A skateboard is more than just a board with wheels underneath. The different models and types differ considerably in terms of durability, performance and features. These five characteristics in particular have a major influence on the properties of a skateboard:
- Board Art
- deck
- Axles
- roll
- ball-bearing
Buy a skateboard – the different types of skateboards
There are three different types of skateboards:
Longboards and cruisers are perfect for carving. Classic skateboards, on the other hand, are more maneuverable than longboards or cruisers. They are therefore better suited for stunts and tricks in the skate park or in the half-pipe. So-called cruiser boards are a mixture of cruisers and skateboards. They are easy to steer and ideal for cruising in the city. Cruiser boards are only suitable to a very limited extent for stunts and tricks.
Skateboard Deck
The skateboard deck is the footboard. Its quality depends heavily on the type of wood the deck is made of. Maple wood, for example, is particularly hard and resilient. In addition to the type of wood, the size of the deck plays an important role. If you want to buy a skateboard, you should therefore choose the right width. And that depends directly on your foot size:
- Shoe size EU 35–40: Cover width 7.25 to 7.8”, which corresponds to about 18–20 cm
- Shoe size EU 40–45: Cover width 7.8 to 9”, which corresponds to about 20–23 cm
- Shoe size EU > 45: Cover width at least 7.8", preferably more. This corresponds to a width of at least 20 cm.
Skateboard Trucks – the axles
The axles on a skateboard are called trucks. They come in different materials and shapes. Light axles react strongly and make you agile. Hard axles do not react as strongly. You need this rigidity for stunt skating.
Skateboard bearings
You should also pay attention to the ball bearings when you want to buy a skateboard. Ball bearings in the ABEC 3-5 range are suitable for streets. For the park and on ramps, we recommend precise ball bearings in the ABEC 7-9 class. You have to break in the ball bearings properly at the beginning and then take care of them carefully. Ball bearings are particularly sensitive to moisture and humidity.
Skateboard wheels
The fifth important component of a skateboard is the wheels. Two properties are important:
- The size, i.e. the diameter
- The hardness
Large wheels with a diameter of 55-65 mm are faster. They are therefore particularly suitable for ramps. Smaller wheels of 50-55 mm are not quite as fast, but are particularly maneuverable. They are particularly preferred by street skaters.
When it comes to hardness, the harder a wheel is, the faster it rolls. Soft wheels dampen vibrations better and provide more grip. You can tell the hardness of a wheel by a combination of a number and the letter A, e.g. 100A. The higher the number, the harder the wheels are.
