Purchasing the right skateboard for yourself can be very challenging especially if you are a new skateboarder. You will get perplexed with a large number of choices you can select from in many different shops. An important thing you have to consider is the price. Of course, you should only opt for the skateboard which is affordable for you. You also need to decide on the shop where you are going to buy your skateboard. But beforehand, you must first decide whether you are going to assemble the skateboard on your own or buy the ready-made one. Both of these options are good because the decision is only yours to make.
Skateboard shops offer a wide selection of ready- made skateboards and skateboard parts. But how can you make the best choice out of this selection? The best way to select the appropriate skateboard is to learn the role of each component or part. There are three basic components of a skateboard: deck, trucks and wheels. Firstly, there are important things you should consider in selecting the right deck like its physical characteristics and materials used. The first thing to consider is the length of the deck. You can choose between the traditional or street which has a length under 33 inches and the Longboard of over 35 inches. The most widely used skateboard decks are the traditional ones. The Longboard decks are used by skateboarders who want to have a “surfy” feel. The choice of length depends on your personal preference. However, it is stated by the general rule that the shorter deck is a better option for smaller skaters.
The next essential point to consider is the width of the deck. The width of street or traditional boards ranges from 7.5 inches to 8.25 inches. Again, the width is your personal choice but if you are a small skater, it is better for you to opt for a deck of width under 8 inches to make learning tricks or exhibitions easier. The concave of the deck is the latter’s raised nose, sides and tail. It must also be wisely decided on since it has some dramatic effect on skateboard’s response to the skater. For beginning skateboarders, it is better to opt for shallower concave. The shape of the deck or board is the combination of all the aforementioned physical characteristics. In terms of the material of the decks, you can select from wood, plastic, aluminum and fiber glass.
Apart from the deck, another skateboard component to be taken into account is the truck. The size and material of the truck play an important role. The size of the truck is determined by the width of the deck. Mostly, truck sizes range from 4.75 to 5.5 inches. The wider the truck, the more stable the landing platform and the shorter the turning radius will be. However, the wider trucks are heavier. There are some trucks that are 7 inches wide and usually used for Longboards. The materials available for skateboard trucks are plastic, alloy metal and titanium.
The third component to be taken into consideration is the wheels of the skateboard. The size and hardness of the wheels should be given importance to. For street/traditional boards, the wheels are typically small while Longboards have large wheels. In terms of the hardness, street boards have hard wheels while Longboards have soft wheels. The only material used for the wheel is polyurethane. Nevertheless, wheels come in different colors and compositions.
Learning all the important facts mentioned above can equip you with knowledge and confidence in selecting and buying a skateboard by yourself. Now you are ready to visit many skateboard shops near you or online then compare products and prices.