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sk8
1980+
Skaters continue to skate, but in a more underground way. Small privately owned skateboard companies pop up, owned by skaters. These small companies encourage creativity in designs. Skateboarding evolves into an even more personal style of expression. -
sk8
1978
Alan Gelfand invents the Ollie. -
sk8
1972
Frank Nasworthy invents urethane skateboard wheels. Until this point, skaters used clay, or even metal wheels. These wheels spark new interest in skateboarding. -
sk8
1966+
Skateboarding continues, but with a lot fewer people skating. Skateboard companies die out one at a time, and skaters are forced to create much of their own equipment. -
sk8
1975
The Ocean Festival is held in Del Mar, California. It's a traditional freestyle and slalom contest, but the Zephyr team arrived and blew the contest away with a new agressive, innovative style of skateboarding. This event catapults skateboarding into the public eye. The most famous of these Zephyr team riders were Tony Alva, Jay Adams and Stacy Peralta -
sk8
1965
Skateboarding takes a sudden dive in popularity. Many people assume that skateboarding was just a fad. -
sk8
1963
Skateboarding reaches a peak in popularity. Skateboard brands have grown up, and start holding skateboarding competitions. -
sk8
1960+
The popularity of skateboarding grows rapidly as many non-surfers begin to skate. Skateboarding grows from street and pool riding to downhill slalom and freestyle -
sk8
1979
Skateboarding takes a second dive in popularity. Insurance rates for skate parks rise dramatically, and many skate parks have to close.
