Skateboards

Choosing the right skateboard involves a few considerations. First, determine your riding style. Whether you’re cruising, carving, or pulling tricks will influence the type of board you need. Longboards are better for carving, hill bombing, and riding long distances, while traditional skateboards are better for pulling tricks. For casual riding short distances, like around a college campus, consider a mini-cruiser.

Next, consider your skill level and board size. A wider deck offers more stability for beginners, but is harder to get off the ground for aerial tricks. Experienced skaters may prefer a narrower board for better control. Finally, think about trucks and wheels. Softer, larger wheels provide a smoother ride, while smaller, harder wheels offer more speed and slide for tricks.

Sort of, but not exactly. Longboards are technically a type of skateboard, but when people talk about skateboards, they’re usually referring to the narrower, lighter, hard-wheeled trick decks that are used in skateparks, like our Alameda. These are the boards you’ll see in half-pipes and pools, grinding rails and hopping stairs, ridden by pro skateboarders like Tony Hawk, Nyjah Huston, and Bob Burnquist.

Skateboard decks are the flat, wooden boards that you stand on when skateboarding. Decks come in various shapes and sizes, with different widths, lengths, and concaves (the subtle curves that help with tricks and control). Decks are the foundation of your skateboard, and choosing the right deck is crucial. Decks are covered in grip tape, and are mounted on top of a pair of trucks, which in turn have four wheels.

For beginners, a skateboard deck width between 7.75 and 8.25 inches is generally recommended. This range provides a good balance of stability and maneuverability, making it easier to learn the basics of skateboarding. Our Alameda comes in both 7.5 and 8-inch sizes. Wider decks offer more stability for balancing and landing tricks, while slightly narrower decks allow for quicker turning and flipping. Ultimately, the best width depends on your shoe size and personal preference, but this range is a good starting point for most beginners.

Length is less important than width when it comes to skateboards. Most standard skateboard decks range from 28 to 32 inches long, and this variance won't significantly impact your initial learning experience. Focus on finding a comfortable width first, and the length will generally fall within a suitable range for beginners.

Most skateboard decks are made from maple wood, typically from the hard rock maple species. This wood is chosen for its strength, durability, and “pop” – the springy responsiveness that helps with tricks. Skate decks are usually constructed from seven plies (thin layers) of maple that are glued and pressed together. This layered construction provides the optimal balance of strength and flexibility for skateboarding. While maple is the standard wood, you might also find skateboard decks made from bamboo, composites, or alternative materials.

Skateboard grip tape is like sandpaper for your skateboard deck. It's a gritty, adhesive sheet that you apply to the top of the deck to provide traction for your shoes. This grip prevents your feet from slipping while you're riding, allowing you to maintain control and perform tricks. Most skateboards, like our Alameda, come with the grip tape already applied, but if you purchase a standalone deck, you may need to apply it yourself. Grip tapes are described in letters and numbers. The most common are 80AB, 80S, OS60, OS780, HS780, with the letters identifying the glue and type of grit crystals (AB = Abrasive, S = Silicon Carbide, O = Oil Glue, HS= High level Silicon Carbide), and the number referring to the size of the crystals. The smaller the number, the bigger the grit.

Skateboard trucks are the metal T-shaped components that attach to the underside of the deck. They house the axles and wheels, and allow the board to turn. Essentially, they're the steering mechanism for your skateboard. Trucks come in different sizes and materials, and their tightness is adjustable, to modify how easily the board turns.

The ideal truck tightness for skating depends on your personal preference and riding style. Loose trucks turn more easily, and are often preferred for cruising, carving, and bowl skating. They offer a more “surfy” feel with smoother turns. However, they can feel unstable for beginners or for performing tricks that require precise control. Tighter trucks provide more stability and are better for street skating and technical tricks (particularly anything aerial). They offer more control for landing jumps and grinding rails, but can make carving more difficult. Most skaters find a happy medium, adjusting their trucks to a tightness that allows for both maneuverability and stability. The good news is that trucks are easy to adjust on the fly with a skate tool, so you can experiment with varying degrees of tightness for different situations.

A skate tool is a small, multi-functional tool for skateboard maintenance. Most skate tools are tri-pointed, with three different socket sizes: 3/8” for mounting hardware, 1/2” for wheels, and 9/16” for trucks. Some, like our Upkeep All-in-One Skate Tool, also have a slot that holds Phillips and Allen wrench heads. Skate tools are versatile and compact, and allow you to make on-the-go adjustments and repairs to your board. They’re particularly useful for loosening and tightening your trucks as you ride.

Wheel durometer on a skateboard refers to how hard the wheels are. Durometer is typically signified via a number followed by the letter A (75A, 80A, 100A). Higher numbers signify harder wheels, lower numbers mean softer wheels.

In general, hard wheels are better for trick skating, while soft wheels are better for downhill riding and cruising on rough or varied terrain. If you’re pulling tricks or skating in a skatepark, you’ll want hard wheels (ex. 95A and above). Hard wheels on a skateboard are lighter, denser, and less grippy, making it easier to slide and put your board into the air. Our Alameda complete board comes with 95A polyurethane wheels. On the other hand, softer wheels offer more grip and absorb bumps better, so they’re better for cruising around on rougher terrain and streets. Longboards and cruisers typically have softer wheels.

Skateboard bearings are small, round pieces of metal that fit inside your skateboard’s wheels, to mount them onto the axles. Composed of a large outer ring and a smaller inner ring (with small steel balls in between) bearings are what allow your wheels to roll, and are crucial in determining how fast and smoothly your wheels will spin. Our standard skateboard, the Alameda, comes with ABEC-7 stainless steel bearings, fitted with rubber dust covers.

High-quality skateboard bearings do contribute to a smoother and faster ride, but they’re not the sole factor that determines how fast you go. Think of bearings like well-oiled wheels on a car. They reduce friction and allow for more efficient rolling, so you'll coast further and maintain speed more easily. However, your pushing technique, the terrain, and the size of your board’s wheels will probably play a more significant role in how fast you skate. While good bearings are helpful, they're just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to skateboarding speed.

Worn-out skateboard bearings often reveal themselves through sluggishness, grinding noises, or wheels that don't spin freely or smoothly. Visible rust, cracks, or dents are also red flags, as are wobbly wheels or excessive vibration when riding. If you notice any of these signs, it's time to clean your bearings or consider replacing them for a smoother ride!

Yes! Skateboard bearings are universal, and the bearings on a tricking board like our Alameda will also fit on longboards, cruisers, and other sizes and styles of skateboard.

How often you replace skateboard bearings depends on how hard you skate and how well you maintain them. With regular cleaning and proper care, good quality bearings can last for a year or two, maybe longer if you don’t skate frequently. Whenever you notice signs of wear like grinding noises, slow spin time, or visible damage, it's time for a replacement.

Let’s break down the first tricks you should aim to master as a new skater. First, learn to ride switch (with your foot placement swapped, your non-dominant foot forward). Riding switch isn’t really a “trick,” but it’s a foundational skill, necessary for tons of tricks further down the line. Along with riding switch, you may want to learn how to drop-in. Again, it’s not really a trick, but if you want to skate ramps and bowls, it’s crucial.

Now, for more traditional tricks, the easiest skate tricks to learn are the manual, kickturn, and tic-tac. A manual is essentially a wheelie, popping your tail up and riding with your front wheels off the ground. This may seem lame, but holding a consistent, steady manual is a lot harder than you might think, and it’s a great way to improve balance and coordination. A kickturn is pulling a manual, and then quickly turning your board left or right to change direction, and a tic-tac is a bunch of tight kick turns (left-right-left-right) performed in rapid succession to gain momentum. Once you’ve become comfortable with these techniques, your next target is the iconic ollie. Ollies—jumping your board into the air by kicking down the tail—are the foundation of every aerial trick in skateboarding. The humble ollie is often considered a “beginner” trick, but the truth is that very few skaters can actually pull proper ollies. If you can get good air and control with an ollie, you’re on the fast track to becoming an extremely strong, versatile skater.

Yes, most skateboards have a recommended weight limit. Our Alameda skateboard has a maximum recommended weight of 220 pounds.

Skateboard safely by following these tips:

• Always wear a helmet and consider additional protective gear like wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads

• Skate in designated areas like skateparks or areas free from traffic and pedestrians.

• Before tricking, inspect skate surfaces for debris that could wipe you out, like pebbles, sticks, wood chips, and trash.

• Learn proper technique and practice falling safely to minimize injuries.

• Regularly inspect your skateboard for loose or damaged parts and ensure it's in good working condition.

Skateboard pads should be snug but comfortable. The pads should not restrict movement, but should stay firmly in place when you move around, and not slide down the forearms or shin, with the EVA foam padding positioned directly over the joints (knee, elbow, wrist). Remember to purchase the proper pads for your age—our pads come in three sizes, for kids aged 3-9, 10-14, and 14+ (adult).

There's no strict age limit for skateboarding. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says children under five should not skateboard. Children between 6 and 10 can start skateboarding, but they should be closely supervised by an adult and wear appropriate protective gear. (The same AAP report notes that ⅓ of all skateboarding injuries occur within the first week of learning the sport.) Older children and teenagers can skateboard independently but should still prioritize safety.

Skateboards have two primary dimensions, width and length. Length is less of a concern when sizing a skateboard, but most boards come between 28 and 33 inches long. Slightly shorter boards are usually better for younger skaters, but it’s not extremely important. (Our Alameda sits right in the middle, at 31”). Width is more important. Wider decks provide better stability (think pool skating or ramps) while narrower decks are better for pulling tricks and controlling the board. For a traditional starting skateboard for kids, look for a deck width between 7 and 8 inches. Over 8 inches is great for a cruiser, pool, ramp, or transition board. If you’re looking for an extremely portable board for your child to simply ride around town—and tricks aren’t a consideration—consider a mini cruiser like Quip. This board is a mere 6 inches wide and 22.5 inches long but supports up to 220 pounds, making it a stellar rider for all ages and heights.

While skateboard helmets and bike helmets might look similar, there are some key distinctions in their design and safety standards. Skateboard helmets are designed to withstand multiple impacts from various angles, as falls in skateboarding are more routine and often involve rolling or hitting different parts of the head. They tend to have a thicker, harder outer shell and a more rounded shape to provide better protection for the back and sides of the head. Dedicated skateboard helmets should meet American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F1492 safety standards. Bike helmets, on the other hand, are primarily designed for a single, high-impact crash. They have a more aerodynamic shape, less overall coverage, and prioritize ventilation. Bike helmets are verified under a different standard and tested by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Although some bike helmets are styled more for skateboarding (like many of our helmets, such as Dakota), these helmets are, in truth, still bicycle helmets. Still, both skate helmets and bike helmets are designed to protect the head from impact, and the forces at play are similar. Most high-quality bicycle helmets will also provide reliable protection for skateboarding. One consideration, however, is protection at the base and rear of the head. Skateboarding helmets (and bike helmets made for mountain biking like Rowan) usually have extensive rear coverage, but some road cycling helmets don’t. Check your bike helmet to ensure it has full coverage before using it for skateboarding. The other consideration is how often you’ll be using your helmet. While most bike helmets can protect in the event of a single skate crash, true bike helmets are certified to protect against one high-impact crash, not repeated low-impact falls like those encountered while skateboarding. If you’re skateboarding regularly, it’s best to seek out a dedicated skateboard helmet, certified to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F1492 standard.