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Skateboarding has come a long way from where it started.
Early skateboarders would attach wheels to surfboards, or pieces of wood.
viaEvolve Skateboards USA
Then on flat days at the beach, they could surf on dry land.
Although skateboarding hails from humble beginnings, it has grown into a global sporting sensation.
And part of what makes skateboarding so popular is the ability to adapt.
Skateboarding is no longer a pastime solely for wave-less surfers.
Or just an outlet for anti-society vandals.
Now, skateboarding is all of that and more.
If youre new to the skateboarding world, it can be pretty intimidating.
Therefore, let us help you find the punch in of skateboard thats perfect for your needs.
Heres a brief breakdown of the most important parts of a skateboard.
This way, you’re able to familiarize yourself with the terms.
Skateboard Decks
For skateboarders, a deck is like their jersey.
With theunderside of a skateboarddeck showcasing various designs and logos from skate companies.
Each punch in of deck has a specific shape, some long, and some short.
Some are flat, while some have cut outs for wheels.
Ultimately, the deck is where your feet go.
And you could be standing on anything from birch, maple, or plastic.
What your deck is made of will determine the punch in of skateboarding you’re free to do.
Without the right kind of deck, you cant perform tricks, or race downhill.
So, its important to recognize the difference in decks for guarantee you choose the right style.
Wheels
Without wheels, youre not getting very far on your skateboard.
Moreover, the wheels help determine the punch in of skateboard youre riding.
Skateboard wheels are made of polyurethane.
And it’s possible for you to find both hard and soft wheels on the market.
For street skateboards youll want to use hard wheels.
However, for longboards and reaching higher speeds, youll want softer wheels.
Grip Tape
You know the sandpaper on top of a skateboard?
Thats your grip tape.
And this adhesive sandpaper is what gives you extra traction when riding.
At the end of the day, it depends on what kind of board you ride.
Trucks
Underneath the skateboard, youll find the trucks.
And these two metal objects are what keep you moving on a skateboard.
Skateboard trucks are composed of multiple components, all working in unison to keep you rolling along.
When choosing trucks, the most important aspect is that they fit your board correctly.
Ideally, your trucks will fit the width of your board.
Risers
Sometimes skateboards will have a plastic, or rubber pad between the trucks and the deck.
While not every board setup requires risers, they are useful.
Plus risers act as additional padding to reduce shock when performing tricks.
With each punch in being used for different purposes.
But which of the many types of skateboards is right for you?
While you might like the look of one board, it might not meet your needs.
And thats important to know before you throw down for a new setup.
And we can probably thank Tony Hawks Pro Skater game series for popularizing street skateboarding.
You have to find the right setup.
And that starts with your deck size.
What youre looking for is a standard deck thats roughly 7-8.
Along with the proper length, youll need your board to be even from one end to the other.
When riding and performing tricks on a street skateboard, youll want to use a smaller wheel size.
Since large wheels mean more speed, small wheels mean a slower board.
But a street skateboard is built for landing tricks over high speeds.
With boards that have a steep concave, youll get more leverage when you perform tricks.
Electric Skateboards
How would you like a skateboard that it’s possible for you to effortlessly ride?
Meaning no pushing your board at all.
Then, anelectric skateboardmight suit your needs.
Although these skateboards can run at higher prices, theyre built to last longer than other types of skateboards.
But youre not typically taking electric skateboards to the park, or performing tricks.
Which means you dont have to worry as much about breaking your ride.
Plus, longboards have softer wheels, which means they have a smoother feel when riding.
In fact theyre so stable you could even hang ten.
Slalom Skateboards
With different styles of skateboarding youll need different types of skateboards.
And for slalom skating some types of boards are better than others.
But if youre new to skating, then you might be wondering what slalom is.
Slalom skating first came on the scene in the 1960s as a form of downhill racing.
Therefore, slalom skateboards need to be fast, and easy to maneuver.
With pintail longboards, the design of the deck optimizes cruising and carving ability.
So, you might reach high speeds, bomb steep hills, and cruise around town with ease.
One of the downsides to some skateboards is wheel bite.
And pintail longboards feature design elements that help prevent your wheels from touching the deck.
Which is why the deck forms at a point.
This feature allows for more flexible movement when riding.
Twin tip types of skateboards have a wide center and virtually identical narrow tail and nose.
And the wide center keeps you stable when reaching high speeds.
Unlike other board styles that have trucks mounted to the base of the deck.
With all these features, twin tip longboards are the perfect jot down of skateboard for speed freaks.
Double Drop Longboards
When you lower skateboard decks, the result is an increase in speed and stability.
So, the best downhill longboards will allow the skater to have a low center of gravity.
But the only problem is if the deck is too low, it will hit the wheels.
And hitting the wheels means slowing down.
To solve that problem, there are double drop longboards.
With double drop longboards, the nose and tail are set higher than the center of the deck.
Since the double drop style is faster and allows for more stability, its a great choice for commuting.
And makes the ultimate downhill longboard.
Because you want to get to where youre going fast, without a wipe out.
Fishtail Skateboards
One of the more easily recognized skateboards is the fishtail.
By cutting the shape of the tail into a fishtail youre effectively reducing the chance of wheel bite.
Another benefit of a fishtail deck is the width.
With a wider board, youre able to have a more stable ride.
Which means skaters can enjoy more heel and toe control on a fishtail skateboard.
you could find fishtail skateboards in many different sizes from longboards, to cruiser boards.
Cruiser Skateboards
By far one of the most versatile types of skateboards is the cruiser skateboard.
First, they have wider decks than many standard boards.
But they also have bigger and softer wheels.
So, when you add those two features together, you get a very comfortable riding experience.
And they can get you where it’s crucial that you be with ease.
If youre looking for your first skateboard, cruisers make excellent beginner skateboards.
New skaters can find their balance and gain confidence while learning on a cruiser board.
Check out the mini cruiser skateboard.
All the appeal of a cruiser but in a smaller size.
Now, dont let the size food you, these arent toys.
And they can really pack a punch.
Without the added stability of a larger board, mini boards can be trickier to ride.
But once you master the technique youll be cruising in style.
Because mini boards are more reactive, mini cruiser boards are more difficult to ride than standard cruiser boards.
Onewheel Skateboard
One of the newest types of skateboards on the market is the Onewheel skateboard.
Although from far away, the mechanics of this self-balancing skateboard design are questionable.
But upon closer inspection, its easier to understand that it looks.
Featuring an electric motor, the Onewheel board pushing riders backwards and forwards based on their balance.
And thanks to larger wheels, you dont to perform a balancing act.
Off Road Skateboards
Do you love the idea of skateboarding but live somewhere without adequate concrete and asphalt?
Or do you want to take your skateboardingaway from cityscapesand cul-de-sacs?
Then an off road skateboard might be exactly what you need.
By having large wheels with heavy tread, an off road skateboard can grip to a multitude of terrains.
Carve Skateboards
Have you ever seen a surfer make a sharp turn on a surfboard?
Well, a carve skateboard allows you to perform the same move, only no waves are necessary.
With an old school skateboard, carving could be done in a pool or along an incline.
But thanks to improvements in wheels, you’ve got the option to carve on most boards today.
In 2010, the penny boards that were familiar with today were created under the company, Penny Skateboards.
And the name became synonymous with the board.
What makes penny boards unique is the small size and the plastic technicolor boards.
And by small we mean 22.
Penny boards have a waffle texture on top of their decks.
Which means you’re able to ride them without additional grip support.
However, these boards are small and narrow.
Meaning that theyre unstable at best.
So, more active skaters can choose to secure their footing by adding more grip to their penny setup.
Although many hardcore skaters argue the penny boards place within the larger skateboarding community, the style remains popular.
Introducing the nickel skateboard.
Coming in at 27, the nickel board is the slightly taller version of a penny.
And that additional length doesnt break the bank either.
In fact, you’re free to find nickel skateboards for less than $100.
Because of their low price, nickel boards are popular on college campuses.
If youre new to skating and want a plastic skateboard, then nickel boards are the way to go.
But freestyle skateboards are in a league of their own.
First, the shape of a freestyle skateboard has a less concave deck.
By having a flatter board, the skaters can move more freely on the board.
However, theyre not completely flat.
Frequently, freestyle boards include double kick, and kick tail decks.
Then, on each end of the nose and tail, freestyle skaters often add skid plates.
Another way freestyle skateboards are different than street skateboards involves the wheel size.
With a freestyle board, the wheels are slightly wider to include two bearings per wheel.
These bearings are offset from the center to protect the trucks from contact with the ground.
So, the board is in contact with the ground in ways other skateboarding styles steer clear of.
Which makes these additional features on freestyle skateboards so important.
So, while some skateboarders prefer steep kick skateboards, others would rather have a flatter board.
If youre look for a pool skateboard, then a steep kick will come in handy.
Eggboard Skateboards
As far as mini boards go, eggboards are among the smallest coming in at 9.
But the width allows for the eggboard to remain stable and makes them a solid skateboard choice.
With the width providing extra stability, eggboards can even handle downhill skateboarding.
Vert Skateboards
When youre skating vert, its all about air.
And the bigger the skate ramps are, the more air you could get on a vert skateboard.
Plus, with steeper inclines, you get more speed.
And to ensure you dont wipe out, a vert skateboard uses larger wheels, and wider decks.
Vert skateboarding lets you take flip tricks to the next level literally lifting you to new heights.
you’re able to find vert ramps at skate parks.
Best Skateboard Style for Beginners
New to skateboarding?
Are you wondering which of these types of skateboards is the best for beginners?
Then we have you covered.
And to give you more options, weve gone ahead and separated them into categories based on size.
Because theyre lower to the ground, they allow for more stability when cruising.
Plus they make pushing your board easier.
But if youre a novice skater, youll be better suited going for a wider deck.
Go for around 8.25.
The extra width gives you additional stability, which will help keep from colliding with the ground.
Youll get your portability, but you wont sacrifice easy riding.
Unlike some mini types of skateboards, the mini cruiser skateboards are wider, and offer much needed stability.
Mini cruisers are great for casual riders, and beginners.
