Skateboard Parts

Though there is a good amount of variety in the skateboards that you can purchase in terms of graphics, length, width and other things, all skateboards have essentially the same fundamental skateboard parts. You’ll need a place to stand, wheels to move the board along and structures to attach the wheels to the platform of the board. No one part of the skateboard is really any less important than the other; all fundamental parts must be present in order for the board to work properly.

The part on which the skater stands is called the deck. The deck is usually made of 7 plies of wood, often maple, though other material is used. An average width for a deck is about 8 inches, though again, there may be some variation. Tweaking the width of the board will translate into either more stability during movement or increased ease in doing tricks.

The deck is also the place where graphics are most commonly found on a board. Many skateboarders put something called griptape on their decks; this is sandpaper that has the function of allowing your shoes to grip the deck much better while you’re skating. You can either purchase a board with griptape already on or purchase griptape separately and then stick it on your board’s deck.

Then there are trucks and riser pads. Trucks are those metal, somewhat T-shaped structures that are responsible for connecting the wheels of the skateboard to the deck. They are placed in such a way as to allow the skater to turn the board while riding it simply by leaning to one side. As with other skateboard parts, you’ll find a wide selection of different types of trucks, especially when it comes to size and height.

No matter what brand or type of trucks you purchase, you can adjust their turning stiffness. If you tighten the nut on the bottom of the trucks to make them very stiff, it will take you more time to turn and you will have to lean harder; the upside is that you’ll find it easier to do tricks, and you’ll find it easier to control and stay on the board. Riser pads are thin rubber pads that are found between the trucks and the deck that have the important function of absorbing some of the impact when landing; this helps to prevent the deck from cracking.

Finally, the wheels that are attached to the deck by the trucks are made of hard polyurethane plastic. Wheels will differ in diameter and hardness and, again, you’ll have to choose your wheels depending on what type of activities you’re planning on doing with your board. Bearings are actually the parts responsible for making the skateboard roll; these are small enclosed discs that are found between the wheels and the trucks.