Of all the competitions it is the X Games which draws in the celebrity skaters and the skate-loving crowds. The first X Games was held in 1995 and has proven to be hugely successful with a winter version of the games having its inaugural event in 1997. The 2010 Summer X Games is due to be held in Los Angeles, California.

Skateboarding and the X Games

Just what is it that brings the crowds to the X Games? What about… Extreme sports, sport celebrities and of course NEW TRICKS.

It was at the 1999 X Games that Tony Hawk first landed the “900”, that’s right 900 degrees of aerial spin, they even relaxed the competition rules to allow Tony Hawk to keep trying beyond his permitted time slot and eventually he landed the trick.

Skateboarding and in particular trick skating has risen in popularity across the 1990s and into the new millennium. This rise in popularity has resulted in the evolution of skateboards to match the new demands and needs of riders.

A skateboard comprises of a deck which has two sets of wheels attached to it via trucks. The wheels are mounted to their axles via two bearings. The technology and materials of skateboard design have had to evolve as fast as the rise in popularity, as skaters are looking for light-weight but strong decks and trucks, bearings produced to higher tolerances and wheels which won’t crack on landing.

A skater looking to perform a set of flips and tricks on the streets will often look for a set of smaller wheels to make the tricks easier, but a vertical skater will prefer larger wheels to help generate the necessary speed.

Skateboarding is a great extreme sport to take up, all you need is a board, and you can start off with a cheap one and then you just need to hit the streets and get practicing.