| The very first skateboards were invented in the | | | | street skating and ramp skating. |
| late 1940s. Back then many kids ran around on | | | | Street skating, obviously is carried out on the |
| scooters, but these were expensive and although | | | | streets, but can also be carried out pretty much |
| popular not all kids could afford them. Some of | | | | anywhere where the surface is flat and smooth, |
| those kids who could not afford scooters simply | | | | such as car parks and schools. |
| destroyed their rollerskates and nailed the wheels | | | | Skate parks are custom-built for all the different |
| onto pieces of wood. They also nailed a piece of | | | | types of skating. The services are all smoothed, |
| wood to the front of this which was used as a | | | | generally made from concrete or wood. They are |
| handle. I guess most of these kids were not | | | | filled with various types of obstacles that the |
| excellent carpenters and these handles probably | | | | skaters can use tricks, grinds, and flips. |
| fell off pretty quickly, thus many kids end up | | | | An extreme form of street skating is called |
| riding around on just the wood and wheels. | | | | skateboard racing. This involves riders racing each |
| Surfers took up skating when there were no | | | | other down winding and often extremely steep |
| waves to surf on, and as a result of this | | | | roads. This can be extremely dangerous at |
| commercially made skateboards became available | | | | speeds of over 65 km an hour have been |
| in the 1950s. | | | | reached. |
| Skateboarding is now one of the fastest growing | | | | The two most popular forms of ramp skating, |
| sports in the world. Competitions are held on a | | | | are on vert ramps, or mini ramps. There are also |
| regular basis in almost all countries, and attract | | | | quarter pipes and other shaped ramps. Vert |
| hundreds of both amateur and professional | | | | ramps are generally about three to 4 m high and |
| competitors. These competitions are generally | | | | have a section of vertical transition at either end. |
| held in custom-built skate parks which can now be | | | | Only experienced skaters should attempt to ride |
| found in most major towns and cities. As a result | | | | one of these. Mini ramps are obviously much |
| of this increase in popularity special shoes and | | | | smaller and are easier to ride on, and this is |
| clothing have been made solely for skateboarders. | | | | where many skaters learn to ride before moving |
| There are basically two different types of skating, | | | | on. |