The most recognized iconic moments in skateboardings history span several decades. Here’s a list of some of the most important ones…
Clay Wheels
Clay wheels are introduced to skateboarding in 1956 by the Chicago Roller Skate Co. A clay and rubber mix is compressed and vulcanized for a hard smoother riding wheel
The First Mass Produced Skateboard
John Frances Humphrey makes the first mass produced skateboard. He becomes the first licensee of a skateboard patent after going into businss with Albert C. Boyden to produce the Humco Surfer in 1963.
Makaha Skateboards Production started up
Makaha and Jim Fitzpatrick introduce skateboarding to Europe
16 year-old Jim Fitzpatrick introduces skateboarding to Europe with 12 clay-wheeled Makaha skateboards—he tours 11 countries, skateboarding wherever he finds streets without cobblestones.
The Worlds First Skate Board Raceway (Skatepark) opens in La Mesa CA
In 1964, the Skateboard Raceway was added to the mall parking lot in front of Montgomery Wards. The grand opening included a demo by SHoF Inductee Tommy Ryan.
Skateboarder Magazine is introduced!
Surfer Magazine launches Skateboarder Magazine and it hits newsstands across America. It lasted only 4 quarterly issues but it was a good start. (Issue’s are in our archive)
Patti McGee on the cover of Life Magazine May 1965
1st National Skateboarding Championships
May 22–23, 1965, at La Palma Stadium in Anaheim, California. Women competed in Tricks, Figure Eight, and Flatland Slalom. Men competed in Downhill Slalom, Tricks, Figure Eight, and Flatland Slalom. Full details in Skateboarder Magazine Vol. 1 #3 – August 1965 starting on page 16 here
The first skateboard movie, “Skaterdater” is released
It wins the Paime d’Or – Best Short Film, and the Technical Grand Prize awards at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival.
‘The Devil’s Toy’ movie is released
The National Film Board of Canada releases, “The Devil’s Toy,” a documentary movie about the skateboarding craze in Montreal, Quebec.
Vans Shoes begins manufacturing
Jim and Paul Van Doren build a shoe factory in Anaheim and begin a skateboarding dynasty.
Larry Stevenson files Patent for the kicktail
The Patent, U.S. Patent #3,565,454, was applied for June 12, 1969 and was approved in 1971
Frank Nasworthy introduces Cadillac Wheels
The first urethane wheels hit the skateboarding market and changed the trajectory of skateboarding forever.
Bennet Trucks
Ron Bennett builds one of the first skateboard trucks specifically designed for skateboarding.
Skateboarder Magazine Resurfaces
Volume 2 Issue #1 for the Summer of 1975. This becomes the skateboarders Bible (Maybe this is the old testament and Thrasher is the new testament?!)
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Free Former World Professional Skateboard Championships
This was a bigtime production! Mens and Womens Freestyle and Slalom and also a consecutive 360 contest with a $20,000 purse.
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Movie “Freewheelin’” is released
Produced by Scott Dittrich, and stars Stacy Peralta, Camille Darrin, Russ Howell, Kenny Means, Tom Sims and Mike Weed.
Legendary Upland Pipeline Skatepark Opens
Unveiled by Stan and Jeanne Hoffman in May 1977 and dubbed “the world’s first vertical skatepark,” the Pipeline sought to capitalize on the emergence of vertical backyard pool riding
Legendary Kona Skatepark Opens
Martin and Helen Ramos and investors opened the skatepark. The original attractions were a pro bowl with a six-foot vertical “tombstone”, a freestyle area, plus snake and J-runs with cruising features including banked curves and speed runs. To this day(2026) it is the longest running commercial skatepark still open.
Skateboard World Magazine Debuts
First published in June 1977 under the editorship of Jill Sherman. Started as a bi-monthly but went monthly by issue 2. until February 1979
Steve Alba wins first Vert Bowl contest
15 year old Steve Alba takes the first bowl contest ever at the Hester ISA Pro Bowl Series #1, at Skateboard Heaven skatepark in Spring Valley, California.
Independent Trucks was founded
Independent was created by Fausto Vitello and Eric Swenson, along with Richard Novak and Jay Shuirman, in 1978
Thrasher Magazine Debuts
The beginning of the iconic ‘Skateboarding Bible’
Action Now (Skateboarder) Magazine ceases publication
February 1982 was the last issue.
Transworld Skateboarding Magazine debuts
Larry Balma and Peggy Cozens begin publishing Transworld Skateboarding magazine
The Bones Brigade Video Show gets released by Powell Peralta
The first skateboarding video was released by Powell-Peralta and filmed and edited by Stacy Peralta. It forever changed the way skateboarding companies marketed their products.
Mike McGill Invents the McTwist
Swedish Summer camp in 1984 is where vert skateboarding took a huge step when McGill blew everyones mind and landed this amazing new trick.
BMX Action Mag launches in the UK
BMX Mag launched in the UK but it quickly adopted a new name RAD as it quickly brought skateboarding coverage.
Gleaming the Cube Movie Released
Starring Christian Slater
A young avid skateboarder uncovers a conspiracy while investigating his adoptive brother’s mysterious death.
Skateboard Recession
The 1990’s saw skateboarding sales tumble downhill fast. Companies tightened their belts once again. Skateboarding was transitioning away from vert to street as almost all the vert ramps closed down.
Slap Magazine is launched
Slap Magazine, created by Kevin Thatcher and Fausto Vitello, begin its run and goes until 2008
411VM is launched
The legendary 411VM Skateboarding Video Magazine on VHS tapes was launched by Steve Douglas, Josh Friedberg, Chris Ortiz
Movies Released
411 – 4, 411 – 5, 411 – 6, 411 – 7, 411 – 8, 411 – Best of #1, Acme – Unedited, Blockhead – Girl Trouble, Channel one – Intermission, Church of Skatan – Who Farted, Creature – I Was a Teenage Skateboarder, Element – Underworld Element, Fine artists, Entity skateboards – Livin’ that Dream, Evol – Back in Black, Forties – Amigos, Foundation – Barbarians at the Gate, Foundation – Tentacles of Destruction, Giant – Eastern exposure 2, Gullwing – Revival, High Voltage – Child Games, Hook Ups – Asian Goddess, Invisible – Memoirs of the Invisible Team, Mad Circle – Let The horns Blow, Mike Manzoori – Sound & Vision, Münster – Münster Mastership 1994, New Deal – Children of the Sun, Perpetual – Trixx are 4 Kids, Plan B – Second Hand Smoke, Planet Earth – Cat’s Cradle, Powell – 13 Suburban Diners, Prime – fight fire with fire, Santa Cruz – SCSVM, Shaft – A Day in the Life, Stereo – A Visual Sound, sub zero – real life, The Firm – The Firm, Think – Just Another Day On The Range, Thrasher – 03 Sponsor Me, Thrasher – 04 On the Road, Toy Machine – Live, TWS – Triple S, The Dreams of Children, Union wheels – Hunt yourself, Volcom Snowboard – The Garden, World – 20 Shot Sequence
Compiled by The Skate Video Vault
I.A.S.C. is founded
Formed in 1995, IASC is a diverse group of skateboard manufacturers, distributors, contest organizers, private skateparks, and individuals. A collaboration of people passionate about skateboarding- with the single aim of protecting the integrity of skateboarding and pushing skateboarding forward on a global level.
Extreme Games Debut
X Games, originally called the Extreme Games, took place from June 24 to July 1, 1995, in Rhode Island. It aired on National (USA) TV on ESPN & ESPN2. Tony Hawk (vert) & Chris Senn (street) win the gold medals.
Tony Hawk Lands the 900 at X Games
Tony Hawk gripped the nation on live TV as he drove the X Games into overtime and they let the cameras roll. He landed the 900 and the nation was there to witness!
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was released by Activision
This video game was a massive hit and introduced skateboarding to a whole generation via a video game console. There’s about a dozen sequel’s.
Old School Skate Jam #1 – 2001
The Skateboard Mag is launched
After a large scale fallout at Transworld Skateboarding Magazine, J. Grant Brittain, Dave Swift & Mike Mihaly regrouped and got this new high quality skate mag off the ground. Danny Way is on the first cover. It ran until October 7, 2014 when the Berrics bought it and stopped the printed publication but kept the online presence going.
Pro-Tec Pool Party is launched
Vans Shoes and Pro-tec Skateboarding gear launched one of the biggest annual skateboarding bowl contest ever. Each event was held in the Combi Pool (Upland Pipeline Skatepark Combi Pool Replica) at Vans Skatepark in Orange CA. The last one took place in 2025 before the Combi pool was finally completely destoryed.
The Berrics is Founded
Steve Berra and Eric Koston turned their private skatepark into a website phenomenon within 2 years becoming more visited then all other skateboarding websites including the skate mags.
2009 Inaugural Skateboarding Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The 1st Class of Skateboarding Hall of Famers were inducted at Vans Skatepark in Orange CA.
Skateboarding Enters the Olympics
Skaters compete for medals for the 1st time in Japan in 2020. Bummer that it was at the peak of covid and there was no audience to hype it up.
Chris Joslin 360 Flips El Toro
Every skater took notice of the gnarliness accomplished today! Chris Joslin, straight to the cover of Thrasher Mag on this one.
China Banks Final Session
This legendary San Francisco Spot held a farewell session for the ages as skaters from all over the place converged to kiss it goodbye.