Skateboard Love

Skateboards have gone through a lot of design iterations since the first homemade ones hit the sidewalks of California in the 1940s. Early boards were basically just thin pieces of wood with rollerskate wheels bolted on. They've gotten wider, and designers have experimented with a lot of different materials. Chuck Bell amassed quite a collection as an early skater and owner of Calgary's first skateshop, Freewheelin' Skateboards. Here's a small sampling of the variety.

1. Flying Ace road surfer Solid wood board with steel wheels and brake, early 1960s. 2. Rinky Dink Plywood board with steel wheels, early 1960s. 3. G.N.C. Solid-oak board. Made in Canada, mid-1970s. 4. Super Surfer Big Banana Plastic board, mid-to-late...