Skateboarding evolved over the years and had many setbacks along the way.

1950 - Boys attached wooden boxes or boards  to roller skates or skate wheels. Late 50s skateboarding begins to evolve with surfers in California who want  to take surfing to the streets. The boxes turned into planks which eventually turned into decks. Therefore, no one person can take credit for inventing the first skateboard; it was a collective effort.

1960 - The early 60s brings the first manufactured skateboard and it allows more to join in the sport.  Bill Richard, a surf shop owner in California, made a deal with the Chicago Roller Skate Company to produce sets of skate wheels. They then attached the wheels to square wooden boards.  This new fad became known as Sidewalk Surfing. In 1964, the musical group Jan and Dean create a song called "Sidewalk Surfing."  By 1965 companies were having difficulty keeping up with the demand. The popularity of skateboarding grows rapidly as  non-surfers begin to skate. Skateboarding grows from street to pool riding to downhill slalom and freestyle. National Skateboard Championships are held in Anaheim, and it is televised on ABC's "Wide World of Sports."  Surfer Magazine creates a quarterly magazine called Skateboarder.   Life magazine features skateboarder, Pat McGee, on the cover.  Yet by 1966 the popularity of skateboarding dropped, companies fold and most believe it was just a fad but people keep skating.

1970 -  Frank Nasworthy invented urethane skateboard wheels, which are similar to what most skaters use today, and the invention sparked a new interest in skateboarding.  More attention was given to design and the size and shape of boards became more varied. These new wheels gripped the concrete so skating opportunities expand, some skate in empty swimming pools and other vertical surfaces.  Street skating is in high gear, public skate parks are developed and new tricks are invented daily.  However the late 70s resulted in parks closing due to lack of interest and high insurance rates.  Once again skateboarding faced a crash in popularity but some skaters kept skating.
 

1990 -  In 1995 ESPN's Extreme Games becomes a spectator sport and skateboarding becomes a rage.  Skating appears in commercials and fashion trends begin to reflect the influence of the skating crowd.

2000 - Skateboarding is now one of the hottest sports around. It is the third most popular sport with teenagers just after football and basketball. Today, skate parks are a common site, skate clothing is cool, and lessons/camps are available for young skaters.