How to choose a skateboard for beginners

Skateboarding has been gaining more and more popularity lately. Its growing popularity was also confirmed by the success associated with inclusion in the Olympic Games. How to get around choosing the right skateboard so that your start in this cool sport is as good as possible? We bring you 5 tips that will definitely help you in your skateboarding beginnings.

1. Choosing the right store

Choose a store that specializes in action sports and sells higher quality brands. You will most likely get good professional advice and end up with a better skateboard. After all, if you try to save too much, it's quite possible that sooner or later you'll end up in that store anyway (if a low-quality skate doesn't discourage you by then). Last but not least, the biggest advantage will be the possibility to service and a wide selection of spare parts available whenever you need them.

2. A complete skateboard or skateboard parts

As a beginner, you face a dilemma. Whether to buy a skateboard in individual parts or to buy a it as an assembled complete. When buying in parts, the price can double, and some components may be of slightly better quality. But you won't go wrong by buying a set from a reliable brand, and the manufacturer will take care of all the worries associated with assembling the skateboard for you.

3. Board and its size

The board is one of the most important parts of a skateboard. It is in direct contact with your legs and is the most visible part of the entire set. That's why choosing a specific design is extra fun.

Most of the boards are made of 7-ply maple wood glued together and pressed under high pressure.

The size of the skateboard depends on riding preferences and height. You will have to choose the right size when choosing a skate complete and also when choosing the board itself. If you are an adult beginner of average height, an 8-8.25 inch wide board will probably be fine for you. If you are one of the shorter riders, look for boards and sets with smaller width, for example 7.75, and vice versa, if you are a taller rider, look for a larger skateboard.

Choosing a board size for teenagers - the same applies to them as it does to smaller adult riders. A skateboard with the width of around 7.75 inches will be perfectly fine.

For small and ambitious children, you will of course also find skateboards with dimensions approaching 7 inches.

Alternatively, you can also use this Dwindle size chart for beginners.

Skateboard Size Chart

Tip: if you can't decide, don't waste time thinking about small details. It will take time until you acquire the necessary skill to be able to distinguish between them.

4. Wheels

Street wheels are usually smaller. They are easier to control and more agile. On the contrary, larger wheels are used for riding in the skatepark and on ramps. For example, 54-60mm. Thanks to them, you will gain even more speed for jumps and tricks.

The hardness of wheels is a whole new story. Harder wheels (101A) will slide more easily. Of course, this may not be good in every situation, but when learning new tricks it could help you when landing or trying to land a new jump/trick. Harder wheels will also make it easier to slide, which could be useful if you're going downhill.

Wheels with hardness of 99A are much softer than wheels with a hardness of 101A, but it will be a little more difficult to start a slide. In summary – softer wheels are more comfortable for normal driving and at the same time harder to slide, which can sometimes be more difficult for a beginner. Of course, you can equip your skateboard with completely soft cruiser wheels, but the tricks will not be very realistic. You may also need to increase the height of the deck using risers.

5. Bearings

Bearings are a controversial topic. Many are marked with the ABEC standard, which is still preferred by most manufacturers today. However, ABEC is not everything and only indicates the accuracy of processing of the balls inside. There are even brands on the market that have already abandoned the ABEC standard. A short recommendation is, if you are buying a branded board, do not worry about the bearings. They will definitely not be the reason that prevents you from progressing when advancing in technique or driving.

Bearings

6. Griptape

Most Griptapes are pretty similar. You don't have to worry about it if you are starting. If you are assembling a skateboard, focus on well-known brands such as Jessup.

Griptape

7. Trucks

For each truck size, you usually have an indication of the board size they are intended for. They shouldn't be tight, because then you could turn badly, and vice versa, they shouldn't be too wide, because you could even step on a wheel.

Trucks

I hope we helped you with the basics. The only thing left is to choose the right skateboard and go. Click on the banner above and go to our e-shop where you will find a wide selection of skates to choose from. Or just stop by our store in Bratislava-Petržalka.