Skateboarding originated in the 1950s in California when surfers wanted an activity to do when waves were flat. Early skateboards consisted of wooden boxes attached to a plank with roller skate wheels. Skateboarding declined in popularity in the mid-1960s but innovations like kicktails in the 1970s and urethane wheels allowed new tricks. In the 1980s, skaters started their own companies and the sport grew in popularity with more media coverage, becoming a spectator sport. The ollie, invented in 1976, revolutionized skateboarding by allowing aerial maneuvers. Tony Hawk began skateboarding at age 9 and became a professional champion by 14, regarded as the best in the world by

1. By: Ryan Edmond

2. Skateboarding was born in the
early 1950’s when surfers in
California wanted something to
surf when the waves were flat.
These first skateboarders
started with wooden
boxes attached to a 30
inch two-by-four with
roller skate wheels
attached on the bottom.

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAyYk_e
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4. In the mid 1960’s, skateboarding
started to become less popular.
People thought it was another fad
that would die out. Companies
started to shut down and those who
loved skateboarding had to make
their boards from scratch.

5. In the 1970’s, kicktail's on skateboards were invented by Larry
Stevenson. With this kicktail, skateboarders were able to
invent and land new tricks. Also in the 1970’s, urethane wheels
were invented. They provided much better traction and speed.
Skateboarders would skate in empty pools and cylindrical
pipes for the first time.

6. During the 1980′s, skateboarders started to create their
own skateboard company. These were smaller companies
but this enabled each company to be creative and do
whatever they wanted – creating new styles and shapes
of skateboards.

7. Skateboarding had become more and
more popular each year. The impact of
media coverage on skateboarding has
moved it from an underground sport to a
spectator sport.

8. In 1976, Alan Gelfand invented the Ollie. He named the
trick after his nickname “Ollie”. The Ollie is the single
trick that completely revolutionized skateboarding .

9. BASIC INFO:
Birthdate: May 12, 1968
Birth place: San Diego, California
Tony was 9 years old when he first started skateboarding. When he was 12, he was
winning amateur contests throughout California, at 14 he turned pro, and at 16 he
was widely regarded as the best competitive skateboarder in the world. By the time
he was 25, he’d competed in 103 pro contests, winning 73 of them. Tony was the first
skater to land the 900.