Skateboarding is the act of riding on or performing tricks with a skateboard. A person who skateboards is referred to as a skateboarder or skater.

Skateboarding, often portrayed in the media as an extreme sport, can be an art form, a hobby, a profession or simply a mode of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report by American Sports Data found that there were 12.5 million skateboarders in the world. Eighty percent of skateboarders polled who had used a board in the last year were under the age of 18, and 74 percent were male.

Skateboarding is a relatively modern sport. It originated as "sidewalk surfing" in the United States, particularly in California in the 1950s. A key skateboarding trick, the ollie, was developed in the late 1970s. Modern skateboards are heavier and larger than the original "banana boards" that remained popular until the late 70s.