PDA

View Full Version : Board buying guide for beginners


Zeroskater11
09-13-2006, 11:39 AM
This is for helping you to buy a board. This is especially helpful if you just started skating.

The deck.

http://www.skatepirate.de/ebay_produktseite/fp_decks_vorlage_blankdeck2005_blau.jpg

The deck is one of the most important parts of the skateboard. You will want the board to suit your likings. If you are a shorter, or skinny person, you might want to buy a mini. A mini is a deck that is smaller than a usual deck, made for shorter people with less strengh in their legs. They have less weight, and are easier to flip. If you don't like the idea of buying a mini, go with a deck thats size is 7.50 inches wide. If your feet are bigger, you might want a 7.75, or maybe even an 8.00 inch wide deck. Another important part of the deck is concave. Concave is the dip on the sides of the board. It gives the board more pop, and flexability. All of this is important while buying a deck. You don't want a huge deck, when you have small feet, and vice-versa.


The Trucks.

http://minilogoskateboards.com/images/ml_trucks.jpg

The trucks help hold the entire skateboard together. They are what enables you to turn, and many other things. When you are buying trucks, you want them to be the same width as the deck, for example: If the board is 7.5 inches wide, then the trucks should be 7.5 inches wide. Trucks are also in 3 different heights, high, middle (mostly referred to as mid), and low. This is your personal preference, nothing important.


The Wheels.

http://www.switchmagazine.com/skateboard_pictures/snot_skateboard_wheels.jpg

The wheels are what get the skateboard moving. Without them, you would be going nowhere. Skateboard wheels range in size from around 48 mm, to up to around 60 mm. This is important to what style of skating you are going to do. If you skate street, then you should buy smaller wheels, around 48-53 mm. If you skate vert, then you will want bigger wheels, around 57-60 mm. If you are an all around skater, you should buy sizes in the range of 53-57 mm.

Other parts of a skateboard.

The Griptape

http://www.plusskateshop.com/files/Products/skateboard_griptape.gif

The griptape is an important part of the skateboard. If you don't have it, you will have no board control, and you will be sliding around the surface of your board. It helps you catch fliptricks, and overall is just essential.

The hardware

http://www.skatepro.com/blackdiamondsports/images/itemslarge/indyhardware.jpg

Hardware basically holds the skateboard with the trucks. Hardware is essential to a skateboard.

The bearings

http://www.vxb.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/kit130-large.jpg

The bearings go inside the wheels, which make the wheels turn. These range in quality by Abec. Abec 1, being the lowest, and Abec 9, being the highest

The Risers

http://www.x-wear.com/cot/assets/product_images/PAAAAAJEODGJBMDIt.jpg

Riser pads go between the deck and the trucks, decreasing the likeliness of pressure cracks. These are not essential, just an optional upgrade for you board.

black_world_skater
09-13-2006, 12:05 PM
Great job.But You forgot riser pads.

Picc84
09-13-2006, 12:12 PM
Yea, Realy niced artical, i love the pictures and all, Buy you did Forget Risers.... But good job haha

Zeroskater11
09-13-2006, 12:15 PM
Great job.But You forgot riser pads.

Damn, I thought I put them in. Let me get them.

EDIT: Done.

Picc84
09-13-2006, 12:20 PM
Nice, one of the best articals i've read... (reviwed twice for edit)

Jyro Blade
09-13-2006, 12:36 PM
good job

Chokolart
10-01-2006, 11:47 PM
Good job on the article.