Choosing the right skateboard is essential for everyone that skateboards. Choose the wrong shape, size and concave of a deck and you may end up being frustrated or have a really difficult time landing tricks.
The first rule in buying a skateboard is considering the deck’s size. Your local skate shop can be helpful giving you hints, but the general rule is that the bigger the size of your feet are, the wider your board should be. This improves your percentage in landing tricks and avoiding toe drags. Also try looking at what shape you may want. Although the shape of the decks can look similar, there is a slight difference in every brand. Depending how you flip your board, a broader or thinner nose or tail can have mixed results. The concave shape is important too, some decks have deeper concaves than that of others, and this can also affect how you flip your board. A helpful tip is to ask the skate shop about what they think of a board, most will be helpful in giving feedback.
Also consider the strength of the deck by looking at reviews and reactions from fellow skaters. There are also new technologies like carbon composites and Kevlar strengthening that can help make the board stronger and have more pop. Next, consider the kind of set-up of the wheels and trucks that you may want. Some may prefer lighter trucks and others want those that are a bit heavier and wider. The profile of the trucks also affects the performance on flips and the pop; it can be low, mid, or high depending on your preference. If you are going to be doing a lot of street skating, then bigger wheels can help you gain more speed and momentum even in rough surfaces. The bearings are also important as well. Try and get the highest ABEC rating that you can afford since they have a more precise roll and much sturdier than lower rated bearings. However an ABEC of 5 is the standard.
The right bushing combination is also another factor to consider. It can affect the turning radius of the board and also the way it locks into a rail. Some have all tight set-ups, others are semi-loose. But the general consensus is that the tighter the board, the less wobble it has and the more stable it is at speed. The downside of hard bushings is they are difficult to lock into rails and have less maneuverability. Try to use different combos to know what suites you best. Others even have loose set-ups in the front truck and tight on the rear. Lastly, choose the kind of griptape that can last as long as your board. Most are pretty similar anyway, and the decision can lay on which pro you want to emulate.
The perfect skateboard can be a bit hard to come-up with; it’s only by trial and error that you can stumble on a set-up that can perfectly suite your style.
