The Evolution of Skateboarding
Skateboarding is not only a sport, but also a form of self expression. The recreational activity that consists of riding and performing tricks on a skateboard, a flat wooden board with wheels, has grown into an Olympic sport and cultural influence.
The discipline was born in the 50s in California, USA. People were looking for creative ways to have fun, and surfing was all the rage, and when the waves were flat surfers wanted something to do. Thus, the first skateboards were born for surfing the sidewalk. Initially skateboards looked a lot like surfboards, but with wheels mounted underneath them.
The skateboarding we know today gained popularity in the 1970s, when surfing and California culture was also very popular. At the time many swimming pools sat empty, and abandoned urban areas became playgrounds for skateboarding, giving rise to an entire subculture.
Photo credit: Makaha website
In 1963, former lifeguard Larry Stevension founded Makaha and revolutionized board design. The skateboarding company created a shorter design and added an upward curve to the back of the board, making it easier to maneuver.
By the 1980s skateboarding had amassed an underground following with a distinct youth subculture surrounding it. A preference for punk rock music and baggy clothing became associated with young skaters, but it was the advent of major competitions.
The X Games, an extreme sports festival sponsored by ESPN was first held in 1995, that gave the sport mainstream exposure.
The Two Souls of Competitive Skateboarding
Competitive skateboarding can be divided into two main sectors of competition, park and street, with the common goal of performing tricks meeting impressive criteria of speed, style, execution and difficulty.
The enthusiasm for skateboarding lies in the creativity of the athletes. Every skater brings their own style to the sport with new talent continuing to emerge, including the French street skater Aurelien Giraud.
Aurelien Giraud’s triumph at SLS Paris 2024
Street League Skateboarding (SLS) is a series of international skateboarding contests founded in 2010 by professional skateboarder Rob Dyrdek. Professional skaters compete at a series of SLS stops for a large cash prize, and the biggest names in skateboarding make up the competition.
This year the first competition took place in Paris drawing a crowd from every corner of France and the world, an unforgettable stage for Giraud, the talented Etnies skater.
Giraud skated in his home country and gave his audience a thrilling performance, taking home a victory at the first SLS event of the year surrounded by the love of his family, the admiration of his friends and the overwhelming energy of thousands of supporters.
Immediately after the event, Pierre-André, former world champion in his discipline and owner of the footwear brand etnies, said:
With the arena filled with thousands of people from all over France and around the world, the energy was incredibly high at SLS Paris. I’m very happy that Aurelien won his first SLS Event in front of his home crowd! This year, skateboarding is getting the attention it deserves in Paris. I think this big event today was a preview of the Olympic skateboarding coming to the City of Light this summer.”
Pierre-André
If you haven’t seen it live, watch it here: SLS Finals in Paris.
Aurelien Giraud’s winning path
Originally from Lyon, Aurelien Giraud has had an impressive career. Born on February 3, 1998, Giraud started skateboarding at an early age in the Ville de Lyon local skatepark.
The first milestone in his skateboarding career came in 2015, when Giraud won a Tampa Am in Florida at just 17 years old. Since then, he has added victories at three World Cup Skateboarding events (two in 2017 and one in 2019), a gold medal at the 2019 Dew Tour and a bronze medal in 2021, two victories at the national championships in 2019 and 2022, sixth place at the sport’s Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020, and a second place finish at the 2022 World Street Skateboarding event in Rome.
On February 24, 2024, Giraud won the SLS contest in Paris.
Aurelian skated his new pro model shoe with etnies, the Aurelien Michelin, designed and tested directly by Giraud. The shoe is equipped with a high-performance rubber Michelin sole and a body made of suede or synthetic with hidden lace loops.
The skateboard footwear company founded by one of skateboarding’s own athletes
Etnies was launched in 1986 in France by French skateboarder Pierre-Andre Senizergues, who still owns and operates the brand today, etnies is the first global skateboarder-owned sports footwear and apparel company; it created the first pro skate shoe model and has pioneered technological advancements, forever changing the face of skateboarding footwear.
Today, etnies’ vision is to remain the leading skateboard footwear company, committed to creating innovative products that offer the ultimate in style, comfort, durability, and protection.
Photo credit: etnies website
etnies stays true to its roots by sponsoring a world-class team of skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, BMX and MTB riders and continues its dedication by giving back to each of these communities.
Aurelien Giraud’s epic victory at SLS Paris 2024 not only marks an unforgettable moment for French skateboarding, but also opens the door to a bright future for the sport.
With his unique style and extraordinary talent, Giraud is destined to leave an indelible mark on the history of the discipline. With the support of brands like etnies, skateboarding will continue to evolve and inspire generations of athletes.
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