Skateboarding

In skateboarding the athlete performs tricks on a four-wheeled board. The Olympics have two events: street, with obstacles like stairs, rails and benches, and park, a course of deep bowls and curves. Judges score difficulty, execution and style.

History

Skateboarding was born in 1950s California when surfers wanted to "surf" the streets on days without waves. In the 1970s polyurethane wheels and riding in empty swimming pools transformed it. Skateboarding debuted at Tokyo 2020; the international federation, World Skate, was formed in 2017.

Major competitions

The Olympic Games, the World Skate world championships, the X Games and Street League Skateboarding.

Skateboarding in the Turkic world

Modern skateparks have opened in Istanbul, Baku, Almaty, Tashkent and Budapest, and skateboarding is spreading fast among young people. Olympic status has spurred the creation of national federations and more competitions.