Who would have thought the surfers' way of practicing away from the waves in the 1960 in California, would turn into a sport of its own conquering the world, decade after decade? In fact, skateboarding has grown into such a success, it's going to be included in the 2020 Olympics!
The path wasn't always smooth though, but much to the surprise of many it went from the hobby of the weirdos, to the hobby of the cool ones, despite parents' fears of how unsafe it may be.
The recipe for success in the early days of the sport came from the combination of empty swimming pools, the precursors of skateparks, and the more advanced urethane wheels that appeared in 1973, marking the skatepark era. Streets were no longer the limit!
Much has changed since then, in terms of the whole concept of pool riding skateboard models, with improvements being done in the design of both the wheels and the boards, so there's a greater range of options now in brands too.
Apart from the traditional popsicle shapes of boards, you can find those with unique rails, tails, noses, and carves, the so called shaped decks, specialised for the pools, also known as bowls, vert ramps, and transitional parks.
The courage to overcome challenges, trying to skate on the most inadequate of surfaces, resulted in the emerging of different styles of skateboarding, which then grew into disciplines of their own, leading to the appearance of various contests and associations around the globe.
The reason for this was there were many possibilities when it came to movements, some more difficult than others, and the wider variety of terrain there was, the wider the possibilities for skateboarding. In the eyes of a skater, any architectural surface is the chance to enhance manoeuvres and tricks.
No matter whether you're an OG skater, a beginner, park shredder up for pool riding skateboard, it's an all-inclusive sport, i.e. the sport of all generations, suitable for passionate boys and girls, men and women, regardless of age, who are willing to see what they're made of, conquering their fears through balancing and movements.
The popularity of skateboarding didn't just grow in the realms of sport, but also in fashion. There's something appealing about the laid-back style of skateboarding apparel, the cool shirts, hoodies, pants, sneakers, and hats, that conquers the hearts of many, even those who aren't skaters which explains why there are many specialised brands nowadays.
