Skateboarding: Progression In The Last Decade

Approximately 10 years ago, circa 1998, skateboarding erupted as a new phenomenon for my generation. I discovered a new passion with videos such as "The End," "Welcome To Hell," "Mouse," and "Fulfill The Dream." And so did many other kids who soon took up skateboarding like it was a new drug addiction. What's unique about this phenomenon is the fact that magazines and videos were able to make a skater feel as if they were in their own world. Watching infamous video parts, such as Reynolds in "The End" or Thomas in Toy Machine's "Welcome To Hell," only hyped you up to immediately grab your skateboard and head for the door.

I soon quit skateboarding because the passion was no longer there, or maybe I was just being ignorant? Now, ten years later, skateboarding has definitely become even a bigger phenomenon. Tricks and combos are becoming more sophisticated and ridiculous. And today's talent, well lets' just say that most of them are half my age. Skateboarding can also earn you a legitimate salary, if you have what it takes that is. Ryan Sheckler made an estimated $5.2 million in 2008. That same year, Paul Rodriguez won $100,000.00 from one contest alone. And now, multi million dollar companies such as Nike and Gatorade have taken part in the sport of skateboarding.

Today, skateboarding is ridiculous. And it's only becoming more ridiculous as time goes on. How young can the talent get? And how sophisticated can ledge tricks get....