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What affects the feel of a skateboard?
There are a lot of factors that can contribute to the feel of a skateboard. The size and shape of the board are going to make the biggest and most noticeable difference. The larger the board, the easier it will be to ride and the more concave a board has the easier it will be to do tricks. How tight you ride your trucks will have a big affect on the feel of your board. Looser trucks are easier to turn but can be wobbly or squirrelly for a beginner, especially at higher speeds. The bearings used will affect how fast your board can go, and also how smooth ride is. Newer bearings or bearings with a higher abec rating will give the smoothest ride. Your wheels will also affect the feel of a board, softer wheels will give you a smoother ride that's good for cruising and harder wheels give a rougher ride but will be better for skate parks or street skating.
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What is Concave?
If you look down the length of your board you will notice that the long section between the nose and tail is not perfectly flat. Most boards will curve up a little towards the edges creating a bowed shape. Concave gives the board additional strength and the rider additional control.
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What is the Wheelbase of a Board?
The wheelbase of a board is measured from one inner pair of mounting holes to the other. Most skaters with longer legs prefer a longer wheels base. Average wheelbases can be anywhere from 13”-15”, choosing a wheelbase is mostly about comfort and personal preference.
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How Do I Choose the Right Board for me?
When choosing a skateboard, consider your weight and height before deciding what size board to go for. The heavier and/or taller you are the better off you'll be on a larger, wider board, however you may prefer to start off on a larger board anyway to provide you with stability until you decide what style of riding you are going to adopt. Decks are usually made from layers of laminated wood plys (usually 7) and vary in length and size. Most deck widths range between 7.5 and 8.5 inches, and lengths, from around 31 to 33 inches. Your choice will depend on the type of riding you want to do. The smaller, lighter decks are usually easier to control and flip. Whereas the larger, heavier decks are more stable and are good for riding transitions or doing stairs and gaps. The rest is down to personal preference in terms of wheel base, nose, and tail length. Most decks (except for some longboards) have a raised nose, tail, and sides. This is called the concave. The depth and overall shape of the concave has a dramatic effect on the response of the skateboard. The deeper the concave, the more aggressive the skater can be with their tricks. The shallower the concave, the more forgiving the deck is for newer skaters. Grip Tape is applied to the top of the deck and provides you with traction. There are loads of different colors & graphics available but they all do the same basic job.
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What is the Nose of a Board?
Most all skateboards are design to be ridden in a specific direction. The nose of your board is the “kicktail” that is designed to be in the front of you board. Most boards are designed to have a slightly longer and broader nose. If you have trouble deciding which kicktail is the nose you can usually tell by the graphic of the board as well. When a board is placed in a vertical position you should be able to read the text on the graphic if the nose is point up.
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What is the Tail of a Board?
Most all skateboards are design to be ridden in a specific direction. The tail of your board is the “kicktail” that is designed to be in the back end of you board. Most boards are designed to have a slightly shorter and narrower tail. If you have trouble deciding which kicktail is the tail you can usually tell by the graphic of the board as well. When a board is placed in a vertical position you should be able to read the text on the graphic if the tail is pointed down.
