How to Choose a Skateboard

The best suggestion that will help you in choosing a skateboard is to know yourself. Are you just wondering how to skateboard or are you always interested in doing flip tricks, grinds, rails, gaps, ledges? Or, is it the speed that attracts you? How do you go about your skateboarding tricks or are you a beginner, which style you would like to be an adept in, depends on the efficiency of the skateboard. All the factors that are related with your style and skateboard are going to have a say in, how proficiently you are going to use it.

If you have turned very serious about mastering skateboarding then, it is my guess that you are hanging a lot around a group of skateboarders. Their talk, claims and denials about the board or the games must have given you a lot of information which at the same time, may have confused you because of the differences in their personal opinions. Choosing one for yourself can only be solved by you, after going to the shops and trying the skateboards available and how much you can afford to spend on it.

Selecting a Good Skateboard

First of all you should decide whether you want a complete skateboard or a costly custom-made one. If you are a beginner then most probably you may want to go for a complete one. You can find knowledgeable as well as helpful people at the skate shop in your area. It is important to listen to these people, because the advice given by them would not be technically biased in favor of any particular skateboard as that of a practicing skateboarder's will be. They will surely help you in meeting your needs, however, make sure that advice given by them is suitable for you.

What about the skateboard's size? Take the skateboard you fancy off the shelf and stand on it, check out whether its length and width matches your height and balance. It is preferable that you try the skateboard while wearing shoes that you are going to use for skateboarding. Remember always that the feel of the skateboard under your feet is important, rather than its look. If you intends to do tricks with your board then be sure to choose a skateboard that has an appreciable concave and pop. Spend enough money on the quality trucks, good bearings and wheels. All these factors will only enhance your experience.

Deck
Know that the thinner decks make it easier to do the flips, and choosing a 7.5 to 7.75 inches board can be most appropriate. For transition skaters, a deck size of around 7.75 inches is considered useful as it helps in balance and control during the trick. However, if you have big feet, choose the deck size most suitable for you. If you are going to use the board for tricks as well as transition skating then prefer the deck close to 7.75 inches mark. The truck you are going to outfit your skateboard with should be as close to the width of the deck. If they are too thin, it may cause an unstable ride and if they are too wide, at turns the skateboard will be less responsive.

Bearing
When it comes to choosing the grade of bearing (1, 3, 5, 7, 9), know that precision and cost increases as higher you go through the grades. Grade 5 bearings will go nicely with your skateboard. High truck allows for the big wheels to be fitted and distributes the pressure evenly, while doing old school skateboard tricks. The skateboards fitted with the low truck will be more stable and will give a safe ride while you are at technical skating.

Wheel
Choose the wheel that you are going to put in your skateboard to match the style of your skating and surface you are going to do it on. For street and technical skating, the board is required to be lighter and lower to the ground. For this reason, use small and hard wheels (51mm-55m, 97a-100a). For speedy skating and easy maintenance, opt for large wheels (56mm-60mm, 97a-100a).

Grip Tape
Grip tapes (black) are of high quality and provide that extra purchase that is necessary while doing cool skateboard tricks and a 360 hardflip.

For a beginner, it is hard to come to terms with the demands made by the article, as there are lot of factors to be considered. Whatever you choose, make sure that it gives you assured quality which can only be obtained by spending money. If you are offered a blank board at the shop, don't reject it out of hand, as these are cheap and last long. On the other hand, knowing how to build a complete skateboard is also an option open for you, which would also be a lot of fun.