Shown in movies and commercials or seen on the side of roads and in skate parks, skateboarding is a relatively new sport, one that has made its way into mainstream American culture. It used to be difficult to find or create skating areas, but now cities are full of designated skating areas to accommodate skaters. Despite the plethora of skateboarders and skateboard companies today, the origins of skateboarding and the invention of the skateboard are shrouded in mystery.
It has been argued that the first skateboards arose in the 1930s and 1940s, when children rode in soap box cars attached to roller skates (or planks on roller skates). Removing the box from the deck would leave a deck on wheels or what might be called a skateboard deck. However, others suggest that the skateboard was an adaptation of a decommissioned roller skate, meaning the wheels were removed from a roller skate and then added to a board, a move that was influenced by surfers and their desire to recreate the movement of surfing on land. Both possible theories of origin have been argued in historical texts, magazines, and even on the big screen in documentaries and on the street.
However, we do know that the first retail skateboard appeared in 1958 and was marketed by Bill and Mark Richards of Dana Point, California. It was then mass-produced and remodeled in the 1960s. The blank, or deck, was often made in the shape of a surfboard out of solid wood or plastic. Some metal boards were also created. The wheels were often made of clay or steel and were less resistant than today’s version of the wheels.
Constructed of 7-ply cross-laminated maple, most decks are stable and can withstand everyday use and hard play. However, some shells are made from fiberglass, resin, Kevlar, bamboo, aluminum, or carbon fiber or plastic components to increase rigidity.
The average size deck is 8 inches wide. Some can be as small as 7 inches and others are as large as 10.5 inches. The width mainly depends on the style and preference. Street skating generally requires a 7.5″-8″ deck, while wider decks are used for trick skating. The average length of the board is 29 to 33 inches long. However, the longer decks are known as longboards and are quite common. They are much longer and do not have “kicktails” but are streamlined and intended for street skating on long stretches of road or downhill.
At the top of the platform, grip tape is used. Gives the skater the ability to “grip” the deck by creating friction. On one side of the grip tape is an adhesive that sticks to the deck. On the other side is a sandpaper-like top. While the overall feel and shape of a skateboard is fairly common, the main difference in decks is at the bottom of the deck. Covers can range from solid colors and patterns to graffiti covered art. Styles can include anything from logos, phrases, cartoon, movie, or comic book characters to original characters and themes such as aliens, music, animals, or skulls and crossbones.