WORLDWIDE, the phenomenon of skateboarding history is full of key moments and figures, some of which the regular Joe might not even recognize.
Skateboarding was first started in the 1950s, when all across California surfers got the idea of trying to surf the streets. No one really knows who made the first board. It seems that several people came up with similar ideas at the same time. Several people have claimed to have the first invented skateboard, but nothing can be proved and skateboarding remains a strange, spontaneous creation.
Imagine the first skateboards: wooden boxes or boards slapped with wheels at the bottom.
In 1963, skateboarding reached its peak of popularity and companies started holding skateboarding competitions and, at this time, these competitions were either mostly downhill slalom or freestyle.
An evolutionary boost toward skateboarding as we see it today took its turn in 1975 where a team called Zephyr showed the world what skateboarding could be—they rode their boards low and smooth. All of a sudden a hobby took the leap into something exciting, edgy and serious.
Through the 80s and the 90s, skateboarding took some serious beating, diving and then skyrocketing in popularity. In 1995, ESPN held their first Extreme Games, in Rhode Island, USA.
The first X Games was a huge success, and helped pull skateboarding closer to the mainstream, and closer to being accepted by the general population. But through its ups and downs, the sport is consistently evolving with companies making newer, lighter and stronger boards for better performance. Skaters are always coming up with new tricks and with these changes come the right shoes and fashion and always, there are new skaters from everywhere in the world. Take Cebu’s very own skaters who come up with their own skating magic on the streets or at the Visioneri Landskate right in the heart of Valleyview Subdivision in Mohon, Talisay.
DC Shoes USA recently gave Cebuano skaters a chance to show their prowess in a US DC Pro-Rider Demo + Skateboard Competition, on March 4 at the Visioneri Landskate. Seven professional skaters of DC were on hand. The competition was well attended with skaters from Cebu and other enthusiasts who flew in from other parts of Visayas just to compete! The word “awesome” comes to mind with the aerials, flips and grinds executed by the competitors all over the place. The next day, the awarding of winners in the competition took place at the Active Zone of Ayala Center Cebu. There was also a meet-and-greet with the DC Pro-Riders. This event is one for the books of Pinoy skate history, that’s for sure.