| Here is an overview of what you should
consider before buying your skateboard.
You never want to skimp on the skateboard that your
purchase because you can result in wheels made of poor
material, trucks that are weak, bearings that freeze
up or boards that break. Skateboarding by nature is
very dangerous you do not need to make it even more
treacherous.
Skateboards have three major parts. The deck which
is the board itself, the trucks which is the mechanism
to which wheels are attached and the wheels.
Deck: This is the part of the board
that you stand on. Decks are raised at the front and
back ends. The front is called the nose and the back
is referred to as the tail. The deck is also curved
up on the sides this is referred to as the concave of
the deck.
Griptape: The sandpaper like material
on the top of the deck which helps the foot to grip
the deck. Griptape comes in sticker-like sheets and
is available in various colors. Black griptape is of
higher quality.
Trucks: The metal parts that connect
the deck to the wheels and allow the skateboarder to
turn.
Wheels: The part the rolls on the
ground. Skateboard wheels are made from urethane and
come in various degrees of hardness as well as different
sizes.
Skateboards have various characteristics for all types
of riding including slalom, freestyle and speed. Some
are rated for the user's weight. When purchasing a skateboard
you have two options either to buy all parts separate
and have it put together or buying a complete skateboard.
Build a skateboard from scratch
This is where you buy each of the parts of the skateboards
(deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, etc) and either put
it all together yourself or have someone at a skateboard
shop put it together for you. The result is that you
will have the best parts available on the market because
you can pick and choose from a variety of manufacturers
equipment. These boards will cost you at least $100.
Buy a complete skateboard
Complete skateboards are all assembled and ready to
go. Often this type of board will have most of their
parts from one manufacturer. There are a lot of good
quality complete boards available just do your homework
so that you know about decks, trucks, wheels and bearings
so that you can ask the right questions. This type of
board will cost approximately $60 to $100. |
