Hey everyone, Chris Daniels here, aka CD Player Zero, and today I’m diving into the history of fingerboarding—at least as I understand it.
Fingerboarding has been a creative outlet for skateboarders and enthusiasts for decades. With the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, we’ve seen fingerboarding grow in popularity, with some videos racking up millions of views. But when did these miniature skateboards first appear?
At first glance, it seems obvious—fingerboards were invented when X Concepts launched Tech Deck in 1998, right? Well, not exactly. Let’s rewind to the 1960s and explore fingerboarding’s roots through the evolution of skateboarding.
1960s: The Roots in Skateboarding
The origins of fingerboarding can be traced back to the development of skateboarding. In the 1950s and 60s, skateboards were handmade by attaching roller skates to planks of wood, creating what was known as “sidewalk surfing”—an attempt to replicate surfing on land. As skateboarding grew in popularity, miniature skateboard keychains began to appear.
While it’s unclear who first performed tricks with these tiny boards, it’s likely that someone removed the keychain and started experimenting with the miniature boards using their fingers.
Early DIY Fingerboards
In the early days, fingerboards were made from keychains, cardboard, plexiglass, or wood. Some skaters even used popsicle sticks, gluing toy car axles onto them to create makeshift fingerboards.
Black River’s interview with Lance Mountain sheds light on this period. Mountain recalls that in 1978, a friend named Ernon Troya started making fingerboards by bending popsicle sticks to resemble skateboards. By 1979, Troya returned with a more advanced fingerboard, crafted from glued paper with hand-drawn Z-Flex graphics. Mountain was inspired to create fingerboards as gifts for pro skaters like Steve Caballero and Eddie Elguera, eventually leading to discussions about producing fingerboards commercially.
1980s: The Rise of Fingerboarding in Media
In 1985, Powell Peralta released Future Primitive, a skateboarding video featuring Lance Mountain shredding a fingerboard in a sink. This was one of the earliest large-scale public showcases of fingerboarding.
By 1987, Somerville International had trademarked the term “fingerboard” for their mass-produced skateboard keychains. Around the same time, pioneers like Martin Winkler were experimenting with three-ply wooden fingerboards. Fingerboard videos from the 90s—like Dennis “D-Mack” Derflinger’s—featured skaters performing tricks with both full-sized boards and fingerboards, showcasing impressive skills like kickflips.
1998: The Launch of Tech Deck
In 1998, X Concepts launched the Tech Deck brand, bringing fingerboarding into the mainstream with officially licensed miniature decks featuring real skateboard graphics. Tech Decks quickly became a sensation, joining the ranks of other collectible fads like Pokémon, Tamagotchi, and Pogs.
That same year, I encountered fingerboarding for the first time at a swim camp at Stanford University, where some campers were flipping Tech Decks on a fun box. By the time I returned to school that fall, Tech Decks were everywhere, and I had to get one for myself.
Late 1990s: The Emergence of the Professional Scene
The late 90s saw the rise of fingerboarding as a professional hobby, especially in Europe. Black River Ramps, founded by Martin Ehrenberger, and BerlinWood, created by Timo Lieben, were established during this period. Black River produced miniature skate ramps, while BerlinWood introduced high-quality wooden decks made with pressed molds.
In Germany, fingerboard contests like Fast Fingers became popular, building a thriving scene. Meanwhile, in North America, fingerboarding communities developed online, such as TechDex.com and later Fingerboarders.net, providing spaces for enthusiasts to connect and share videos.
2000s: Online Communities and International Growth
Around 1999, Coca-Cola sponsored an international fingerboarding tour featuring top riders like Matt Johnson. Online forums such as FFI (Finger Flip Inc.) and RedZone Fingerboard (RZF) emerged, allowing fingerboarders to connect and build communities.
In Germany, Fingerboard.de became the go-to platform for fingerboard news. However, North American fingerboarders focused more on online videos, spending hours uploading and downloading footage. Early full-length videos like Anonymous Vegas and Pissing Fingers were crucial in documenting the evolving scene.
In 2003, Mike Schneider entered the scene, founding FlatFace Fingerboards. His innovations, including grip tape and advanced decks, elevated the quality of fingerboard products.
2006-2012: The Boom Years
During this period, fingerboarding experienced rapid growth. Products like FlatFace wheels, featuring real bearings, and professional trucks from Black River and Yellowood raised the standard for fingerboard gear. The rise of YouTube played a pivotal role, introducing fingerboarding to a broader audience through viral videos.
Major events like Fast Fingers in Germany and meetups in Andover, Massachusetts, brought fingerboarders together from around the world. Fingerboard Weekly, launched in 2008, became a global hub, with contributors from countries including Brazil, Italy, Indonesia, and China.
2013 and Beyond: Challenges and Change
While the hobby flourished during the late 2000s, cracks began to appear around 2013. Fingerboarding’s popularity waned, but the community persisted, fuelled by passion and creativity.
Though trends shift, fingerboarding remains a beloved niche hobby, continuously evolving through dedicated creators, new products, and the enduring passion of its community.
Watch the History of Fingerboarding Part One video here.
Comments