Sidewalk Surfers in La Jolla 1965 April 21, 1965 There’s an obvious answer to the old question “What will the kids think of next?” But then—it seems only logical. Take an old hobby (putting roller skate wheels on a board) add a new twist (like this swivel-hipped sport) and combine it with a popular pastime—surfing. And voila you have side-walk surfing. Or skateboarding as it’s better known. This curbside version of ocean surfing has become the latest mania of the nation’s youth. In fact, it threatens to surpass the hula hoop craze of a few years ago. Tim Hudson, John Quick, and Shawn Bumstead are the skating stars here. This is the view from the end of the line. The sport got off to a slow start some years back here in California: but now it has caught on and is being taken up by teenagers across the nation. Tim, John, and Shawn are performing their hobby on boards about 2 feet long with ball bearing skate wheels under the front and back. The tricky little tip toe transports are steered by shifting one’s weight from side to side. Thus, the tie in with ocean surfing; some devotees claim that one can improve his ability on a surfboard by exercising his agility on a skateboard. The only problem is you can reach dangerous speeds on these things depending on the incline and the daring of the skater. As a result, the sport is leaving a trail of raw elbows and skinned shins from coast to coast. In fact, the California Medical Association recently issued a special bulletin entitled: “Skateboards a new medical menace.” But, despite the danger of the skateboarder finding himself sailing through the asphalt over elbow, the craze is spreading. Neighbors have complained about the clickety clack and disturbing their peace; city authorities have banned them from downtown sidewalks as a menace to pedestrians. But the sport skates on to new heights of popularity; companies are predicting sales of 30 mission boards before the summer is over. And the boom has reached the point where

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