Skateboarding (or short skateboarding) is a sport that consists of moving on a board on the ground or on surfaces enabled for its practice such as ramps, pots or bars among many others. During the movement you can perform several tricks, these tricks consist of lifting the table from the ground and doing figures, positions or pirouettes in the air. Beginnings of skateboarding The first skaters emerged in the late 1940s by California surfers who realized during the days without waves that they did not have the option of practicing their favorite sport. Nobody knows for sure who created the first board since several surfers had similar ideas at the same time. The first skateboards made were made by a Los Angeles, California surf shop and were more similar to a surfboard with roller blades. The idea was for surfers to have something to entertain themselves during downtime. This is why at first skateboarding was considered like surfing in the street and the first skaters had a more surfer technique than today. In the 1960s, small surfboard manufacturers in Southern California began to build skateboards more professionally. Teams began to be assembled to sponsor the sport. Also, a little American TV show called "Surf's Up" helped promote skateboarding as something new, fresh, and fun to do among young people. 1970s: the evolution of skateboarding During the 70s, various improvements in the construction of skateboards began to be developed, starting with new wheels made of polyurethane much lighter than the existing ones up to that moment that were more metallic. This change was vital in the popularization of skateboarding, since these new wheels significantly improved traction and grip, which made movements on the board more agile and dynamic. It is here where the technique on the skateboard begins to evolve as a new style different from surfing. During this stage, skateparks did not yet exist, so skaters gathered in urban places such as reservoirs, swimming pools, esplanades, stairs and railings. This beginning is what makes skateboarding an urban and alternative sport since while other sports have their specific space to practice it, it is practiced in any urban area where the conditions exist to be able to skate on the board. In the mid-1970s many companies began to manufacture axles especially for the new style of skateboard that had just been born with the change of the new wheels. And as the skateboard became more manageable, the boards began to get wider in order to have more control of movements. At the end of the 70s they began to hold skateboarding contests and it was here that some skaters began to live more or less professionally since the contests gave cash prizes to the participants. Especially relevant was the "The California Free Former World Professional Skateboard Championships" contest, which originally featured Freestyle and Slalom competitions. At this stage it was also when the descent by skateboarding on mountain roads began to become popular, in fact these descents began to count in the Guinness book of records with the first descending speeds of 80 km / h on the skateboard. Many skaters, in their eagerness to overcome these records and due to the quality of the axles, wheels and boards at that time, had dramatic accidents which did not help the reputation of skateboarding since it was also not common to use protections such as helmets. knee pads, gloves, wrist or elbow pads. In March 1976 a historic event occurs: the first two skateparks in the world are built. Specifically in Port Orange, Florida and in San Diego, California. They were inaugurated just one week apart. In the next five years, more than 200 skateparks were built since it was considered a good investment for society. Manufacturers began to experiment with new compounds such as fiberglass and aluminum, although normal skates were still made of increasingly lightweight maple wood. With all these improvements in the boards the skaters began to invent new tricks, much more acrobatic and even dangerous in some cases. Skateboarding today
During the 2000s, skateboarding was so popular in the United States that more young people under the age of 18 were skateboarding than playing baseball, even though the sports promoted in schools were still team sports. It is here that some schools begin to implement in their sports programs related to skate what helps students to avoid truancy improves discipline and confidence. They also promote skateboarding as a healthy activity for the strengthening of muscles and bones by health authorities. Another positive impact that psychologists realize is that skateboarding improves respect among young people and helps them connect socially with other people within the good atmosphere generated by this sport. In 2003, Go Skateboarding Day was founded in Southern California by the International Association of Skateboard Companies to promote skateboarding around the world. It is celebrated annually on June 21. At SkateSpain we also celebrate it with offers for skaters. Currently, more and more cities and towns have skatepark construction projects in their urban planning and green areas plans since the benefits that skateboarding brings to society have already been widely demonstrated. One of the largest skateparks built in the world is in China and has 12m2 with 5000 seats in the stands. In recent years, barefoot board skating has been reborn (remember that the first skateboards similar to surfboards were in many cases skating barefoot) due to the heat in summer in hotter countries or the possibility of walking around the beach, although the best option is still to use suitable skate shoes as they allow better grip and traction with the deck of the board. For this, brands such as Vans, DC Shoes, Globe or recently Nike SB manufacture specific models for skateboarding. In addition, these models are designed to be fashionable, so it is not necessary to skate to wear them. The quality and comfort are such that they are perfect for any occasion. After a long time being demanded by more and more public, finally on August 3, 2016 the IOC approved the incorporation of skateboarding as an Olympic sport. It will be in Tokyo 2020 when we will have the opportunity to see one of the best sports competitions.
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