Skating, originally referred to as 'Sidewalk Surfing' emerged in 1958 as southern Californian surfers found a way to mimic surfing on land. They discovered that by using a small wooden board with metal roller skate wheels, they could make smooth turns on the sidewalk. Roller-skating was invented in 1735 by John Joseph Merlin, a Belgian who famously introduced his new wheeled shoes at a party in London and promptly crashed into a mirror. (That's why moms always insist their kids wear helmets when learning how to skate!) Monsieur Petitbled patented the roller-skate in 1819.
This book is a collaboration, a journey of sorts, detailing the skate culture. It is the "Evolution" of the skater and how they have grown in passion and skill over the years. Each chapter will provide a sneak peek inside the life of the individual and the culture, this gritty, fun, family-friendly, sometimes underground but well-known phenomenon that has stood the test of time
