Surfers invented skateboards for the days of boring waves. Today there are many more millions of skaters than surfers in the world.
In the 1950s, surfers in Southern California got creative when the waves were too small to surf. They took roller skates apart and attached them to a board to create an early version of the skateboard. Later in 1959, Roller Derby launched the first mass-produced skateboard, and in the 1970s, American soldiers brought the trend to Germany, allowing it to start to spread globally.
As waves were no more a limiting factor, the creativity of skateboarders exploded. By combining elements of the world like rails and sidewalks, humans invented hundreds of tricks that you can do with a board with four wheels. The easy access, with just the need for a relatively inexpensive board, led to its popularity rise, especially among the youth, with more than 75% of California skaters under 18. Its young popularity helped it make it to the Olympics, starting with the 2020 edition in Tokyo, hoping to draw more young interest in the event.
The story of the skateboard shows that human creativity is limitless. From humble beginnings, people can create new sports, art, and inventions that change the world.
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