
the success of Mad Rats, Brad begins manufacturing other
skate products, leading him to later create what will
become Vision, one of the largest skateboard companies in
history.
Pepsi and 360 Sportswear form a professional skateboard
team which sponsors a variety of safety clinics and demos
performed mostly at local schools. The first team riders
are Stacy Peralta, Russ Howell, Jerry Valdez, Laurie
McDonald, Gregg Ayres, Alan Scott, Gordy Lienemann, Lonnie
Toft, Waldo Autry, Paul Hoffman, Marc Scott, Brett Levett,
Rod Saunders, Sylvia Scott and George Orton. Rene
Carrasco, Ritchie Carrasco, David Carrasco, Steve Rocco,
Tony Jetton, Wink Roberts, David Hackett, and Cheri O'Berg
later join the team.
Skateboarders attended the International
Trade Show in Munich for the first time. The result was an
increase of skateboarding's appeal world wide.
Russ Howell and Stacy Peralta do a six month skate tour of
Australia to promote and organize provincial skateboard
contests for the clothing company, Golden Breed. Russ and
Stacy tour all over Australia organizing contests which
later end in the Australian National Event.
Peter Camann organizes the Another Roadside Attraction Pro
Race Series, a pro and amateur skateboard race series held
in several Colorado mountain communities. The events are
downhill, giant slalom and dual slalom. The series is a
huge success in the summers of 1977 and 1978.
August 25 - Canada’s first
concrete skateboard park opens in West Vancouver, B.C. Two
weeks later the Skateboard Palace, Canada’s
first indoor concrete skateboard park opens.
September 4, 5 - California Free Former World Professional
Skateboard Championships are held at the Long Beach Arena
in California.
Men's Freestyle: 1-Bob Mohr, 2-Mike Weed, 3-Ty Page, 4-Ed
Nadalin
Men's Slalom: 1-John Hutson, 2-Bobby Piercy, 3-Greg Taie,
4-Randy Smith
Women's Freestyle: 1-Ellen Berryman, 2-Ellen O’Neal,
3-Laura Thornhill
Women's Slalom: 1-Terry Brown, 2-Kim Cespedes, 3-Desiree
Von Essen
Consecutive 360's: 1-Russ Howell, 2-Paul Hoffman, 3-Ed
Nadalin, 4-Steve Shipp
High Jump: 1- Bryan Beardsly, 2-Jerry Pattison, 3-Brent
McCullogh
Barrel Jump: 1-Tony Alva (17 barrels), 2-Paul Hoffman,
3-Ed Nadalin, 4-Steve Shipp
October 15, 16 – The Catalina
Classic contest, sponsored by Santa Cruz, is held on
Catalina Island, off the coast of southern California.
Vertical, slalom, downhill and freestyle skating are all
progressing at an incredible rate and are included in the
increasing number of contests.
1978
The average size of skateboards changes
from 7 to 8 inches in width to over 9 to 10 inches.
March - The 1st Annual Skateboarder Magazine Poll Banquet
is held at the Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach,
California. Industry awards are given for accomplishment
and popularity. In the men's category, Tony Alva wins
first place, followed by Tom Inouye, Jay Adams, Stacy
Peralta, Gregg Weaver, Ty Page, Bob Biniak, Waldo Autry,
Bobby Piercy, Russ Howell, Shogo Kubo, Henry Hester, Paul
Hackett, Bruce Logan, Steve Cathey, Mike Weed, David
Hackett, Gregg Ayres, Darren Ho, and Tom Sims. In the
women's category, Laura Thornhill wins first place,
followed by Ellen O'Neal, Kim Cespedes, Jana Payne, Robin
Logan, Ellen Berryman, Desiree Von Essen, Robin Alaway,
Michelle Matta, and Edie Robertson.
March - The USSA and Don E. Branker put on Cal Jam II. The
rock concert and skateboard demo is held for an estimated
400,000 spectators. It is the largest live skateboard demo
ever, with the California Free Former team performing.
March 11, 12 – The Hester-ISA
Skateboard Pro Bowl Series #1 is held at Skateboard
Heaven, Spring Valley, California. It is the first
organized professional skateboard contest series, and the
first held in a vertical pool.
Results: 1-Steve Alba, 2-Mike Weed,
3-Steve Olson, 4-Scott Dunlap, 5-Gregg Ayres, 6-Doug
Saladino, 7-Doug Marker, 8-Steve Cathey, 9-Harvey Hawks,
10-Dennis Martinez.
June 11 - The fourth (and final) Signal Hill Speed Run.
With his revolutionary “arms back”
position, John Hutson wins the stand up division with a
speed of 53.45 miles an hour. Roger Williams won the
skatecar class with a speed of 59.92 miles an hour. Tina
Trefethen won in the womens' division with the fastest
speed at 57.69 miles an hour in a skatecar. Unfortunately,
she crashed after the finish line and suffered severe
injuries, which led to the demise the popular event.
Alan Gelfand is credited with inventing the "ollie
pop," which is the first known no-hands air on
vertical. There is some debate on who did this first since
most tricks tend to be discovered by a number of people in
different places around the same time. The same debate
goes on about the aerial. It is generally accepted that
the first air is done in southern California by Russ
Gosnell, Tony Alva, George Orton, and Dennis Martinez.
Concert/Skateboard Demo Series in Anaheim, with the Beach
Boys, Peter Frampton, Santana, Boston, Black Sabbath,
Sammy Hagar, Van Halen
Skateboard Mania show at the L.A. Forum in Los Angeles,
California. The stage show features Tony Jetton, Vicki
Vickers, Leilani Kiyabu, Kerry Cooper, Lauri McDonald and
Paul Hoffman, among many others. The hero skaters went up
against the "Evil Emperor," Dan White, with
everyone dressed in glitter costumes for the event.
Skateboard movie, Skateboard is released, starring Leif
Garrett, and skaters, Tony Alva and Ellen O'Neal.
Fausto Vitello of Ermico Enterprises, with input from Jay
Shuirman, Rick Blackhart and Kevin Thatcher, creates
Independent truck, which combines the best design features
of both Tracker and Bennett trucks. It takes the
skateboard world by storm with its quick-turning radius,
and gains a 50% market share within six months.
Stacy Peralta leaves G&S to start a partnership with
George Powell, forming Powell-Peralta. Stacy starts as
team manager, and in promotions and advertising.
Powell-Peralta's first board is the very popular Beamer, a
wood laminate with aerospace strips for reinforcement.
Stacy is responsible for creating one of the all-time most
successful and popular skate teams. Known as the Bones
Brigade, Ray "Bones" Rodriguez, Steve Caballero,
Alan Gelfand and Mike McGill are the original members.
Tony Hawk, Lance Mountain, Tommy Guerrero and Rodney
Mullen later join the team. Vernon "Court"
Johnson is the creative genius responsible for nearly
every company graphic ever created.
1979
Spiraling insurance and slowing
skatepark attendance begins forcing all but a few
skateparks out of business. The punk movement infiltrates
the skate scene and alienates many skaters and commercial
sponsors. Throughout 1979 skateboarding interest declines,
and is all but commercially dead by the end of the year.
The majority of skaters move on to other things.
Skateboard World Magazine begins publishing, and is soon
joined by Wide World of Skateboarding Magazine.
Russ Howell sets the 360 spin record at 163 spins, at the
Fountain Valley CASL contest.
Summer - Skateboarder Magazine Poll Banquet. The winners
are, 1-Steve Olson, 2-Tony Alva, 3-Steve Alba, 4-Doug
Saladino, 5-Jerry Valdez, 6-Shogo Kubo, 7-Rick Blackhart,
8-Chris Strople, 9-Jay Adams, 10-Tom Inouye.
Vision begins manufacturing skateboards, and later
produces the very successful and popular Mark
"Gator" Rogowski model, followed by the Mark
Gonzalez model. Their popularity launches Vision into the
mainstream.
1980
Skateboarder Magazine changes its name
to Action Now, and begins to focus on a variety of action
sports in order to widen their appeal in the dying
skateboard market. Warren Bolster leaves Skateboarder in
1979, and Brian Gillogly becomes the editor of the new
magazine.
Vision signs a licensing agreement with Sims and begins
producing and marketing the Sims boards. Vision eventually
produces an entire clothing line called Vision Street
Wear, which becomes very popular worldwide. Vision later
creates Vision Shoes, which spurs growth in many new shoe
companies creating shoes specifically for skaters.
Former Skateboarder magazine photographer, Jim Goodrich,
takes over as general manager and team coach at the
struggling Gull Wing Products. Gull Wing makes a come back
as one of the top three truck companies through heavy
marketing, truck design improvements, and rebuilding their
team with riders like Neil Blender, Chris Miller, Mark
"Gator" Rogowski and Jeff Phillips.
Skating goes mostly underground. Street skating, and kids
building their own wooden ramps, keep skating going at the
core level. The large skateboard companies suffer huge
losses.
1981
Fausto Vitello creates a skater-only
magazine, Thrasher Magazine, which begins publishing in
January with Kevin Thatcher as the editor.
1983
May - In an attempt to portray a more
positive side to skateboarding, Larry Balma and Peggy
Cozens begin publishing TransWorld Skateboarding Magazine.
1984
Vert riding takes off, followed closely
by streetstyle skating. Launch ramps become popular.
Powell-Peralta creates the first "Bones Brigade"
skate video thanks to the creative talents of C.R. Stecyk
and Stacy Peralta. The video features all the team skaters
and helps to propel skateboarding to new levels of
popularity.
Dozens of new manufacturers spring up in the industry.
Numerous vertical champions emerge, including Tony Hawk,
Christian Hosoi, Lance Mountain and Neil Blender. Skaters
like Mark Gonzales, Natas Kaupas and Tommy Guerrero take
street skating to new heights, and Rodney Mullen dominates
the freestyle competition.
1985
In the mid to late 1980's,
Powell-Peralta, Vision/Sims, Santa Cruz, Tracker and
Independent are the major companies in the industry. Board
royalties and contest winnings escalate and some pro
skaters earn as much as ten thousand dollars a month. The
National Skateboard Association, headed up by Frank Hawk,
holds numerous contests across North America and
eventually throughout the world. Skateboard shoes from
Airwalk, Vans and Vision become enormously popular along
with skate clothing.
TransWorld Skateboarding Magazine hires Gull Wing manager,
Jim Goodrich, to be the magazine's managing editor.
1986
August 18 to 27 - TransWorld Skateboard
Championships are held at the Expo86 in Vancouver, Canada.
Organized by Monty Little and the Canadian Amateur
Skateboard Association, it is the first true international
skateboarding event, bringing pro and amateur skaters from
16 countries together to compete in various events. The
entire event is covered by an international film crew,
which later releases the video, Radical Moves.
Many new and existing shoe companies begin marketing
directly to the skateboard industry. In the coming years,
Airwalk, Etnies, Simple and DC are among the first
companies to enter the skate market. Converse, which once
had been a popular skate shoe in the 1960s, begins going
after the skate market. Mainstream shoe companies, Nike
and Adidas also begin to focus on skate shoes.
1987
The cycle peaks this year after
skateboarding has directly influenced international
culture, ranging from hard-edged punk style music to the
baggy, earth-tone clothes and retro tennis shoes. The
current cycle of skateboarding is fueled by many items,
including new companies, more varied and difficult
terrain, a new, more hard-core attitude. Skateboard tricks
become very technical and more difficult.
A number of top skaters and former pros leave their
sponsors and start their own skateboard companies. One
example is Steve Rocco of World Industries. The new
skater-owned companies increase competition and shake up
the established industry.
1988
Jim Fitzpatrick joins Stacy Peralta in
the growing promotion and marketing departments at
Powell-Peralta, and Todd Hastings becomes the primary team
manager of the Bones Brigade team.
1989
Canadian World Championships, Vancouver
World's Fair.
The skateboard movie, Gleaming the Cube is released. It
stars Christian Slater, and features the skating of Tony
Hawk, Mark Rogowski, Mike McGill and Rodney Mullen. Stacy
Peralta is the second-unit director.
1990
The skate industry is deeply affected by
a world-wide recession. Skaters rediscover their roots in
street skating, and the skate companies begin
re-evaluating themselves. As in the past, a hardcore group
remains with the sport, but this time the attrition is not
as great as it was in the past.
1991
Skateboard deck sizes begin to decline
from 9" to 10” to an average
of 7" to 8" in width. “Popsicle
stick” board shapes gain
popularity.
Stacy Peralta leaves Powell-Peralta, and the Powell
Corporation struggles to reinvent itself in a changing
market.
1993
Jim Fitzpatrick becomes Executive
Director and founder of International Association of
Skateboard Companies.
1995
Skateboarding re-emerges from its slump.
The sport gains a great deal of exposure at the ESPN 2
Extreme Games in Rhode Island. This serves to bring
skateboarding more into the mainstream. Skateboard shoe
manufacturers like Etnies (owned by top freestyle skaters
Pierre Andre and Don Brown), and Vans begin selling huge
quantities of product and are joined by other soft good
manufacturers eager to cash in on skateboarding's growing
popularity.
1996
The Extreme Games are held again in
Rhode Island, once more exposing the sport to millions of
people.
IASC Director, Jim Fitzpatrick travels to Sacramento
several times to educate and lobby legislators to pass new
liability laws to provide municipalities the opportunity
to build public skateparks.
There are less than 10 public skateparks remaining in the
United States. By 2004, there are more than 2000
skateparks.
1997
Skateboarding is included in the Winter
X Games in the form of a crossover event that also
included in-line skating, bicycle stunt, and snowboarding.
1998
One of the biggest trends at work is
among soft goods. In the past, clothing fashions have
consistently reflected the changes influenced by those who
skate. Footwear is currently getting all the attention.
According to the 1998 TransWorld Skateboarding Business
Summer Retailer Survey, shoes represents 26.5 % of the
market share, followed by decks (26%), apparel (16%),
trucks (11.5%), wheels (11%), and accessories (9%).
1999
Interest in old school products and
skaters begins. Many old school skaters re-surface again
after years away from the limelight. Thanks to eBAY,
collectors can now purchase old skateboards and other
skate related memorabilia.
Towards the end of the 1990's,
skateboarding's focus remains streetstyle and the industry
is filled with numerous manufacturers and marketers. Many
pro skaters continue developing their own products and
manage their own companies. Longboarding, a forgotten art,
begins to make a comeback. Skateparks are being built once
again in California, partially due to a change in
legislation. Jim Fitzpatrick and the International
Association of Skateboard Companies ensure that other
states follow California, and more parks are scheduled for
construction over the next few years.
2000
The impact of media coverage on
skateboarding has moved it from an underground sport to a
more mainstream spectator sport over the last four years.
It brings an influx of companies and their advertising
dollars.
Skateboarders are now present in ad campaigns for products
from soft drinks to potato chips, candy to phone
companies. The primary focus of the sport remains in
street skating, as can be seen throughout both the
editorial and advertising pages of the major skateboard
magazines. Vertical skating makes a comeback, due in part
to the large number of new skateparks being built. These
skateparks give a boost to the skating community in many
towns.
2001
The documentary, Dogtown and Z-Boys is
released with rave reviews for this story of Dogtown's
history. The movie launches a new interest in Dogtown and
skateboarding's history. Directed by Stacy Peralta (an
original Z-Boy) and written by Stacy Peralta and Craig
Stecyk.
2002
Monty Little receives a lifetime
achievement award for his hard work and dedication to the
advancement of skateboarding in Canada.
Jim Fitzpatrick becomes the Executive Director of the
United Professional Skateboarders Association.
2004
The two main skateboard organizations
are the IASC (International Association of Skateboarding
Companies), and World Cup Skateboarding, which is the
leading competition organization. Skateboarding is
beginning to earn respect as professional athletes are
receiving greater amounts of purse money from contests.
Jim Fitzpatrick is named to the board of directors of USA
Skateboarding, with Tony Hawk and Don Bostick as
vice-presidents. Recognized as skateboarding's national
governing body, the organization works with the USOC and
the IOC in preparation for skateboarding to be included in
the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing, China.
George Powell and Stacy Peralta get back together again to
produce their once very successful Powell-Peralta product
line.
A new skateboard movie, Lords of Dogtown, is filmed this
year, and scheduled for release in 2005. The producers
consult many of the original Dogtowners to make the movie
as true to life as possible. The screenwriter is Stacy
Peralta, an original Z-Boy. The film is produced by
Indelible Pictures and Columbia TriStar, and distributed
through Sony Pictures.
2005
September - Surf and skateboard
photographer, Craig Fineman dies.
2006
January - Skateboard photographer, Gary
Medeiros dies.
January - Legendary surf and skate
filmmaker, Hal Jepsen dies.
September - Former editor and
photographer of Skateboarder Magazine, Warren Bolster dies
after a self-inflicted gun shot wound.
Sources and contributors
to date: Concrete Wave-The History of Skateboarding,
Skateboarder Magazine, Juice Magazine, Russ Howell, Dave
McIntyre, Dale Smith, Monty Little, Larry Gordon, Jim
O'Mahoney, Jon O'Malley, Peter Ducommun and Skull Skates,
Gordy Lienemann, Keith Hamm, Bob Feigel, Jim Fitzpatrick,
Woody Woodward, Mike Horelick, Mike Williams, and Jim
Goodrich
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