"Welcome back to Real Skate Stories, where we dive deep into the history, legacy, and evolution of our beloved sport, art and pastime of skateboarding. In this video, we travel back in time to 1965, where the first-ever international skateboard contest took place at Anaheim’s La Palma Stadium! With more than 500 skateboarders from around the globe, competing in freestyle and slalom events. Winners even received $500 university scholarships, trophies, and medals, all setting the stage for the future of the sport.
This landmark event marked a new chapter for skateboarding. Broadcast on ABC’s "Wide World of Sports," it solidified skateboarding as a legitimate sport in the eyes of the world. But let’s not forget what these pioneers were riding: clay wheels, roller skate trucks, tiny wooden decks, and no grip tape...skateboarding in the 60s was a test of balance, finesse, and pure grit. We’re talking about a delicate dance between power and precision with boards that were as tough to ride as the riders were themselves.
In this video, we explore the roots of skateboarding, the history of the first international contest, and the incredible conditions that made skateboarding in the 60s a sport built on passion and ingenuity. From the Masonite slalom course to the cement freestyle slab, discover how this competition shaped the future of modern skateboarding and the pioneers who made it all possible. Don’t miss out on this trip through time, celebrating skateboarding’s legendary origins!"
