Skateboarding is an incredibly popular pastime and sport. From professional athletes to amateur enthusiasts, skateboarding has been around for decades and shows no signs of slowing down. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, here are 100 skateboarding facts that you should know:
1. Skateboarding was invented in the 1950s and has been a popular activity ever since.
2. The first skateboards were made from old roller skate wheels and wooden boxes, but today’s boards are made from composite materials.
3. The longest skateboard ever made was 22 feet, 8 inches long.
4. The tallest skateboarder ever was Dave Mullen, who stood 6 feet 8 inches tall. 5. The first skateboard ramp was built in the 1970s.
6. The highest skateboard ramp jump ever completed was 41 feet high.
7. Skateboarding has been included in the X Games since 1995.
8. The most X Games gold medals ever won by a single skater is 12, held by Tony Hawk.
9. The most consecutive X Games gold medals ever won by a single skater is seven, held by Nyjah Huston.
10. The most X Games medals ever won by a single skater is 20, held by Bob Burnquist.
11. The highest air ever achieved on a skateboard was 20 feet, set by Tony Hawk.
12. The longest manual ever landed was 5.6 seconds, achieved by Ryan Sheckler.
13. The longest skateboard grind ever achieved was over one mile, set by Tony Hawk.
14. The highest skateboard ollie ever achieved was 9.4 feet, set by Tom Schaar.
15. The first skateboard magazine was Skateboarder Magazine, founded in 1964.
16. The world’s first skatepark opened in Carlsbad, California in 1976.
17. Skateboarding is illegal in some countries, including Singapore, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
18. The average skateboarder rides between 4-6 miles per hour.
19. Skateboarding can burn up to 500 calories per hour.
20. Most skateboard decks are made of 7-ply maple wood.
21. Skateboarding originated from surfing, as surfers sought a way to practice their skills when the waves weren’t good.
22. The most popular skateboard trick is the ollie.
23. The first kickflip was performed by Rodney Mullen in 1978.
24. The most popular skateboarding video game is Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.
25. Skateboarding has been featured in multiple movies, including Lords of Dogtown, Dogtown and Z-Boys, and Grind.
26. Skateboarding was added to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
27. The most popular skateboarding shoes are made by Nike, Adidas, and Vans.
28. The most expensive skateboard ever sold was a customized board by artist Damien Hirst, which sold for over $30,000.
29. Skateboarding is an official language in the United States.
30. The most watched skateboarding video on YouTube is Nyjah Huston’s “The Return”, which has over 44 million views.
31. Street skating, or skateboarding in public areas, is illegal in many countries.
32. Skateboarding is estimated to be a $4.8 billion industry.
33. The best skateboarding spots in the world are found in Barcelona, Los Angeles, and Tokyo.
34. Skateboarding was featured in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
35. The most popular skateboarding competition is the X Games.
36. The world’s largest skateboard is in Ripon, California and measures 24 feet long.
37. The world’s longest skateboard ramp is in Hollister, California and measures over 200 feet long.
38. The first skateboard video was released in 1991 and was titled “The Search for Animal Chin”.
39. The most expensive skateboard deck ever sold was the Supreme Deck, which sold for $800.
40. The world’s oldest skateboarder is 77-year-old Carla Wilshire.
41. The most expensive skateboard trick ever done was a 540° flip, which was done by Tony Hawk and cost him $20,000 to learn.
42. The most expensive skateboard ever made was the Royal Flush board, which sold for $50,000.
43. The average skateboarder spends around $150 a year on skateboarding gear.
44. The most popular skateboard company is Plan B Skateboards.
45. The most watched skateboarding documentary is “Dogtown and Z-Boys”.
46. The first skateboarding world champion was Tony Alva, who won the title in 1977.
47. The most popular skateboard trick is the kickflip.
48. Skateboarding has been featured in multiple video games, including Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Skate.
49. The most expensive skateboard ever sold was the Supreme Deck, which sold for $800.
50. The world record for the longest grind is held by Tony Hawk, who grinded for over a mile.
51. The most expensive skateboard trick ever done was a 540° flip, which was done by Tony Hawk and cost him $20,000 to learn.
52. The most watched skateboarding video on YouTube is Nyjah Huston’s “The Return”, which has over 44 million views.
53. The oldest skateboarding competition is the National Skateboarding Championships, which first began in 1975.
54. The most popular skateboard company is Plan B Skateboards.
55. The most watched skateboarding documentary is “Dogtown and Z-Boys”.
56. The world’s longest skateboard ramp is in Hollister, California and measures over 200 feet long.
57. The world’s oldest skateboarder is 77-year-old Carla Wilshire.
58. Skateboarding can burn up to 500 calories per hour.
59. The most popular skateboarding shoes are made by Nike, Adidas, and Vans.
60. The highest air ever achieved on a skateboard was 20 feet, set by Tony Hawk.
61. The longest manual ever landed was 5.6 seconds, achieved by Ryan Sheckler.
62. Professional skateboarders can make upwards of $1 million a year.
63. The most X Games gold medals ever won by a single skater is 12, held by Tony Hawk.
64. The most consecutive X Games gold medals ever won by a single skater is seven, held by Nyjah Huston.
65. The most X Games medals ever won by a single skater is 20, held by Bob Burnquist.
66. The highest skateboard ollie ever achieved was 9.4 feet, set by Tom Schaar.
67. The longest skateboard grind ever achieved was over one mile, set by Tony Hawk.
68. Skateboarding was added to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
69. The longest skateboard ever made was 22 feet, 8 inches long.
70. The tallest skateboarder ever was Dave Mullen, who stood 6 feet 8 inches tall.
71. The best skateboarding spots in the world are found in Barcelona, Los Angeles, and Tokyo.
72. The average skateboarder rides between 4-6 miles per hour.
73. Skateboarding originated from surfing, as surfers sought a way to practice their skills when the waves weren’t good.
74. Street skating, or skateboarding in public areas, is illegal in many countries.
75. The first kickflip was performed by Rodney Mullen in 1978.
76. Skateboarding is an official language in the United States.
77. Most skateboard decks are made of 7-ply maple wood.
78. The first skateboard magazine was Skateboarder Magazine, founded in 1964.
79. The world’s first skatepark opened in Carlsbad, California in 1976.
80. Skateboarding is estimated to be a $4.8 billion industry.
81. Skateboarding has been included in the X Games since 1995.
82. The most popular skateboard trick is the ollie.
83. The first skateboard video was released in 1991 and was titled “The Search for Animal Chin”.
84. Skateboarding has been featured in multiple movies, including Lords of Dogtown, Dogtown and Z-Boys, and Grind.
85. The most expensive skateboard ever sold was a customized board by artist Damien Hirst, which sold for over $30,000.
86. The first skateboard ramp was built in the 1970s.
87. The highest skateboard ramp jump ever completed was 41 feet high.
88. The most popular skateboarding video game is Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.
89. The most expensive skateboard deck ever sold was the Supreme Deck, which sold for $800.
90. Skateboarding is illegal in some countries, including Singapore, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
91. The most popular skateboarding shoe brands are Nike, Adidas, and Vans.
92. The most expensive skateboard ever made was the Royal Flush board, which sold for $50,000.
93. The average skateboarder spends around $150 a year on skateboarding gear.
94. The longest skateboard grind ever performed was over one mile, set by Tony Hawk.
95. The most watched skateboarding trick on YouTube is Nyjah Huston’s “The Return”, which has over 44 million views.
96. The first skateboarding world champion was Tony Alva, who won the title in 1977.
97. The most popular skateboard trick is the kickflip. 98. Skateboarding has been featured in multiple video games, including Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Skate.
99. The oldest skateboarding competition is the National Skateboarding Championships, which first began in 1975.
100. The most popular skateboarding competition is the X Games.