Who Really Invented the Skateboard and How Long Have Humans Been Using It?

Source：AZ Animals Time：January 27, 2024

Skateboards are a fun way to get from point A to point B, indeed, for some they provide a means of carbon-free transportation! Their compact design makes for easy storage in a locker or to carry in a backpack. They were not born in a corporate boardroom but on the streets by a collective spirit in southern California looking to ride the waves when on land. Have you ever wondered who really invented the skateboard and how long have humans been using it? Read on for the answers plus other interesting facts about its origins.

No one knows who invented skateboards, however, it occurred sometime between the 1940s and the 1950s. Invented in Southern California, home of surfing, they provided a way to practice the sport when not out on the waves. Characterized by great economic growth, this post-war era saw an increasing youth culture and an interest in all things having to do with wheels. It was a time of self-expression and a rebellion against conformity.

Roller skates and scooters were popular at the time making the skateboard a natural by merging the two! Early skateboards were DIY inventions, handcrafted from disassembled roller skates nailed to planks of wood giving rise to “sidewalk-surfing!” These first skateboards were rudimentary at best and were more novelty than a mainstream sport. However, as time went on skateboarding became a combination of athleticism and artistry in an innovative rebellious way.

Early Skateboards

In the 1950s, Los Angeles surf shop owner, Bill Richard is credited with creating the first commercial skateboard. He used a set of Chicago Roller Skate Company wheels and attached them to custom-made wooden boards. The trend took off and soon people all over California were slashing, carving, and cruising their neighborhoods! Skateboarding tricks mimicked surfer moves on the waves. Early adopters used drainage ditches, homemade ramps, empty swimming pools, hills, and curbs for their tricks.

In 1969 Larry Stevenson invented the kicktail. This simple upward board curve allowed a whole new set of moves and offered greater maneuverability and control of the board. Skaters could do hippie jumps, manuals, and pivots. The invention of the double kicktail further improved the kicktail design by featuring a curved edge at both ends allowing for even more tricks. He is the inventor of the “Mahaha” skateboard. The Mahaha Skateboard company introduced several designs and the first professional-quality board that offered responsiveness, stability, and durability.

His belief in his invention led him to take out a patent on a design that mimicked the shape of a surfboard. He was also instrumental in establishing skateboard safety standards. Stevenson hosted one of the first skateboarding contests and the first skateboarding teams. For example, the Mahaha Skateboard Exhibition Team had some of the best riders of the day. These early contests were mainly downhill races and flat-ground freestyle. As a result, news spread to other regions of the country and skateboarding became popular as far away as New York City, and everywhere in between there and Los Angeles. In the 1960s and 1970s, the skateboard was gaining attention which is when the sport caught on in a big way.

What’s in a Name?

“Sidewalk surfing” as it was once called, referenced the desire surfers had to replicate riding waves while navigating the streets. The name also reflected the California culture where surfing is a lifestyle, a philosophy, and a community. Early skateboarders communicated the feeling of freedom and thrill drawing a parallel to surfing. As the sport became more popular the term skateboarding caught on and became its style and community. It soon grew into a subculture symbolizing innovation, rebellion, and freedom.

A Need Arose to Reinvent the Wheel

In the early days, there weren’t a lot of options for skateboard wheels, they were either metal roller skates or clay wheels. Metal was prone to sliding and clay didn’t last longer than a day before falling apart. Frank Nasworthy gave urethane wheels a try in the 1970s, and the improvement was noticeable. Soon polyurethane wheels became popular for their traction and stability offering greater control, higher speeds, and more precision carving. With a $700 investment, Nasworthy founded the Cadillac Wheels company named for their smooth ride transforming skateboarding overnight. The wheels, in fact, quickly became the major choice among skateboarders and manufacturers. Since then, the skateboard wheel has remained unchanged with very few improvements.

Improved Design

With the advent of polyurethane wheels people were seeking ways to improve the trucks to make them more flexible and lightweight. Independent Trucks, Tracker, and Bennet were a few of the early companies driving a wave of innovation. This further refined skateboarding to provide lighter boards, reduced speed wobble, and less wheel bite. Other changes made include absorbent bushings, stronger lock nuts, and higher kingpins. Other improvements include precision bearings and adjustable truck systems. Another issue skateboarders faced was grip. Early adopters would ride barefoot as if they were on a surfboard. However, on the streets this was impractical. They applied wax to the boards, commonly used on surfboards, to no avail. Surfers then tried Slip Check anti-slip spray in the 60s as well as resin and gravel which resulted in the creation of grip tape.

Deck Improvements

The boards used wood, originally, because it was accessible, affordable, and easy to shape into any design. For example, the Hobie Cat Company released the iconic wooden Hobie Skateboard in 1964. Later, people began to experiment with other materials such as plastic in the 70s which was more affordable but snapped under slight pressure. They also tried carbon fiber, and composites to provide optimal strength-to-weight ratios. And they experimented with fiberglass, used in surfboards, but it didn’t last. A return to wood resulted in the boards being made of layered maple wood. Plastic composite boards were also tried but they weren’t as popular as wood.

Skateparks were Born

With the advent of more and more people skateboarding on the streets and sidewalks of cities all over the country city officials began to receive complaints. Some thought it was a dangerous sport for children and others felt it was damaging their cities. Between 1976 and 1982 more than 200 skateparks popped up. Tucson, AZ was, oddly, the site of the first skatepark called Surf City and it featured concrete ramps and a long, winding snake run. As more and more skateparks began to surface some of the features they incorporated included fun boxes, pyramids, ledges, rails, and stair sets. Ultimately, California hosted most of the skate parks making skateboarding more accessible to the general population. As a result, demand reduced the cost of the boards, and production increased.

Tricks of the Trade

In 1978 Alan Gelfand invented the “ollie”, a hands-free jump done on vert ramps. This move led to a change in skateboarding where tricks became a major focus. In 1982, Rodney Mullen debuted the first flat-ground ollie and was dubbed the “Godfather of modern freestyle skating.” He developed many more tricks including the 360-flip, backside kickflip, impossible, heelflip, and kickflip. In fact, in 2011 Zoltan “The Magician” Torkos landed the kickflip for the first time on a surfboard!

Street Tricks

In the late 80s street skateboarding was very popular taking inspiration from early adopters but focusing on tricks. Skaters took the sport from the parks to the streets. What was once just a city hardscape now was a perfect platform for tricks by using curbs, picnic tables, statues, handrails, ledges, benches, and stair sets. Indeed, Philadelphia’s LOVE Park became a favorite spot. In urban settings when skateboarders interacted with these spaces, they reimagined what they could be used for but not their intended design. This is a further creative expression of the youth culture and their autonomy.

Back to the Drawing Board

To further perfect the skateboard for this newly discovered city skateboarding, the reduction of the original 10-inch-wide board down to seven or eight inches allowed for quicker turns during spins or flips, and it was easier to land. During the 80s and 90s changes to the wheels were also made, not in the material used but, in size. They were made harder, lighter, and smaller with labeling showing their hardness according to a durometer. Technical changes were also made to the boards to make them more conducive to flat-ground tricksters.

Socio-Cultural Impact

Influencing everything from music to fashion, skateboarding became a reflection of how subcultures influence mainstream paradigms. As an example, Vans once a skater brand became a fashion icon resonating with people beyond the skating community. The creation of branded shoes and skatewear for the sport provides flexible, practical, and durable clothing. The sport has had an impact on a lifestyle that values expression, agility, and authenticity. Music genres such as hip-hop and punk rock share these same values, skater videos often feature these genres creating a symbiotic relationship between the two.

Explosion of the Skate Culture

The popularity of skateboarding exploded in the 2000s with an estimated 10 million active skateboarders in the world. Since surfing magazines started mentioning the sport in the 60s and 70s and the development of the hand-held video camera, a rise in skate videos has emerged. Skate media has evolved from VHS tape to DVD and finally full digital media. Tony Hawk’s video games launched the sport into pop culture. Skateboard shops have been at the center of the boom where skaters can meet, get the latest gear, and stay up on trends.

In Conclusion

From “street surfing” to induction as an official Olympic event, its cultural significance is acknowledged marking the recognition of its global impact. The invention of the skateboard highlights the power of human creativity and exploration. Its development is a collective achievement spanning decades with countless contributions from individuals to companies. From a simple wooden plank with roller skate wheels nailed to it, skateboarding has evolved into a global phenomenon with its style, tricks, and subcultures. Inventions continually improved rideability pushing the boundaries of what can be done on four wheels.

Skateboarding has a rich culture of self-expression, art form, and connecting with others around the world. As it continues to evolve it remains a symbol of youth, freedom, and the pursuit of innovation. It is a testament to the allure of adventure and the desire of humanity to push the boundaries of what is possible.