While skateboard manufacturers made some improvements by fiddling with
On October 25, 2009 in Sports
Skateboards have been around in one way or another since the 1930s. At first they were homemade contraptions made by kids using roller skate wheels and pieces of wood. Next came skateboard kits which included wheels and wagons that would be mounted onto boards. Around 1960 we see the first fully assembled skateboard on the market. They originated out of the California surf culture and initially looked very much like surfboards on land. These days many folks collect vintage skateboards to both use and display.
Over the years since they were first introduced there were many improvements to the designs and materials used to provide skateboards. The first skateboard wheels were made of either metal or clay. While skateboard makers made some improvements by experimenting with different widths and materials the largest development in skateboard wheels came in the 1970s with the introduction of urethane wheels. These wheels brought much more interest to skateboarding and produced many new skateboard fans.
Another big change in the planning of vintage skateboards was the movement from wood to fiberglass and composite decks. Fiberglass proved to be a way more flexible and durable surface for skating than wood ever was. Fiberglass or fiberglass and wood laminated boards allows for the development of all sorts of new skateboard maneuvers that actually pushed the sport forward. Skaters were now able to put more weight on certain areas of the skateboard without caring about breaking it.
There are lots of different makers who became famous for their contribution to the development of skateboards. Roller Derby was one of the first manufactures of fully assembled skateboards. Plenty of their early designs were impressed by the feel and appear of surfboards. Hang ten produced a well-liked type of skateboard which was made from aluminum and featured aluminum wheels. The surfboard manufacturer Hobie actually had its own surfboards which included top of the tine components for glorious performance. Get vintage skateboards on sale here.