In the beginning skateboarding consisted of a 2x4 and some old roller-skate wheels. Around the 1950's with the boom in the surfing popularity, skateboarding became  more popular. During this time it was known as sidewalk surfing.  In the 1960's is when skateboarding really took off. This is when the first skateboards were produced and sold. During this time period skateboarding consisted of cruising around the streets on your board.  In 1978 a 15 year old boy by the  name of Alan "Ollie" Gelfand invented a trick he called the no-hands air. His friends named after him the ollie. This was a ramp based trick. In the coming years a rider by the name of Rodney Mullen took the trick and applied it to flatland skateboarding.  After this point skateboarding began to evolve in to the sport it is today. Virtually every trick in the modern day skateboarding involves the ollie.