Everything you need to know about the different types of skateboards
Throughout the history of skateboarding, decks have gone through many stages of development and change. Today, there are types of skateboards suited to every rider, with specific widths, lengths, shapes, and special construction technologies. Most decks are made of North American maple wood, which, thanks to its slow growth, is particularly durable and stable. Traditionally, seven layers of maple wood, bonded with a water-based glue or special epoxy resin, are pressed together under high pressure to create a deck.
The three parts of a skateboard are: the nose, the stance (between the trucks), and the tail. The design on the bottom of the deck can help distinguish the nose from the tail, as most graphics are designed so that the nose is at the top. The nose and tail are generally rounded and more or less curved upward. The theory is that higher noses give your board more pop due to the increased leverage. Conversely, a flatter nose and tail provide a better feel and stability.
The wheelbase, or stride, is typically 12"-15" and not only affects the overall length of the board but also how it handles. A skateboard is typically between 28"-33" (70-80cm) long. Simply put, the shorter the deck, the more agile the board will be, while the longer the deck, the more stable it will be.
Types of skateboards
There are different types of skateboards, each designed for specific needs and riding styles. Street, bowl, vert, and cruising all have different shape requirements. For this reason, different shapes and widths have been developed to best suit their respective needs. A standard shape for street and park is the twin-tip. This means the nose and tail are essentially the same shape, allowing you to easily change direction. Boards for transitions (i.e., bowls or ramps) are almost always a bit wider, with a minimum width of 8". There are also boards reminiscent of old-school skateboards, now called shaped decks, which are a hybrid of street and old-school.
Concave is another key factor when discussing skateboard types. It refers to the longitudinal curvature of the board between nose and tail, but it also affects the edges of the deck. The higher this curvature, the more pressure you can apply for both ollies and flips, but it will also be more difficult to control. Skateboard decks are typically categorized as low, medium, or high concave. Unfortunately, manufacturers reveal very little information about their decks' concave levels. So a medium concave for one brand can feel very different from another. If you're unsure which concave level suits you best, you can't go wrong with a medium one, as it offers the right balance and allows for good progression in your tricks. Most skateboard decks are medium.
Skateboard measurements
The choice of deck depends primarily on the width of the board, which varies depending on the type of skateboard you intend to use. Wider boards offer a smoother ride at high speeds. However, they are also heavier, making them a bit more difficult to ollie and flip because you'll need more leg power. On the other hand, the wide surface area offers plenty of space and can be an advantage when performing tricks. So if you like transitions and want comfortable landings, a wider board might be right for you. Narrow boards, on the other hand, are lighter and easier to use, making them excellent trick skateboards because you'll need less energy to learn. However, narrow decks can be difficult to control at high speeds and have less foot space. Therefore, they're ideal for technical skating, such as doing combos on curbs or flat terrain.
Regardless of the various shapes you can find, wider decks are also generally longer. Riding a board that's too long if you're small and have short legs is usually not a good choice, as it will be difficult to get your front foot all the way to the nose of the deck when you ollie. So if you're not that tall, it's probably better to get a shorter board. Of course, all our suggestions are just recommendations. Every rider has their own preferences, and there's no hard and fast rule about width and length. If you're unsure which one suits you best, your height and shoe size are good indicators.
Skate truck measurements
Trucks are another key component when it comes to skateboards. The truck attaches the wheels to the deck and allows you to turn. Typically made of steel, skateboard trucks consist of several pieces, including bushings and kingpins. The kingpin is the threaded bolt inside the bushings, holding all the pieces together. The rotational ease of the trucks can be adjusted by tightening the kingpin nut that holds the bushings. For a stiffer skateboard, you'll need to tighten it, while for more maneuverability, you'll need to loosen it. Trucks come in different widths, so it's important to know the dimensions of your deck. The ideal truck size, including the wheels, is the width from one side of the board to the other. Heavier trucks are ideal for grinding, given their greater weight, but at the same time, it can be more difficult to get the skateboard to jump higher. Trucks come in low, medium, and high setups: low trucks are ideal for flip tricks and for greater stability, thanks to their low center of gravity. The mid-height ones are suitable for park and street skating, while the high-height ones are used for carving or cruising around the city.
Bushings are round rubber rings that sit around the kingpin. There are two bushings per truck. Harder bushings are more restrictive and can be more stable at speed. Softer bushings offer less resistance, making them better for carving and freestyle, but less stable at high speeds.
Skateboard Wheel Sizes
Skateboard wheels vary in diameter, making them suitable for different styles of skating and adapting to different types of skateboards. The most common size for street and park riding is between 50mm and 60mm, while wheels larger than 60mm are typically used on longboards or cruisers. Smaller wheels (50mm to 54mm) are slower and more prone to getting stuck in cracks or small rocks, but are preferred by technical skaters due to their lower weight and easier trick performance. Larger wheels allow the rider to go faster and avoid cracks, but they increase their weight.
Wheels also vary in hardness. Softer wheels (<88A to 95A) are perfect for riding on rough surfaces, cracks, and cobblestones. They're not suitable for technical tricks, because the grip and softness of the wheel reduce the ability to pop the board off the ground. Harder wheels (95A to 100A) are more common and perfect for street and park riding. These wheels have less drag and travel faster.
Skateboard bearings
A wheel requires two bearings to rotate on the axle. The bearings fit inside the wheels and allow them to spin with less friction and faster. Differences in bearings include the quality of construction and the bearings' speed rating, which is expressed on a scale called Abec, of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Lower Abec ratings indicate a rough, slow-running but durable bearing. Higher ratings mean faster, quieter bearings. Typically, Abec 5 or 7 is used for skateboards and cruisers, while Abec 9 or 11 is used for longboards.
Spacers are small metal cylinders located between the two bearings and used to keep them apart. Especially if you use slightly softer wheels, it's advisable to use spacers, as they ensure the bearings stay in place. Washers or speed rings, on the other hand, minimize the friction produced when your wheels rotate, making them run faster.
In short, anything that isn't a skateboard or a longboard is a cruiser . Different types of materials are used to make a cruiser deck. Besides the traditional maple, there's the famous and widespread plastic cruiser, better known as a pennyboard. Here too, decks vary in length, width, and shape. They can be mini plastic ones ranging from 22" to 32" wooden ones. Their main features are their soft, wide longboard-style wheels, their light weight, and their ease of transport. Therefore, they're perfect for city riding and getting from point A to point B, but difficult to use for ollies, flips, and tricks in general. They almost always have a small, raised tail and a flat, pointed nose, and are generally assembled ready to skate. If a longboard is too big for you, or you're simply not interested in complex skate tricks, then a cruiser is the right choice for you. Ultimately, choosing the right type of skateboard depends on your personal preferences, your riding style, and the type of surface you like to skate on.
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