Skateboards have changed a lot since their first introduction. Home-made skateboards started to appear as early as the 1930s. During these years youngsters would create their own skateboards by attaching wheels to a plank of wood. Infrequently they would add a handle. It was not truly till the 1960s that the skateboard that we know today was introduced. They came out of the California surf culture of the time and were promoted as surfboards for pavement. These early skateboards had roller skate wheels attached to a wood plank. Examples of these were seen as early as 1958. Locate vintage skateboards here.
The 1960s saw an astonishing dramatic increase in the popularity of skateboards. There had been also some changes to their design that gave them improved style and handling. These new skateboards were wider and had a flatter bottom. The main producers of skateboards displayed their influence by the surf culture as they tried to recreate the feeling you got while surfing a wave. It probably did not take long for the trend to become widespread across the land.
The 1970s saw the biggest enhancements in the design of the skateboard. There was an incline added to the back of the skateboard which allowed for improved foot placement. Improved wheel spindles permitted for much greater speed on the skateboard while urethane wheels gave skateboard riders much larger traction on slippery surfaces. The boards themselves became about two inches wider. This gave skaters better control and foot placement options. Locate vintage skateboards for sale.
The 1980s saw the rise of an underground culture in skateboarding. As skaters where prohibited from using more public areas they started building their own ramps in backyards, driveways, and alleys. The wheel axles for skateboards became bigger and stronger and the boards became more flexible. These improvements allowed skaters to experience with new methods of balancing on the skateboard without being concerned about cracks and breaks.