A few decades back, traditional skiers at Colorado, Utah and Wyoming resorts were aghast when a few young rebellious sport freaks showed up to the slopes on single boards instead of two skis. Who were these nouveau unknowns contaminating the hills with mini surfboards? Resentment among the old guard was so pronounced snowboarding was prohibited at most ski areas. A select few still prohibit them because “snowboarders disrupt the peace and quiet of the traditional sport....”
How times have changed! Today, snowboarding dominates - including at the Olympics.
It’s slightly reminiscent of the current metamorphosis at tennis clubs regarding Pickleball. Virtually unheard of just a decade ago, and eschewed by some of the white-short purists, Pickleball has become all the rage, particularly among the older tennis set.
We’ve all seen sports come and go. Think Jarts or arena football. Yet, bygone sports and/or activities can enjoy something of a Renaissance. That is the case with skateboards and skateboarding – the trend now showcased on the newest US postage stamps.
Most won’t remember that skateboards made their big US debut around 1960. At that time, they were literally a skinny board, maybe four inches wide, with four rattly metal wheels. Initially created in the 1920s when someone attached wheels from roller skates onto a board, the 1960s versions were mass produced. In a nod to their origin, many ‘60’s versions even had the name “Roller Derby” painted on them.
Their popularity was evident when upwards of 50 million skateboards were sold between 1960 and 1963. By the 1970s, that fad changed to their being a passing novelty used by “rebellious” youngsters. (See aforementioned reference to snowboards!). After considerable injuries from lax safety standards and no protective gear, the fad was all but gone by the 1980s. Enter the 1990s.
Boards changed to being wider and longer allowing for more agility. The wheels switched from metal to a plasticized polymer with added maneuverability. In the 1990s, skateboarding meshed with punk rock music and alternative lifestyle. There was no turning back. They showed up as personal transportation for kids going to school, at colleges and on city streets.
And, yes, in 2020, skateboarding made its official Olympic debut in Tokyo. As of now, it is again provisionally approved for inclusion at the upcoming games in 2024.
While standard “snail mail” may seem passe’ to younger patrons, the new stamps may appeal for the graphic artistry on the boards. Boards such as those seen on the stamps first appeared when skaters pushed the envelope by using empty swimming pools as makeshift riding areas and began performing aerial maneuvers. Today, most towns have full-fledged skateboard parks.
Riders take pride in having individual and uniquely designed boards – the more provocative, the better. At skate parks, the competition often isn’t just in the riding but also the artwork on the board.
The four new stamps just released show as many boards with different designs and coloring. They also represent the multi-culturalism of the artists. These range from a blue and indigo salmon design expressing one artist’s Tlingit/Athabascan heritage; another by a native Navajo artist displaying eagle feathers and the colors of the rising sun; a Hispanic theme by a muralist featuring a mystical jaguar of the amazon; and a bold red and orange graphic abstraction by a self-taught American artist. Each board on the stamps appears to be held up by a skater.
One conundrum is that skateboarding is inherently a sport where the board gets violently abused and beaten up during many flips, spins and drops. It’s safe to say few of the artists or board owners would want their designs damaged in such maneuvers. So, win/lose.
The collectible new 63-cent First Class “Forever” stamps are currently available at most post offices nationwide or from www.USPS.gov.
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On the precious metals front, most may not have noticed that while interest rates have been rising and stocks prices jump wildly, between November 2022 and February 2023 the price of gold quietly rose by 14%. As of this writing, the value of one ounce of the yellow metal is hovering just under $2,000. That means the value of everything from wedding rings to collectible coins has also risen.
This could be a good time to revisit an old collection or pay a visit to a local dealer. After all, $2,000 is a bellwether mark. When and if gold prices exceed that, the sky’s the limit.
For more collecting information and advice, log on to: http://prexford.com/.