Skateboarding was first popular in southern California in the early 1960's. It was used by surfers to practice their surfing techniques when surfing conditions were bad. By 1965, skateboarding spread across the country. About 50 million skateboards were sold. As that year ended, skateboarding fads started to decline, because many people did not like the quality of the boards. They were made of steel wheels and the decks were thick and stiff. Now they are thin and flexible. When skating, always remember to where your helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads. To be in competitions skaters must know what type if skate style they perform. One type is freestyle, skaters skate across a smooth, flat surface and perform tricks. Another is street style, they skate over ramps and perform tricks. Also racing style, which skaters race down hill or through a salon course of plastic cones. People do the tricks they are best at in competitions. The modern skateboard is made up of  the deck, kick tail, rail bars, trucks, ball bearings and wheels. Before skateboarding was invented surfers just waited until the next good day for waves, now the practice on skateboards.