How to choose your first skateboard

So you’ve decided to buy your first skateboard? Fine! We hope our instructions will help you to deal with all the components and find “your” board.

Parameters influencing the choice of skateboard:

Most of the people choose their first decks based on brand and pattern. This is not entirely the right decision when you approach such a responsible business. If you buy a board that doesn’t suit you, it won’t be comfortable to ride.

There are several main factors in choosing a board. We’ll arrange them in descending order of importance:

• Riding style;
• Foot size;
• Age and height;
• Sensations from the shape of the board (for those who buy more than the first skateboard);
• Purchase budget.

Before running to the store for a new board, you need to decide: how we will ride. The whole subsequent choice of components directly depends on this: decks, suspensions, wheels, bearings, linings, bushings (shock absorbers), grip (abrasive coating), and even bolts and nuts. Beginners should also not neglect the protection in the form of knee pads and elbow pads, and the helmet is useful in general for everyone with a head on their shoulders. All boards are divided into three main types:

Shortboards – Deck length ranges from 28 “-33” inches (70-85 cm). These decks are suitable for performing tricks in the park, on the street, in the pool, and on the mini-ramp. All skate decks are shortboards. The selection of brands on the skateboard market is overwhelming.

Cruisers – These boards are usually wider than shortboards and only have one kicktail on the tail. More agile and faster – this is the best option for moving around the city.

Longboards – the deck is even longer and wider. Suitable for downhill trips, long city trips, and high-speed night rides with a breeze. Often these decks are symmetrical, with a low center of gravity and cutouts for large wheels.

Skateboard deck construction

A classic deck consists of 7-9 wood veneer layers, resin bonded, and compressed. Most often, Canadian maple is used in the manufacture of decks, which have high strength and lightness. Particularly sophisticated and sometimes perverse manufacturers use fiberglass, aluminum, or carbon – to increase stability, strength and reduce the weight of the board, but such decks are significantly more expensive on the market.

Deck length

Standard deck lengths range from 28 to 33 inches. Generally, the wider the deck, the longer it will be. The length of the deck is not such a priority when choosing and does not significantly affect the ride. This characteristic, as they say, is more in taste and color.

Pay attention: if you are tall, take a longer one among boards of the same width.

Wheelbase

The distance between the inner holes for attaching the hangers is called the “wheelbase” or simply the “base”. It depends on the length of the board and is also not critical for the choice of a skateboard for beginners. Nevertheless, this characteristic is important to some super connoisseurs.

Nose and tail

Each deck has a “nose” and “tail” in the common people. Sometimes it is even difficult to figure out where and what is. Usually, the “nose” is slightly larger and more curved. If there is some kind of large inscription on the board with the name of the brand, then it is usually written from nose to tail.

Board length

The length of the board always depends on its width: the wider the deck, the longer it is. But the proportion can be different from brand to brand. Each of the brands may have its own features.  For example, evolve skateboard is super unique as it’s electric and differs in functionality from common ones. therefore, it is better to leave this choice exclusively at the subjective level. When you buy it for the first time, just ignore it, and then you can find the “gold” format.

But don’t forget about children’s skateboards. This is where the characteristics of the rider’s age and height come into effect. Children are often small in stature and the standard 32 “board length for 8.0 width will be uncomfortable. It will be difficult for a small child to learn on such aboard. It is better if you buy your child just such. And as soon as he grows up, then you can change to an adult kit.

Concave: deflection between the edges of the deck

If you look at the deck in cross-section, you can immediately see that the board has a deflection, which is called “concave”. This parameter is also significant, as is the width.

• It is easier it is to perform technically complex tricks if the concave is deeper;
• A flat-concave is better suited for mini ramps, pools, and other radii.

Please note: the width of the deck and the depth of the concave are the most important factors when choosing aboard! And, of course, drawing, or, as skaters say, “graphics” is also a primary condition when buying :)

Kicktail

The bend on the “tail” of the board, which, as we have already said, is called the “kicktail”, allows even a beginner to jump on the skateboard. Most shortboards have these folds on both sides for a variety of tricks.