Anna String asked:

What parts make up a skateboard?

The invention of the skateboard is a bit of a mystery as it has never been confirmed who invented it and how it came about. There are a few theories of its origin; one being they were first created in to the 1930’s when children would play on soapboxes placed on wooden planks on top of roller skates. This gave the general basis idea of the skateboard and was then made into a product, a product that went on to be sold massively internationally.

There are four main parts that make up a skateboard, these include: the deck, the wheels, the bearings, and the trucks.

The Deck of a Skateboard – the deck is the long board that you stand on. The deck lies on top of the wheels and everything else that is underneath it. You place one foot on the deck and push yourself along with the other foot on the floor. Decks are usually made from fiberglass, wood, aluminium, or plastic. There is a tail at the end of the board which allows the skater to steer and stop the skateboard and generally have more control. 

Skateboard Wheels – the wheels are quite an important part to a skateboard as if it weren’t for these the skateboard wouldn’t be able to move. There are 4 wheels, 2 on either side, one set at the front and the second set towards the bottom. They are usually made from polyurethane, and they come in all sorts of different sizes and each size is better suited to a type of boarding. For example smaller wheels are better for doing tricks and so many modern street skaters use these. These wheels are harder than other wheels as they break away from the ground faster allowing the skateboarder to carry off the tricks easier.

Skateboard Bearings – skateboard bearings are placed on either side of each wheel and they allow for the wheel to rotate freely without any friction which makes the skateboard go fast and the boarder can control the board more freely. The bearings of a skateboard are very important as they govern how the board is going to move, how fast it can go, and how easily you are going to be able to control your movements on the board. If your bearings aren’t lubricated enough or they are not fitted properly or they have dirt inside of them then the wheels aren’t going to able to move smoothly and this will affect the skater’s performance. The bearings on a skateboard are very important and professional skaters spend a lot of money on the bearings to their skateboard for ultimate control and speed.

The Truck – there are two trucks to every skateboard, these attach the wheels to the deck. They are usually made out of aluminium alloy and are made up of two parts the base plate and the hanger. The trucks are sturdy pieces so the wheels are firmly in place and the deck feels secure for the boarder, the bearings allow the wheels to move freely but it is important that the trucks are secure in position and bolted down. 

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John asked:

Cheap skateboards aren’t a bargain when you consider the possibility for injury. A skateboard that is not well made could fall apart and leave you and the pieces of your cheap skateboard on the ground. That would terrible and very dangerous. A cheap skateboard could be made with inferior parts which could lead to it falling apart and causing injury to you. However, you need to look at more than a skateboards price when trying to buy a safe skateboard.

The price of a skateboard may not reflect quality since manufacturers increase the price of a cheaper skateboard to make it seem like a better product than it is. They know that a lot of consumers equate price with quality. Make sure you aren’t buying a cheaply made skateboard with a marked up price or you won’t get a good quality product. Also, just because a professional skateboarder endorses a certain brand of boards does not mean that those boards are necessarily the best quality for the price. Educate yourself about how to tell a quality skateboard from a dangerous, cheaply made one.

A good quality deck is the key to a safe skateboard. The skateboard deck holds your weight and allows you to maneuver and steer. Good quality wood must be used on a skateboard deck for it to be safe. The wood should be firmly secured and the edges should be adequately sealed. The best test for a deck is to stand on it and jump slightly to see if you hear a cracking noise. A good quality deck should be flexible to be safe.

Examine the wheels of any prospective skateboard very closely. Wheels will be what allows you to achieve the speed you want. Be aware the you’ll need different size wheels if you are planning on using the skateboard for stunts more than for speed. Plastic wheels are something to look out for, especially on cheaper skateboards. You won’t get enough grip from plastic wheels to adequately control your skateboard.

The wheels must have good quality bearings to be safe. The bearings, which are inside the wheels, are rated on a scale of 1 to 9 (odd numbers only) and anything less than a 3 is not recommended because it will negatively affect your control of the skateboard. Spin the wheels several times to be sure the bearings move easily and there is no grinding going on in the wheel. Problems with the wheels of a cheap skateboard are going to lead to injury.

The trucks, the axles located on the bottom of the skateboard deck, are also an important part of the board. When looking at skateboards, look for trucks made out of strong, high quality metal that is secured with a good rubber sealant. Rubber holds much better than the cheaper plastic sealants used on poor quality skateboards. If the trucks are not secured well and good quality the skateboard is not worth the money no matter how cheap and will not be safe to ride.

When shopping for a new skateboard, you’ll have to find a balance between a safe board and a board in your budget. Buying the cheapest skateboard you can find is not a good idea because it may not be safe. If you can’t find one in your price range that is well made and safe, you might think about making your own skateboard. You can make a safe, long lasting, well built skateboard for not a lot of money. Don’t risk your safety to save a few dollars on a skateboard, it isn’t worth it. Skateboarding is a safe sport as long as you have good equipment.

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