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Skateboard Industry History
by Ralph Zuranski
In March of 1976, Ralph saw an add
for salesperson for Rolls Royce Skateboard Wheels Company.
He answered the add. This was the beginning of the resurgence of the Skateboard Industry. The urethane wheels expanded the horizons of skateboarding. Skateboard parks
sprang up everywhere. Slalom races were held on steep La Costa streets. Everyone thought they could get rich in skateboarding.
The sport
exploded through out the United States.
Ralph became instrumental in the development of skateboard and safety equipment. He felt the need to skateboard himself, to find out how dangerous it was and how good the safety equipment
was. This was a major mistake, Ralph sprained both wrists, broke his foot, wore the ankle bone flat on the right foot, and had two serious back injuries. The skaters respected him for having the courage to participate. He became a
sales representative and consultant for many of the companies.
While working as General Manager of Sidewalk Surfparks in
Fountain Valley, he witnessed too many preventable injuries.
Ralph applied the theories of biorhythms to the accidents and injuries he witnessed at the skateboard park and during slalom races on the streets of La Costa. He
discovered a major correlation and was very impressed.
Ralph realized 50% of the injuries at skateboard
parks could have been eliminated if the skaters received a positive incentive to be extra careful on their critical days.
Ralph decided, "people needed to become aware of the value of biorhythms in maximizing performance in all
areas of life and minimizing accidents and injuries."
Ralph created the character Captain Biorhythm on
Halloween October 31, 1976 at the Masters Slalom race at La Costa, to promote safety in skateboarding and biorhythm awareness.
He tried to get other skateboard park owners to use biorhythms to cut down on injuries in the parks,
but they were only interested in profits.
Ralph also wanted to get the message of safety in skateboarding across to young
skaters, to wear elbow and knee pads, wrist braces and helmets.
An opportunity presented itself to put together the Pepsi Skateboard Safety Program. Ralph became director of Imperial Century and developed the program that went to
2000 elementary and high schools in L.A. He helped put skating demonstrations on at professional football games and parades. He organized the first National Skateboard Convention. He worked on a Hang 10 Skateboard contest at Magic
Mountain and the movie Skateboard.
Unfortunately, the skateboard park owners would not listen about his ideas of creating a safer
environment for skateboarders.
Preventable injuries increased at any alarming place as the professional skaters demanded more vertical and radical banks and bowls.
After a few lawsuits, liability insurance finally became unattainable.
Many of the parks went under. New wider multiple ply wood boards and wide trucks made the smaller boards and trucks obsolete. The skateboard industry collapsed
overnight. Many who would not listen lost large sums of money. |
