Obviously, when to change your skateboard deck will depend on how you use it. Note that, when we talk about changing a skateboard, we very often talk about the wooden board (the deck), and not the complete skateboard.

Different types of practice

It goes without saying, if you ride several times a week, you will wear it out much faster than if you only use it every other weekend. A skateboard deck can therefore last between a few days for some riders, against several months for others.

If you are used to street skateboarding, you will tend to damage it more easily than in a skatepark. Due to the fact that some spots in the street are not necessarily smooth, and can do a lot of damage. Special mention for the “chips” (or “dents”, those pieces of wood that come off after an impact against a wall or on rough pavement):

And then generally, the practice of the street being more committed, the skateboard is getting damaged more quickly than in a skate park. This second place being specially designed for the practice of skateboarding and considered as a place more dedicated to “training”.

In a skatepark, you will also tend to damage your board a bit more if you do technical tricks, rather than ramps, where there is a little less impact.

Ok, but when should I change my skateboard deck?

Okay, if you’ve snapped your skateboard, or cracked the nose or tail… then you have no choice but to head to the skate shop to buy a new deck!

But if your board is still in one piece, in other words, if it is still usable, there will be a moment when it will be too worn and could be disabling and make us lose those good sensations of riding.

Be careful, each skater has their own habits and also different skills. Some skaters still do very well even with a damaged board. So I’m not saying that changing boards is the key to success … But it is true that a worn board could slow down your progress and your capacity to learn new tricks.

Riding with a board that is too worn and weakened can even be dangerous in some cases. Especially on skate gaps or rails.

You should feel it

Normally you will know when it is time to change your board. It feels like the board is soft. Tail and nose start to chip and the pop does not act correctly when you try to Ollie.

You can do the test of hitting the tail against the ground with a new board and an old board. The noise is completely different because the layers of wood are damaged and / or peeled off. You can also compare the size of a new board with a used board and see the difference of size. In fact, the friction of the nose and tail against the ground gradually eat the board and thus reduces the space where you place your feet.

Between the loss of the pop on your board, dents and chips, the wood that comes off, the cracks, the wear of the grip with a grain that does not grip properly under your soles, contact with water … So many elements every day deteriorating your board a little more and pushing you to replace it.

Good to know:

Skateboards hate water, so it will never be used in the rain. We will also try not to drop it into the water when we skate towards water points, puddles …

About the graphic under the board, this one is of no importance in the quality of the skate itself. The most vulnerable parts to get damaged are the tail and nose, the griptape, and the middle of the board, which can crack after a bad landing.

Idealy and to avoid breaking your board, you will always try to cushion your landings well. And to distribute your weight by placing your feet as close as possible to the 8 screws. Do not worry, there is nothing wrong with breaking a board, you can’t always land a trick properly. And I let you imagine the countless number of boards broken by some of our favorite pro skaters …

To get your skate stuff, always buy or order in stores specializing in skateboarding. In addition to supporting a skate shop, you will avoid ordering from a site that does not know much about the world of skateboarding, and which sells poor quality products. You might be attracted to the economical price, but the quality is not the same because the materials are different and much less resistant and / or efficient.

Find better sensations on your new skateboard:

Buying a new skateboard is always nice (except for the wallet …). You will met again some good sensations. A pop that allows you to go higher, the sound of the tail well pronounced, a grip that sticks well under the feet… (Even a little too much sometimes for some tricks and the first sessions) … In short, you will feel more confident for your next sessions and to land all your tricks. Almost as comfortable as Eric Koston in his baby seat.

While it is a real pleasure to ride with new equipment, we do not all have the same needs and priorities. And above all, not all of us are lucky enough to be able to buy a new board on a regular basis.

So take care of your board to keep this feeling of freshness as long as possible! Protect your board and your grip from water, rain, dirt … If your grip is brand new take a look under your soles when you get to the park. It could save you from unpleasant surprises. Also, don’t keep your board in a place that’s too hot, too cold, or too humid.

The skateboard decks are made of 7 thin layers of maple wood, glued together with a special glue. We understand that certain external factors can interfere with the durability of your skateboard!

What about the other components of your skateboard?

You will not change the other parts of the skateboard as regularly as the deck. But we will see in a new article when to replace them with the various signs of wear. In the meantime, I leave you a link to a tutorial to assemble your skateboard. Also available with Spanish and English subtitles.

The article When should you change your skateboard? appeared first on La Skateosphere.

If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably been dreaming about getting your own skateboard for several days. You will have already ruled out the scooter option… excellent! But first of all, do you know what kind of skateboard is the right one for you? And how to choose your first skateboard ?

Longboard

Do you like speed, downhill or long distance travel? Then it’s definitely a longboard you’re looking for. Due to my lack of experience on longboards, I can’t give you a lot of details about these boards. I leave you a site with a little more info about these boards : longboard boardshop. But don’t worry, you will be able to do great downhills even with other kind of skateboards.

Penny skate or Cruiser ?

Two types of skateboards to revive the old school look of the 80’s.

The penny remains the choice with the smallest size, but is easily assimilated to a children’s toy. Moreover, it is not the most comfortable to place your feet correctly. If your use of skateboarding is mainly dedicated to trips in town, then I recommend you rather go for a cruiser.

Just like the penny skate, it is equipped with soft wheels to move you on the roughest roads and sidewalks. It’s the perfect ally for urban travel, with a larger surface area than the penny and a much smaller footprint than a longboard and better maneuverability.

Classic skateboard!

Finally, there’s a good chance you’ve found this article from the skateosphere if you’re interested in classic skateboarding. By this I mean skateboarding “to do tricks”, jumping off stairs and riding on ramps. After many years of evolution, and thanks to advanced technology and performance, a new, more balanced and lighter design is now available:

We will see together the different parts that make your skateboard.

The board :

Today, there are many brands and choices of skate decks… but then which one to choose ? In European brand, you will find the leader Jart with accessible prices. And many other companies like Nomad Skateboard in Spain with excellent designs, or Magenta for France. It is important to buy your skateboard in a specialized store, to have quality material and not a toy type skateboard that you can find in supermarkets . Nudes boards (without specific brands, wood color) are also a good alternative.

The boards are always made of 7 plies of wood, and the material used remains Canadian maple wood, known for its resistance and flexibility. For the curious, I invite you to watch Gregory Cognet’s video, which explains in detail how a skateboard is made by hand.

First of all, the size of the skateboard? Very generally, we recommend a thinner size to start and also to do flip tricks. Between 7,5″ and 8″ at the most so that you are comfortable enough on your board. If your main practice is curving, then we can go to 8″ and + boards. For old school skaters, the companies offer wider skates between 9″ and 10″.

The concave of the skate: this is the shape and depth of your skate, more or less raised on the sides. To begin, prefer a medium or light concave, which will be more manageable in its use.

The grip : very often skateshops offer you a grip with the board. But sometimes it’s not the case, choose the great Jessup griptape if possible, a sure value.

Wheels:

To begin, we will privilege soft wheels, more comfortable to move around. For tricks and street, we usually use wheels between 49mm and 53mm, against 53mm and 60mm for the bowl or ramp.

A mid-range will be more than enough to start and practise. If you want to upgrade later, Spitfire and Bones are still for me the top 1 value for money.

Bearings:

Actually, I’ve only been using one type of bearing for a few years now… Red Bones Bearings. Great value for money, combining resistance and speed. The higher the “Abec” are, the better the bearing performs, but little loss of resistance to shocks.

Trucks (skate axles):

Their size varies according to the size of your board, with a 7,75″ you can choose 139mm trucks. Against trucks of 149 from 8,1″. The Independent brand remains one of the best options, although more expensive. Thunder is an excellent brand and a bit more economical.

Screws & tools:

Finally, the screws, to attach your trucks to your board. The color is not important, however some marks often leave a screw of a different color. This will indicate the nose and tail of your skateboard.

You will need a tool to mount it. I recommend you to choose the model that has a die in the center. Indeed, it’s not rare that the threads on the axles of your trucks get damaged. You change a bearing in session, and after removing the wheel, impossible to screw the nut again… use this tool to rethread the thread.

I’ll publish soon a video about skateboard assembly. In the meantime, if you already have your board, you can arm yourself with your tool and start the assembly. And why not already make you want to go to skate all the spots in Barcelona?

Before letting you mount your board by yourself, each skateboard has a front (nose) and a back (tail). You will recognize the nose by a slightly wider and steeper shape, while the tail is a little more rounded and less curved.

Anyway, don’t hesitate to ask the skateshops in your town, they will be happy to help you choose your first skateboard correctly.

If you need more information, or have any doubts about the different models of skateboards, I’ll be happy to help you.

The article Choosing the right skateboard appeared first on La Skateosphere.