MAIN Recreation Sports Skateboarding

With continuous ups and downs in popularity since its beginnings in the 1950's, skateboarding first arose in the imaginations of American kids, whose first skateboards were homemade constructions of old skate wheels stuck to planks of plywood.

Despite the "oddball" reputation it endured, skateboarding finally went mainstream thanks to a major marketing push by Hobie, Makaha and other skateboard manufacturers that sprung up in the 1960's.

Skateboarding went on to enjoy varying levels of appeal - from outright craze to small pockets of localized enthusiasm - that has kept the sport kickflipping into the 21st century as both a competitive sport and weekend pasttime..

Major historical highlights include stunning tricks first performed in California in the 1970's by the famous Z-boys who skated the vertical walls of empty backyard swimming pools, in effect becoming the first vert skaters. This later led to even more dangerous tricks, such as slash grinds and frontside/backside airs.

While the skateboarding frenzy ebbed once again in the 1980's, the last two decades have nevertheless witnessed a steady interest in ever more exotic flips, jumps and aerials on urban streets. Today, homemade ramps are also popular in suburban backyards and shopping malls.

Around the Web, discover more about the topic at expert sites covering the history of skateboarding, tips and tricks to mastering basic moves, links to where to find skateboards and equipment online, along with busy forums, fan sites, image & video galleries ....

Transworld Skateboarding - One-stop browsing for the current Skateboarders Buying Guide, equipment reviews, action videos, pictures, news & feature stories on skateboarding stars and ambitious wannabe's, free newsletter sign-up.

How 2 Skate - Complete newbie guide with beginner tips and tricks, pictures & video, skateboard reviews, ramp plan instructions, glossary.

How to Skateboard - More basic moves with illustrated guides on how to ollie, nollie, kickflip, heelflip, boardslide and manual.

Skate Board City - Like it says, with everything you ever wanted to know including skateboarding tricks, feature articles, videos, picture gallery, ramp plans, and an off-the-hook community forum.

Dansworld Skateboarding - Pictures aplenty in galleries of visitor and professionally-submitted action photos, along with an excellent archive of related news stories & features.

The Skate Board Directory - Extensive resources if you're looking for skateboard, equipment and clothing makers, shops and manufacturers, online magazines and forums, skateboard stars and their fan sites, pro and amateur teams, pictures, videos and wallpapers.

Skateboarding - History, trivia and fun facts are all here at Wikipedia with more on current trends, tricks and stunts popular worldwide, with related links & resources.

also see -> Olympic Snowboarding

also see in Sports Stars -> Paul Rodriguez