A Brief History of Skateboarding

How did skateboarding come to be? Who invented the first skateboard? Where was the concept of skateboards and skateboarding developed? While there aren't any definite or definitive answers to these questions, skateboard decks do indeed have a colorful and rich history to them. And while it's nearly impossible to imagine a world without skateboarding, many people are surprised to discover that skateboards are a relatively young cultural phenomenon, unlike say, bicycling. So, sit back, relax and enjoy reading this little article which will - hopefully - provide you with some insight with the interesting and unique past that skateboards enjoy.

Modern skateboards were probably first developed around the 1940s. Since skateboarding is somewhat similar to surfing - in theoretical terms, that is, it makes sense that skateboards more than likely came out of California. Surfers, being passionate about what they do, were looking for something to surf when the waves of the ocean weren't cooperating and weren't conducive to optimal surfing conditions. And while it's pretty much impossible to put a name or a face to whomever built the very first skateboard, early skateboards were probably no more complex - or were just as simple (depending on how you want to look at it) - as wooden boards with roller skate wheels attached to the bottom.

These primitive skateboards, which were made by the boarders themselves, were more than likely in heavy use until the 1960s, when the first skateboard manufacturers started to establish themselves. From there, skateboarding - or "sidewalk surfing" as it was called (again, to reflect its surfing origins) started to explode in popularity. For ocean-based surfers, it was a way to keep active and keep moving when the waves weren't available. For other people - mainly non-surfers - skateboarding was a way to "surf" as it were without having to enter the water. In fact, the body motions of a surfer and a boarder are strikingly similar, which is another testament to the strong historical bonds that the two sports share.

In the 1970s, people started to push the limits of what skateboards could be and of what skateboarders themselves could actually perform on the decks. It was during this time period in which the first polyurethane wheels began to appear - which, of course, is now pretty much standard on any modern or contemporary skateboard. Additionally, more exotic building materials also began to come into play when manufacturing skateboards. Fiberglass, aluminum and other composite materials were being explored in the never ending quest to develop and build the perfect skateboard.

From the 1980's until today, street skating came to the forefront as more and more people took skateboarding away from cumbersome and complicated skate parks. Skate parks began to make appearances in the late 1970s, but because boarders could injure or hurt themselves on them, many municipalities were closing them down. And because building homemade ramps, pipes was an expensive venture (and perhaps, still is), people took skating onto the streets. As a result, today's modern skateboards are designed to handle any street or urban skating environment. Today's skateboard decks are lighter and their wheels are harder.

From humble beginnings in California to a worldwide culture that's growing and expanding in popularity each and every day, skateboards have had a strange and wonderful trip to enjoy the status that they do today. Where skateboarding will go from here is merely and only anyone's guess, but it's safe to say that the next 60 years of skateboards will be just as interesting as its first 60 years.

Duke McCallister has one philosophy when it comes to skateboard wheels: and that's to go skate or go home! A skateboarding fan, Duke wants to share his experiences and passion for skateboards with expert boarders and those new to skateboarding. In addition to writing about skateboards, he also visits GoSkateorGoHome.com for all his boarding needs.

Whether talking about skateboard decks, trucks, complete skateboards, grip tape or anything else about skateboarding, Duke is more than happy to talk about it, write about it and share stories about it!

And remember, if you want to check out a fantastic online destination for all your skateboarding needs, just roll on over to one of Duke's favorite sites at GoSkateorGoHome.com!

Buy UGGaustralia

How to Kick the Habit - A 5 Step Plan to Overcome Addictions

There are numerous elaborate methods and strategies on how to overcome addictions offered by many different scholarly people. If you go to a bookstore you will see shelves of books covering this very topic. I have overcome two serious addictions in my life and I would like to share the 5 step plan that I used to kick the habit.

When I was a young boy I would often go to visit my grandmother, who lived nearby. She used to make the most luscious toll house cookies as well as several other sugary goodies. While sitting down playing games or just talking, my grandmother and grandfather would eat one or two cookies. I would eat four, or five, or six.

Later in life when my company would have their monthly all-hands-meetings donuts and rolls would be served. During the 30-45 minute meeting most people would eat one. I would eat two or three. I would come down with a cold, the flu, or a sinus infection just about every other month. Then it would take three to four weeks to get over the ailment. This pattern went on for years. I knew I had poor dietary habits. The worst of which was how much junk food and sugar I consumed. I knew it, but I was addicted to sugar.

A short while later in my life I started drinking coffee. I know that coffee is fine for many people and does not affect them negatively at all. I am not condemning the drink itself. Yet, for me coffee is a direct contributor to migraine headaches. I absolutely know it, but I had become so addicted to it that I was constantly able to dream up a justification for drinking one more cup. It was literally amazing the clever excuses I could come up with and make myself believe! I was severely addicted to coffee. I have been able to overcome both of these addictions. Please let me share with you the methods and strategies I used in overcoming these addictions and what I had to do to kick the habit.

1. Flood your mind with material on the negative points of the habit you are trying to eliminate. Read about it, study, talk to people. Drive it into your mind that what you are doing is wrong; it is bad, it hurting yourself plus the people you come into contact with. It is affecting your family life, your friendships and your career. It needs to be rooted out of your life.

2. Make notes to yourself; write articles about why this addiction needs to be eliminated. Even if you are the only one who reads them, write anyway. For some strange reason putting things down on paper (or PC) is a powerful force that can move a person far more than just thinking or talking. When you get an article completed, offer it to your spouse, children or friends. Have them read it over. Make corrections to your article. The better you make the article, the more you will be in touch with it and the stronger you will be. Then go ahead and submit it to one of the free article directories or a blog. You may very well get some comments that will help you become even stronger in your beliefs.

When I was feverishly struggling with my coffee addiction I would not drink much at home. I almost always drank at work. It was so pleasant when I first got to the office to get a cup of coffee before I even logged into my PC. Then, about 30 minutes later, to fill her up for a second, and maybe later in the day I would have a third. One simple thing that I did that helped enormously was this. I took a piece of paper and hand wrote on it in large print "DO YOU WANT A HEADACHE?" I tacked this piece of paper right beside my PC monitor so there was no way I would miss it. Knowing that coffee would eventually lead to migraines this served as a constant reminder if I brought a drink to my desk.

3. If at all possible, find a person who will strongly support you in you in your effort toward overcoming addictions. I had that support in my fight with the sugar addiction. When it came to the coffee addiction, I really did not have that support person to help me. Maybe that is why it took me so much longer and it was so much harder to overcome the coffee addiction.

4. Do it cold-turkey, all at once. Do not give in to the temptation to try the tapering off method. With my sugar addiction, I quit cold-turkey. I stopped all at once and there was no coming back. I am not going to say that I have never consciously had a small amount of sugar again over the twelve years since I have kicked the habit, but it has been extremely rare. So much so, that I can claim victory. With my coffee addiction, I tried tapering off several times. Each time was a disaster. It never worked. It constantly led me back to being a full time drinker. Finally one day, six months ago (give or take a day or two) I worked up the guts and the courage. I told myself that enough was enough, and have not even had a sip of coffee since then. There was some withdrawal, a violent migraine headache and some anxiety. Now that it's over, I am so glad I made the decision!

5. If you slip, don't allow yourself to get discouraged and give up. Go back to the first point. Fill your mind with the facts once again. Write another article, read over previous articles that you wrote, and quit once again.

These are the steps that I used in overcoming a sugar and coffee addiction. I know this may sound overly simplistic. After all it doesn't take up a 200 (plus) page book! Sometimes things are not as complicated as they seem. This strategy has worked for me. Twice I have been able to overcome addictions that were ruining my life. If you have an addiction that you know you should quit and have not, you may want to try this plan. It could work for you too.

Visit the Feeling Outstanding Nutritional Supplements page for an excellent selection of nutritional supplements and herbal remedies. Green tea or other herbal teas are excellent choices for drinks in place of coffee or soda!

Tom Thorne http://www.FeelingOutstanding.com

Krups Coffee Maker