Skateboarding: Defying Physics & Freaking Out Parents for 60+ Years
Episode: 🛹 Skateboard: Defying Physics & Freaking Out Parents for 60+ Years | 42
Release Date: July 29, 2025
Hosts: Nick Martell & Jack Crivici-Kramer
Introduction: The Rebel Toy That Shaped Culture
Nick Martell and Jack Crivici-Kramer delve into the fascinating history of the skateboard, a simple yet revolutionary invention that has influenced generations of fashion, culture, and music. They explore how a wooden plank with four wheels transcended its origins to become a symbol of teen rebellion and a staple in various subcultures.
Origins of Skateboarding: From Surfboards to Sidewalks
[04:14] Jack Crivici-Kramer: "This is Venice Beach, California, summer of 1962... sits 30-year-old lifeguard Larry Stevenson."
Larry Stevenson, a passionate surfer and lifeguard, observed surfers struggling with flat days and low swells. Inspired by their creativity, he began experimenting with surfboard-like planks on wheels, leading to the creation of one of the first commercial skateboards under the brand Makaha Skateboards.
[06:06] Nick Martell: "Larry's garage starts looking like the SoCal version of Santa's workshop."
With the collaboration of his wife Ellen, Larry developed prototypes and launched Makaha Skateboards in 1963, pricing them competitively to attract budding skaters. To promote the sport, Larry utilized his publishing venture, Surf Guide, to write about the emerging sidewalk surfing scene, effectively creating a new industry.
The Rise and First Boom: Pro Skateboarding and Media Attention
[08:10] Jack Crivici-Kramer: "The competition is pretty chill... the whole thing gets written up in Surf Guide."
In fall 1963, Makaha sponsored the first pro skateboarding team and organized official competitions, which propelled skateboarding into the spotlight. A pivotal figure emerged: Patty McGee, a fearless 19-year-old skater who captivated audiences with her daring stunts.
[10:10] Nick Martell: "Patty said this stunt involved, quote, no helmet, no pads, no shoes, and no brains."
Patty's charismatic performances, including a record-setting speed run and a feature in Life magazine, made her skateboarding's first national star. Her visibility drew attention but also sparked backlash from health associations and authorities, labeling skateboarding a "medical menace" and leading to widespread bans.
Innovation Amidst Backlash: Saving the Sport
[18:06] Jack Crivici-Kramer: "But skateboarding's biggest economic impact isn't in the boards... it's in the spin-off culture around skateboarding."
Despite the initial boom and subsequent bust in skateboarding's popularity during the 1960s, Larry Stevenson introduced the kicktail in 1969—a pivotal innovation that enhanced maneuverability and safety. This advancement allowed skaters to perform complex tricks like the ollie and kickflip, revitalizing the sport and paving the way for future generations.
[19:11] Nick Martell: "Rodney invented [the ollie]. He also invented the 360 flip, the finger flip, the pogo, and so many other tricks."
The Bones Brigade and the Media Explosion
[23:18] Nick Martell: "The Bones Brigade."
Stacy Peralta's Bones Brigade, a competitive skateboard team sponsored by Powell Peralta, became instrumental in popularizing skateboarding through media. The group's amateur film, highlighting skaters like Rodney Mullen and a young Tony Hawk, became a viral sensation in the pre-digital age, selling 30,000 copies and significantly boosting skateboarding's appeal.
[28:20] Jack Crivici-Kramer: "This first tape sells 30,000 copies... creating a whole flywheel of interest."
The Bones Brigade's influence led to massive sales, global recognition, and established skateboarding as a mainstream cultural force. Figures like Tony Hawk emerged, pushing the boundaries of the sport and embedding skateboarding deeply into popular culture.
Cultural Integration and Commercial Success
[36:20] Nick Martell: "The leader of this pack would probably be the sneaker brand Vans."
Skateboarding's impact extended beyond the sport itself, influencing fashion brands like Vans and Supreme, and spawning bestselling video games such as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, which alone generated $1.4 billion in sales. The sport's integration into media and fashion solidified its cultural significance.
[37:52] Jack Crivici-Kramer: "Skateboarding may have started as a lo-fi hobby... today skateboarding has achieved cultural significance and full-on sports legitimacy."
The inclusion of skateboarding in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics marked its global acceptance and elevated its status as a legitimate competitive sport, ensuring its enduring presence in the athletic and cultural landscape.
Business Insights: The Five Forces of Skateboarding
[38:33] Nick Martell: "Respect the five forces of business... Competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, threat of substitution, and threat of new entry."
Applying Michael Porter's Five Forces Framework, the hosts analyze skateboarding's unique business dynamics. High competitive rivalry and low barriers to entry initially hampered profits from board sales alone. However, the emergence of media spin-offs like the X Games and video games created significant supplier power, underpinning the industry's profitability.
[39:10] Jack Crivici-Kramer: "If one guy makes a great skateboard, another guy can make the same skateboard for a dollar less."
Media partnerships and exclusive endorsements, such as Tony Hawk's association with Pro Skater, monopolized market segments, driving substantial revenue beyond the sale of physical boards.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Skateboarding
[38:19] Nick Martell: "And unlike Pet Rock's pogo sticks or Jack's obsession with the twist, skateboarding ain't going anywhere."
Skateboarding's resilience is attributed to its deep-rooted underground community and its symbolic representation of rebellion. Its ability to adapt through continuous innovation and media integration has ensured its lasting impact on both business and culture.
[40:30] Jack Crivici-Kramer: "So again, the best thing that ever happened to the skateboard was it getting banned by the law."
The episode concludes by highlighting skateboarding's unique position as both a countercultural movement and a commercially successful industry, emphasizing its unparalleled ability to maintain relevance across decades.
Key Takeaways
- Innovation Drives Revival: Innovations like the kicktail and polyurethane wheels were crucial in revitalizing skateboarding during its downturns.
- Media Influence: Strategic use of media, from Life magazine to the Bones Brigade videos, played a significant role in popularizing skateboarding.
- Cultural Integration: Skateboarding's influence on fashion, video games, and its inclusion in the Olympics exemplify its broad cultural impact.
- Business Strategy: Leveraging Porter's Five Forces reveals how skateboarding transcended being a simple sport to become a profitable cultural phenomenon through media and brand partnerships.
- Enduring Symbolism: Skateboarding's association with rebellion and its ability to evolve with cultural trends have cemented its place in global culture.
Featured Figures
- Larry Stevenson: Founder of Makaha Skateboards, a pioneer who transformed skateboarding from a surf-side hobby to a commercial sport.
- Patty McGee: The original female skateboarding star who brought national attention to the sport.
- Rodney Mullen: Inventor of numerous skateboarding tricks and considered the godfather of freestyle.
- Stacy Peralta: Entrepreneur behind the Bones Brigade, instrumental in the media-driven surge of skateboarding.
- Tony Hawk: Iconic skateboarder whose influence extended skateboarding into mainstream media and video games.
Fun Facts
- [40:51] Jack Crivici-Kramer: "What US City has the most skate parks per capita? Surprisingly, the winner is not in California. It's Laredo, Texas..."
- [36:53] Nick Martell: "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game series launched in 1999 has amassed $1.4 billion in sales."
Skateboarding's journey from a crude surfboard adaptation to a globally recognized sport underscores its unique ability to blend rebellion with commercial success. This episode of The Best Idea Yet offers an insightful exploration of how a simple idea can transcend its origins to shape and be shaped by culture and business alike.