Since its invention in the late 1950s, skateboarding has had several separate waves of popularity. The style of each wave may have been slightly different, but they all share a youth culture of rebellion and stylish feats of physical skill and daring. Although some parents and coaches tried to make skateboarding a Little League (see entry under 1930s—Sports and Games in volume 2) sport in the 1970s, and others have tried to have it outlawed, "boarders" are a highly independent group who have resisted attempts to take their sport from them. Marty McFly, from the 1980s film series Back to the Future, and cartoon brat Bart Simpson of The Simpsons (1989–; see entry under 1980s—TV and Radio in volume 5), are two of the media's best known flashy skateboarders.

Two "thrashers" take to the air at the 1997 X-Games in San Diego, California. Photograph by Dennis Poroy. AP/Wide World...