How to choose a skateboard - expert advice

Currently, skateboard is very popular not only among young people, but also among adults. This board on wheels, which came to us from the West, allows us not only to skate beautifully and quickly, with a minimum of effort, but also to perform many spectacular and breathtaking stunts that will surely attract the attention of viewers. However, this is possible only in the case when the board is chosen correctly, and its main elements fully correspond to the operating conditions.

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1. What elements does any skateboard consist of?
2. What should be a skateboard board?
3. What should be the suspension (truck)?
4. What should be the wheels and bearings
5. What else to consider when choosing a skateboard
6. Skateboard choice videos

What elements does any skateboard consist of?

The design of a skateboard, at first glance, is quite simple and does not have complex or expensive components. The main components considered key are three:

1. Deca - the top of the board, which stand up with their feet when riding. Depending on the type of skateboard, the deck can have a different length and width, as well as a variable design and be made of two or even three elements.

2. Trucks Element, which is a kind of analog suspension and serves to connect the deck with wheels.

3. Wheels. Rotating structural element, which accounts for the main load during riding.

What should be a skateboard board?

The deck of any skateboard is a board of a special form that has several diverse bends. Thus, the front has a bend, called the nose, the back, respectively, is bent and is designated as tail. The side elements are also made in a special form and are called concave, and their main purpose is to maneuver and control the board while riding.

Almost always, the basis of the deck is natural wood, and it is made on the principle of a sandwich, which includes from 7 to 9 different layers. The deck is covered on the outside with special lamination materials that improve grip on the shoes while driving, as well as performing an aesthetic function. A similar coating is located in the lower part of the deck, but its function is different - it is intended for performing tricks and sliding on hard surfaces.

The geometric dimensions of classic skateboards are almost always limited to a length of 75-80 centimeters with a width of 20-25 centimeters. On sale you can find and special long boards, called longboards, designed for active driving. Their length can reach one and a half meters.

What should be the suspension (truck)?

The tracks are a kind of transition element from the deck to the wheels and acting as a kind of suspension, absorbing shocks and directly affecting the stability of the board during rolling. Trucks are made of durable plastic or metal, and their thickness is even different. When choosing a skateboard, you should consider the operating conditions as well as the rider's own weight. The more the last - the more durable and thicker should be the tracks installed on the skateboard.However, this factor plays a negative role, making the skateboard heavier and making it less maneuverable. It is for this reason that the durability of a skateboard should not be abused.

What should be the wheels and bearings

When choosing a skateboard, it is necessary to pay special attention to the material from which the wheels are made. In 99% of cases, this role will be performed by polyurethane, but the degree of its density can vary quite strongly:

1. Soft wheels (polyurethane brand 70-80A) provide a high smoothness and excellent performance. The disadvantage is the rapid wear of the wheels during active operation;

2. Wheels of medium hardness (80-85A) are an excellent combination of strength characteristics, softness and smoothness;

3. Hard wheels (more than 85A) - durable, reliable and durable. These wheels are mounted on high-speed models, as well as on those skateboards, tracks of which provide a decent degree of depreciation;

Speed, roll forward and other features depend not only on the wheels and their design, but also on the quality of the bearings installed in them. This parameter is indicated by the ABEC marking and indicates the quality and level of specific bearing models. The cheapest and, accordingly, low-quality bearings are marked ABEC3 - they are installed only in low-cost models of skateboards. The most expensive and high-quality bearings are classified as ABEC9, they are equipped with the most expensive, professional models. For most buyers, models equipped with class 5-7 bearings are quite enough.

What else to consider when choosing a skateboard

Choosing your first skateboard, pay attention to the manufacturer. You should not save money and choose obviously budget options from nameless Chinese manufacturers. With questionable savings, disappointment with poor quality will befall you very soon. For this reason, preference should be given to proven European or American manufacturers.

Currently on sale there are a great many models that differ not only constructively, but also in the degree of readiness. For a beginner, the best option would be the so-called “complet” - a skateboard, fully assembled and ready for use. As the skills and mastering of technology increase, an awareness of what a particular rider needs, and it is at this point that the so-called tuning begins - the corresponding deck is set up, on which certain tracks and custom wheels are installed to achieve certain goals. Fortunately, all these elements can be found on sale separately, which opens up truly endless possibilities for skateboard tuners.

Having picked up a certain model, it will not be out of place to read the user reviews about it, which can be found on the Internet. Accept for the calculation should be both positive and negative comments.

In the following articles, our experts tell how to choose a scooter and secrets choice of roller skates.

Skateboard choice videos

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a guide to purchase.