Information About the Components of Skateboards

Skateboards are made of a lot of parts, but some are more important than others. How you choose the parts of your board should be a more important choice than how pretty each part looks. Make sure you know what kind of skating you want to do and choose components that will cater to that kind of performance.

  1. Deck

    • The deck is the most basic part of a skateboard. This is the flat piece of wood that the rider stands on. Typically this is slightly concave to allow for maneuvering. The deck also has a tail and a nose to allow the rider to do tricks. The top of the deck is usually coated in grip tape, which is a tape similar to sandpaper that allows the board to cling to the riders foot and follow him into the air.

    Trucks

    • At the most basic level, the trucks of a skateboard hold the wheels to the deck. More than this, however, they also contain the pivot, which allows the board to turn. Improper alignment can cause a skateboard to constantly turn to one side, or not turn properly when desired. Different brands of trucks are often made of different materials and have different purposes. Some focus on movement, while others focus on maintaining a light weight.

    Wheels

    • The wheels of a skateboard come in different sizes depending on the function. Skaters who skate in street-like environments favor smaller wheels, which keep their board light. Vert skaters, who favor skate parks, will usually use larger wheels to keep their speed high. Harder wheels are used by pros and do not give much grip and are difficult to steer on street surfaces, while softer wheels are better for this kind of skating.

    Other Hardware

    • Bearings are the most important part of hardware aside from the deck, wheels and trucks. These affect how easily the wheels turn and how stable the board rides. Skateboard bearings should also be strong enough to withstand the impact of tricks and jumping. Even so, they will need to be replaced often to ensure that the board is riding properly. Aside from the bearings, other important elements of skateboarding hardware are the screws that hold the trucks on, and for some riders, a riser pad may be used.