In 1958, on a quiet street in Santa Monica, a group of restless teenagers removed the wheels from old roller skates and nailed them to wooden planks. They called it “sidewalk surfing.” While adults dismissed it as a fad, the kids carved down sloping streets with wild freedom, mimicking the surfers they idolized. One of them, 14‑year‑old Danny Ruiz, practiced until sunset every day, leaving chalk marks on the pavement where he perfected turns. When Life Magazine photographed the group that fall, Danny realized they had accidentally created a new American culture—one born from boredom, sunshine, and rebellion.
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