Skateboarding exploded on the scene during the 1950s when Californian surfers took to dry land for ‘sidewalk surfing’ when the seas were calm.
It hasn’t looked back, and has gone from being a popular pastime for streetwise kids to becoming an official part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic roster, helping the International Olympic Committee to reach out to a whole new generation of young fans.
It’s inclusion in the inaugural ANOC World Beach Games Qatar 2019 was a natural choice and we can expect 41 of the world’s best to make their mark ahead of next summer’s Olympic introduction. The 2019 world champion Haymana Raynolds from USA and the bronze medallist Sky Brown from GBR will compete at the Aspire Zone Skateboarding Park from October 14-15.
The skateboard ‘decks’ are usually made of maple plywood, but can also be constructed of aluminium, nylon, Plexiglas, fiberglass, foam, and other artificial materials. They are usually decorated by screen printing.
Among the popular manoeuvres is the ‘Ollie’, created by Alan Ollie Gelfand in 1978.
Big names of the sport include Tony Hawk who was the first to skateboard on the White House grounds, and Patti McGee, who was the first female professional skateboarder to be inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame.
The sport is credited with increasing concentration as well as improving hand-eye coordination, metabolism and balance.
Skateboarding is one of 13 sports that is included in the 1st ANOC World Beach Games Qatar 2019.
