Skateboard

 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 -- instead, it seems that several people came up with similar ideas at the same time. Several people have claimed to have invented the skateboard first, but nothing can be proved, and skateboarding remains a strange spontaneous creation.

These first skateboarders started with wooden boxes or boards with roller skate wheels slapped on the bottom. Like you might imagine, a lot of people got hurt in skateboarding's early years! It was a sport just being born and discovered, so anything went. The boxes turned into planks, and eventually companies were producing decks of pressed layers of wood -- similar to the skateboard decks of today. During this time, skateboarding was seen as something to do for fun after surfing.

Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard. Skateboarding can also be considered a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation.Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report found that there were 18.5 million skateboarders in the world. 85% of skateboarders polled who had used a board in the last year were under the age of 18, and 74% were male.

Skateboarding is relatively modern. Since the 1970s, skateparks have been constructed specifically for use by skateboarders, bikers and inline skaters.These first “skateboarders” started with wooden boxes attached to about a 30 inch two-by-four with roller skate wheels attached at the on the bottom. It was a sport just being born and discovered, so anything went. The boxes turned into planks, and eventually companies were skateboarding companies were created who then started producing skateboard decks which consisted of pressed layers of maple wood — similar to the skateboard decks of today. During this time, skateboarding was seen as something to do as a warm up on the way to a surf spot or just for fun after surfing.

In 1963, skateboarding became a highly sought after hobby which is when its popularity peaked, and skateboard companies started holding skateboarding competitions. At this time, skateboarding was mostly either downhill slalom or freestyle competition. The kind of skateboarding tricks that were performed at this time looked almost completely different from what skateboarding looks like today! The style of skateboarding at the time was called “freestyle” and is more like dancing ballet or ice skating with a skateboard.

Then, in 1965, skateboarding’s popularity suddenly took a dive. Most people assumed that skateboarding was another fad that had died out. Skateboard companies started shutting down production, and those who were still dedicated to the sport had to again make their own skateboards from scratch. How to make a basic trick "ollie"? In brief:

1. Place your feet
2. Crouch at the knees
3. Jump quickly and
4. Pop hard at the same time
5. Rise with the board
6. Level it out a bit
7. Start coming back down
8. Land on the board and crouch your knees for balance

The key is to time leaving the ground with the pop of the tail.

In detail:

1. Place your feet
Put your back foot on the tail with the curve of your foot matched up with the curve of the tail.Put your front foot just in front of the midpoint of the board. The ball of your foot (just behind your big toe) should be over the middle of your board in the imaginary line between the bolts. Turn both feet to a duck stance with the heels just slightly closer than the toes. It looks like a ducks feet. Kind of pointed out a bit.

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2. Crouch properly
To crouch down bend your knees and not your back. Crouch down a few inches, enough to jump off the board. You do not need to crouch down to the ground. You are not trying to jump the Empire State Building.

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3. Start the jump
Once couched don’t waste time. Begin jumping and begin to pop the board like in the next step.

This is the tough part for timing. If you have practiced this part separately it will comemuch easier.

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4. Pop hard
Straighten out the back leg and pull the front leg up so you can pop that tail hard. You will feel the snap through your whole body. It feels good!

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5. Rise with the board
Suck your legs up to get height. Bring your knees up to your chest in the air.

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6. Level it out a bit
Nearing the full height start pointing your front foot down. Straighten the front leg a bit to level out with the back foot. It will make the back foot stick better when you raise you back foot up higher. If you have leveled the front down then the back will stick and rise up with your foot.

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7. Start coming back down
Point the front foot more, lift the back foot and hold for a fraction of a second.

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8. Land on the board and stay on
Straighten the legs and push the board back to the ground. Just stay over the board now and get your feet and wheels back down on the ground.

When the wheels get to the ground bend your knees to adsorb shock and keep your balance.

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If you follow all of these steps you will have done an ollie. It may not be big but that comes with practice.

The key is to time leaving the ground with the pop of the tail.