Hamboards, Huntington Beach, California, United States

It all began in 1995, when Hamborg wanted to find a fun alternative to strollers for shuttling his younger kids to the park. He had four boys -- ages 1, 3, 5 and 7 at the time -- and another was born the next year. Hamborg cut a board out of plywood and screwed some skateboard wheel assemblies into the impromptu deck.
The board served two purposes: transportation for the preschoolers and a training device to get the older boys started on surfing. As neighbors saw the family on the boards, some asked Hamborg to make boards for them.
Despite the neighborhood popularity, Hamborg didn't think he could create a business selling the boards. Because of the great length of the decks, the plywood began to sag in the middle after continued use, and the bolts holding the wheels in place eventually would break through the wood.