How to choose a skateboard

Skateboard decks are rectangular with rounded ends that angle upwards. They vary in size and material used.

The width and length of a skateboard has a big influence on its rideability. Wider boards are suitable for beginners, larger riders with larger feet, and for skating ramps. Conversely, narrower skaterboards are suitable for smaller riders and for more technical skateboarding, such as flatground tricks.

Decks are composed of 5-9 layers. The best quality skateboards are made of Canadian maple, which offers excellent strength and flexibility, although beginners often go for the cheaper Chinese maple, beech or oak. Skateboards made from laminate or PVC are even cheaper, but are not suitable for doing tricks.

Trucks connect the wheels to the deck and allow you to steer the skateboard. They should be chosen according to the width of the deck and the style of skating you want to do. As trucks are one of the heaviest parts of a skateboard, it is good idea to get lighter trucks, such as those with hollow axles or made from titanium, especially if you plan to do tricks.

Trucks come in three basic sizes:

• Low – provide increased stability when performing flip tricks; should be coupled with smaller wheels (usually 50-53 mm); not the best option for travelling around the city.
• Middle – universal size suitable for most styles; can be coupled with 54-59 mm wheels.
• High – suitable for carving and cruising around the city; should be coupled with 56 mm and larger wheels.

Smaller wheels are lighter, but they are also slower and less comfortable on uneven surfaces.

Diameter:

• 50-53 mm – small; suitable for tricks and technical skating.
• 54-59 mm – universal size; suitable for skateparks and cruising around the city.
• 60 mm – better on unevent terrain; more often found on longboards and cruisers; not suitable for tricks, but ideal for cruising around the city.

Hardness:

Softer wheels behave better on rough surfaces as they absorb vibration, but they are also slower. Harder wheels are faster and are better suited to smooth concrete surfaces, making them the ideal choice for skateparks.

• 78a-87a – the softest wheels; unsuitable for smooth surfaces or skating pools; more often found on longboards.
• 88a-95a – fast; suitable for rougher surfaces and street skating.
• 96a-99a – faster; suitable for flat surfaces, including skateparks.
• 101 and higher – the fastest and hardest wheels; ideal for professional use at skateparks.

Bearings ensure that the wheels spin smoothly. Bearing quality is measured on the 1-9 ABEC scale, where 9 indicates the highest quality bearings. The higher the bearing quality, the faster and smoother your ride will be. Anything marked ABEC 5 and above can be considered good quality.