Search results
Richard Lawrence "Larry" Stevenson (December 22, 1930 – March 25, 2012) was the inventor of the kicktail, the bent-upwards end of a skateboard, which made most of today's skateboarding tricks possible and essentially revolutionized the sport.
Apr 2, 2012 · The ability of modern skateboard enthusiasts to perform their complex manoeuvres owes much to a former beach lifeguard named Larry Stevenson. While working the local sands in California in the...
- The Skateboarding Promoter
- Sponsoring Skaters
- The 1960s Skate Bust
- The Kicktail and The Legal Battles
- The Makaha Skateboarding Team
It was Stevenson who had the insight that skateboarding could be a part of surf culture. Surf Guide laid the foundation for the roots of surfing to mesh with skateboarding. Cleary began to write articles on skateboarding, and this, in turn, got surfers interested. Surfers were the first to embrace skateboarding and realize its potential. In 1963, L...
There were other areas in which Larry Stevenson was an innovator. For example, Makaha was the first company to sponsor a skateboard team. Riders like Squeak Blank, Danny Bearer, Woody Woodward, Terry Spencer, Steve Tanner, and John Freis would travel to various places and give exhibitions. All of Larry's hard work paid off - as the boom progressed,...
By August 1965, 20 cities had banned skateboarding from sidewalks and streets. The hysteria continued into the fall of 1965. In some cities, skateboards were simply confiscated. All of these problems led to the horrendous skate bust in the late fall of 1965. According to Larry, who was quoted in the Skateboarder's Bible, "I can just about recall th...
Then, in the late 1960s, Larry came up with something that again would have an enormous impact on the world of skateboarding. He invented the kicktail. "At first, it was not accepted," remarks Larry. But, in time and with a bit of radio advertising, skaters became interested. In 1969, he was awarded the patent for the kicktail. Other manufacturers ...
In 1969, a new Makaha team was formed to try to revive the sport. Freestyle wizards Bruce and Brad Logan, along with Ty Page and Rusty Johnson, achieved some success with their exhibitions, and 50,000 Makaha skateboards were sold. When skateboarding was fully revived in 1973, Makaha rode the second wave. Larry more than recouped his losses from the...
Mar 27, 2012 · Stevenson died at age 81 on Sunday at Ronald Reagan-UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, his son Curt Stevenson told The Associated Press.
Mar 27, 2012 · Mr. Stevenson died on Sunday in an assisted-living facility in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 81. The cause was pneumonia, resulting from complications of Parkinson’s disease, his son, Curtis, said.
Mar 28, 2012 · Mr. Stevenson died on Sunday in an assisted-living facility in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 81. The cause was pneumonia, resulting from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Mr. Stevenson is survived by his son who now heads the Makaha company, which is known for its retro line of skateboards.
May 29, 2012 · Stevenson died March 25 from complications of Parkinson's. He was 81 and had spent a fair amount of time in little apartments. Meet Larry Stevenson, the man who created the Makaha...
People also ask
How did Larry Stevenson die?
Who was Larry Stevenson?
Is Larry Stevenson a good skateboard fad?
