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Skateboarding!
Basic
how to guide and fundamentals of Skateboarding
Buying
"The Ride" Equipment
The Deck -
Trucks - Wheels
How to Buy A Skateboard
There is a lot more to a skateboard than meets
the eye. The Skateboard is actually a highly technical
piece of equipment comprised of many parts, all working
together for speed,agillity, and most of all tricks.
Your style of riding, budget, and terrain is how you
will disided on what type of skateboard and components
are right for you.
The deck
(Skateboard, board)
- Length
- There are two general length
classifications of skateboard: Traditional/Street:
under 33 in; and Longboard; over 35 in
- Traditional decks are the most
common, and most versatile, while long boards
are generally used for cruising only and provide
the rider a very "surfy" feel
- Length choice is a purely personal
decision, although a general rule states that
smaller skaters should choose shorter boards (for
control)
- Width
- Street decks range between
7.5 in and 8.25 in, although some decks are wider
or narrower
- Width choice is also a purely
personal decision, although smaller skaters (especially
smaller footed skaters) will find a deck under
8 in makes it easier to learn tricks
- Concave
- Most decks (except for some
longboards) have a raised nose, tail, and sides.
This is called the concave.
- The depth and overall shape
of the concave has a dramatic effect on the response
of the skateboard to the skater
- The deeper the concave, the
more aggressive the skater can be with their tricks
- The shallower the concave,
the more forgiving the deck is for newer skaters
- Shape
Materials
- Wood
- The most common deck material
is wood
- Almost all wood deck skateboards
are made from Canadian Maple
- Each deck maker uses a varying
number of plys (layers), usually no less than
5 and no more than 9
- Plastic
- Some less expensive skateboards
utilize plastic for the deck. While this material
is cheaper and more durable than wood, it does
not offer the same responsivness.
- Other materials
- More recent materials of skateboard
design include aluminum and fiberglass/carbon
composites
- These materials are being used
to try to improve upon the durability of wood,
while maintaining its characteristics (pop/responsiveness)
The Trucks
Size
- Size is determined purely by deck
width (although some skaters prefer certain truck
widths)
- Most trucks range between 4.75
in and 5.5 in
- A slightly wider truck will offer
a more stable landing platform and shorter turning
radius, but is heavier
- Certain trucks can be found up
to 7 in. This size truck is strictly used in conjunction
with longboards.
Material
- Every truck is made from various
versions of alloy metal (although some inexpensive
skateboards use plastic)
- Increasingly, truck manufacturers
are experimenting with space age metals in their
alloy, like titanium
- The goal is to maintain the strength
of the truck while reducing the weight
- Trucks also incorporate a bushing,
which is the mechanism by which a truck turns. These
bushings are available in varying degrees of hardness,
which effect the ease by which a skateboard turns.
The Wheels
All skateboard wheels are made from
polyurethane. However, the composition and color of
skateboard wheels varies greatly.
Size
- Small/Street
- Most common skateboard wheels
are between 52 mm and 60 mm
- Smaller riders might find the
small wheels to be lighter and easier to control,
however, wheel size is very much a rider preference
item
- Large/Longboard
- Larger wheels (above 60 mm)
are almost exclusive to longboards
- They are very fast and usually
wider than smaller wheels
How to determine
the size of your wheels
Size |
Description |
52-55MM |
Good
for many uses. Street, skate parks, bowls. Smaller
riders. |
56-60MM |
Good
for many uses. Street, skate parks, bowls, vert
ramps. Bigger riders. |
60+
MM |
Specialty
rides. Long boards, hill riding, dirt boards. |
Hardness
- Hard/Street
- All street skateboard wheels
are considerably hard. This hardness is rated
in a measurement called durometer.
- Any wheel over 90a is considered
hard
- The harder the wheels, the
more pop a skater can get, but the harder they
land
- Soft/Longboard
- Large wheels are also usually
soft wheels (less than 90a durometer)
- The softness of these wheels
creates a much smoother ride and offers more traction
than a harder/smaller wheel
- These wheels are what allow
a longboard skateboard to "surf" the earth
How to determine
the durometer of your wheels
Type |
Description |
87A |
Cruiser
riding, long boards, hill riding. Very rough surfaces. |
95A |
Street
riding, rough surfaces, smooth, fast, and durable. |
97A |
All
around street, skate park, ramp and pool. Smooth
surfaces. |
100A |
Very
hard with least grip. Not good on rough or too
slick surfaces. Choice of many top pros. |
Do It with Responsibility &
Respect
Skateboarding
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