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Jan 24, 2024 51 min

The Double Kick

from 99% Invisible Hosted by Christopher Johnson, Andrew Norton, Sam Greenspan, Emmett FitzGerald

Watch a skate video today, and you'll notice how similarly shaped the boards are. It’s called the “popsicle” design, because the deck is narrow in the middle and rounded off at both ends, like a popsicle stick. This may seem stupid simple, but that basic, clean popsicle shape is actually the product of a lot of experimentation and iteration. In 1989, one particular board would cement skateboard design as we know it. But to understand it, we have to go back over a decade to the mid-70s, as more and more money poured into the growing sport. The Double Kick Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

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The design evolution of the seemingly simple, but not all that simple, skateboard.

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The Double Kick

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