How To Grip A Skateboard

• A good sheet of grip tape
• A file or old screw driver
• A razor blade (the sharper the better)
• And a skate deck

• After you have gathered your supplies and selected the board that you want to ride, you’re ready to start gripping. You’re going to want to give yourself enough room to work with and a workspace that you don’t mind getting dirty or scratched.

• Start by removing the plastic wrap from the board. Remove any stickers that may be on the top of the board. Use the razor blade to scrape off the top clear coat of lacquer from the top of the board, doing this will ensure that the grip tape sticks to the wood not the lacquer (don’t scrape too much though, just a few good scrapes up and down the board will do it). Now you’re ready to apply the grip tape.
• Grip tape can come in two different styles. Some grip tape is pre-cut and some is made on rolls. If you are using roll grip tape you can simply roll out the grip over the board to measure out how much you need to cut. Be sure to cut a little more that you need, to much is better than not enough. Once you have the grip measured and ready to go, peel off the paper backing and (without sticking the grip to the board) center the grip tape over the board. Double check to make sure you have the grip centered and that you will be able to cover the entire board, peeling grip off a board sucks so take your time. Press the center of the grip tape to the center of the board and work your way to one end of the board (nose or tail) and then to the other. Make sure that you press the grip on firmly but at the same time be careful not to get any air bubbles. If you do end up with an air bubble you can just poke it a couple times with the corner of the razor blade to get the air out.
• With the grip tape securely stuck to the board, it’s time to get out the file. Files work best for this step but if you don’t have one you can use an old screw driver instead. Rub the file over the grip tape along the edge of the board. Doing this will create a white outline on the grip around the edge of the board (which will allow you to make a smoother, straighter, easier cut). The next step is to cut off the excess grip tape using a razor blade. Cutting the grip can be tricky and it does take practice. The best technique is to cut at an angle from the underside of the grip tape (for better demonstration check out the video link at the bottom of the page). Be sure to save a piece of the grip tape you cut off the board. Use that piece to lightly sand the edges of the grip tape and the board so that none of the edges come unglued. Poke the holes in for the hardware, slap on some trucks and wheels and you’re ready to shred.