What types of skateboards are there?

Basically, you can distinguish between the following types of skateboards: Street skateboards , which were developed for tricks, half pipes and parks, longboards, which give you the feeling of surfing or snowboarding at high speeds, and cruiser boards (penny boards), which are light and maneuverable and are perfect as a means of transport for everyday use.

Street skateboards

A street skateboard is the perfect board for freestyle tricks on the street and in the skate park. The ends of the deck are strongly curved on both sides and the wheels are small and narrow. Choose between different types of wood and shapes of skateboard deck:

1. Classic Popsicle Shape (Street Skateboard Deck)
2. Old-school pool / bowl deck
3. Modern Shaped Deck, here there are different caves (curvatures) such as low-cave, medium-cave and high-cave and particularly unusual artistic designs

Standard skateboard sizes: 24-inch, 28-inch, 31-inch

Cruiser Boards / Slide Boards / Penny Boards

Are you looking for an everyday board or an alternative to a scooter? Then these small city scooters are the ideal choice for you. There are models with decks made of PVC (plastic) or wood, both of which are great for getting from A to B. Cruiser boards became established in the 80s and are still a very popular board for everyday use today.

Longboards / Downhill Boards

At 90 to 150cm, a longboard is significantly longer than a street skateboard and, thanks to the larger axle spacing, is ideal for riding slalom-like curves. Do you want to experience the feeling of riding a surfboard on the street? Then you'll love a longboard! Longboards come in different shapes and designs. Each type is designed for specific riding techniques and there are also different skateboard decks in this category: choose between downhill, freeride, carving, cruising, slalom and dancing.

Waveboards / Snakeboards

A waveboard is divided into two flexible plates that are connected by a torsion bar. This allows movement in a wave shape, which means that pushing off with the foot is no longer necessary. Due to the serpentine movement style, this fun sports device is also called a snakeboard. In contrast to all other skateboard models, the waveboard only has 2 wheels. Are you ready for fun and action on the street? Click here to go to our “ Waveboard Switzerland ” section with further information and helpful videos.

What you should pay attention to when buying a skateboard

First, you should consider what you want to use your skate for. Are you looking for a board for tricks in the skate park or do you just want to cruise comfortably along the streets? Regardless of whether you choose a street skateboard, longboard or slideboard, there are various models of each type of skateboard for beginners, advanced and professionals, which differ in the type of wood of the deck, trucks, wheels and design.

Skateboard components | This is what makes your skate

1. Deck

Skateboard decks come in different materials, sizes and shapes. All decks are equipped with grip tape or another rough surface, which ensures that the shoes have a good grip on the board.

• The decks of street skateboards are short and wide and are curved upwards at the ends. They therefore offer perfect conditions for tricks and freestyle riding.
• The decks of cruiser boards are narrow and are often made of PVC plastic, fiberglass or even wood. With this model, often only the rear end of the board is curved upwards.
• The decks of longboards are particularly long, often wider in the middle than at the front and back, and are usually made of wood. The flex of the board, i.e. the flexibility of the wood, plays a major role, especially with longboards. Opt for a rigid deck for smooth running, or choose a soft deck for maximum flexibility and aggressive cornering.

2 axes

Two wheels are mounted on each skateboard axle. The axle is mounted on the base plate together with the hanger (the moving part). The base plate is screwed directly to the underside of the deck. The kingpin, steering rubbers and washers are also part of the axles.

3. Ball bearings

The ball bearing is crucial when it comes to the rolling quality of your skateboard. There are ball bearings in the qualities Abec-1, Abec-3, Abec-5, Abec-7 and Abec-9. Most good boards have an Abec-7 or Abec-9 ball bearing installed. In our shop we offer you all quality levels at a fair price.

4. Wheels

The choice of wheels has a decisive influence on the handling of your skateboard. Small wheels make your board flexible and maneuverable and are best suited for freestyle. The larger your wheels, the smoother your board will run. Wide wheels make your skateboard even more stable and prevent bumps in the road from causing you to skid or even fall over. The wheel sizes for complete skateboards vary between 46mm and 54mm, have different degrees of hardness and are therefore suitable for different surfaces.

5. Bushings

Bushings are made of polyurethane and are placed between the baseplate and the hanger on the kingpin. Bushings have a direct influence on the steering behavior of the skateboard axle. Hard bushings make your skateboard rigid and stable, soft bushings make it flexible and particularly responsive. Choose your preferred degree of hardness by trying out different bushings. You can replace them yourself at any time with the necessary tools.

Which skateboard for whom?

Children : For small children we recommend 24 or 28 inch boards. These decks are designed especially for children and have great designs. The trucks are set quite hard for children so that the board does not react too strongly to unwanted movements. This means that the child can soon enjoy safe riding and first successes. You can buy cheap children's skateboards in our Swiss online shop for prices starting at CHF 29.90.

Teenagers and adults : Teenagers and adults are spoiled for choice, as there are countless models to choose from. We recommend sizes of 31 inches for street skateboards and 34 inches for cruisers. Beginner boards are cheaper because they are equipped with slightly worse ball bearings and axles. For a good quality board for long-term riding fun, you should expect to pay at least CHF 79 in our skate shop.

Areas of use for skateboards

Comfortable cruising: For comfortable cruising, we recommend the Slide brand longboards or cruiser boards. These allow you to slalom in a relaxed manner and you always have a secure footing. Due to their size and weight, longboards are less suitable for everyday use as a means of transport. The constant driving experience of a longboard is similar to inline skating and very high speeds are possible.

Tricks / Street: Do you love tricks and want to ride your board over obstacles in the skate park? Then the classic street skateboard is the right choice for you. It is small, light and compact and offers perfect features for performing daring tricks à la Tony Hawk . Choose between our models for children, teenagers and adults.

City / Commute: PVC cruisers are ideal for short commutes or getting from A to B, they are light and very maneuverable and can be easily stored in a backpack. We stock a large selection of penny boards in different styles and bright colors.

Safety when skateboarding

Protective equipment: Skateboarding can be dangerous, because if you kiss the asphalt you will quickly make an unpleasant acquaintance with this hard surface. Regardless of whether you are using a girl's skateboard, an all-round model or a cruiser - as a beginner, never ride without protective clothing. This includes a suitable helmet as well as wrist, knee and elbow pads. We recommend the brilliant helmets from the Melon brand, which are available in bright or subtle colors. Click here for more tips on safe skating from the Swiss Advisory Center for Accident Prevention (BFU).

Skateboard Accessories

In addition to wheels, trucks and a skateboard deck, there are other accessories that make skating more fun. Good skateboard equipment includes good shoes, a deck with grip tape for optimal grip, knee, wrist and elbow pads if necessary and of course a helmet in case you fall. For anyone who likes street skateboarding and likes to ride over obstacles and practice tricks, skate ramps for the home are recommended. Mobile jump ramps are available in different shapes and heights and offer the opportunity to refine your skills at home at any time. The ramps are made of robust beech wood and can therefore withstand the high loads when used by many skateboarders. The construction of a jump ramp is made in such a way that it stands securely on the ground in any location and cannot slip. The advantages of a private skate park are obvious: you can refine your skills with your skateboard whenever you want with your friends. The ramps can be dismantled into their individual parts in just a few steps and stored in a space-saving manner.

The history of skateboarding

For most people, skateboarding is not just a sport or a leisure activity – skateboarding is a way of life. Skateboarding is not a modern phenomenon; the foundations of this sport were laid in the middle of the 20th century. We explain the most important points in its history in our Skateboarding History . Skateboarding was invented in the 1950s . Back then, resourceful surfers wanted to bring the feeling of surfing to the streets of California and Hawaii. The first skateboards simply had roller skate wheels mounted on shortened surfboards and off they went out onto the streets. Over time , “asphalt surfing” has become an international trend sport and the quality of the rolling material has continually improved. If you stand on a skateboard today, you are benefiting from the know-how and passion of several generations.

Our Skateboard Brands

Slide's skateboards and longboards are made for pure riding fun! They impress with trendy designs in fresh, modern colors. Slide stands for premium quality skateboards with very good riding characteristics. Thanks to the founders' years of experience, the boards can be used for elegant cruising or for quick and agile maneuvering - depending on the model. The fan community knows: Slide's complete boards, which are valued as reliable and high-quality, keep their promises. Slide skateboards offer an excellent price/performance ratio.

Slide at a glance:

• Swiss development and design
• best quality - fair prices
• great driving characteristics
• popular with young and young at heart
• for beginners to experienced riders
• Fast delivery thanks to warehouse in Switzerland

Conclusion: Your skateboard - your everyday companion

A skateboard is a particularly loyal companion in everyday life. It not only takes you from A to B in comfort, it also offers fun and entertainment, experiences with friends, activity and exercise and, last but not least, culture and a philosophy of life . The importance of a skateboard far exceeds that of being a pure piece of sports equipment, especially for people who are fully committed to the evergreen sport. Whether you ride an expensive Santa Cruz skateboard or a cheaper alternative is ultimately irrelevant. The main thing is that you are standing on a board with wheels that you can steer and following your inner voice into the next adventure on the road.

About Funwheel

Funwheel is a Swiss company that specializes in fun sports items. It doesn't matter whether you want to whizz down the toboggan run in the valley on a Davos sled or whether you want to whizz through the city in the summer on a high-quality scooter. We have the perfect product for you that you will enjoy for a long time. We offer useful gifts for children as well as transport devices for adults that not only make your everyday life easier but also make riding a lot of fun. No matter which product you choose, you will always benefit from our experienced customer service and one of the largest spare parts warehouses in Switzerland in the fun sports sector. In our online shop we offer skateboards in various lengths and widths, for beginners and advanced riders for all types of use. When you make a purchase, we are happy to provide you with personal advice and helpful tips. We have all items in our Swiss warehouse and ship orders placed before 2:30 p.m. on the same working day. We look forward to your order and to hearing from you!