Diameter is one of the most important parameters of the wheel, which greatly affects the performance of the skateboard.

A small radius is considered to be between 48 and 52 mm. These wheels are ideal for very smooth surfaces, for example, special surfaces in skate parks or very fresh and high-quality asphalt. They will provide the skateboard with unprecedented maneuverability. But they cannot develop high speed with such wheels, and any obstacle may be beyond their strength.

The average radius - from 50 to 52 mm - is excellent for ordinary asphalt on the streets. But a large radius (from 52 to 56 mm, and more) will provide you real speed and excellent skateability in cracks, chips and other obstacles on the asphalt. But such wheels.

It should be remembered that sooner or later the wheels will wear out anyway, so buying too small without clear goals is not worth it.

When choosing good wheels, don't forget about bearings. They must also be of high quality and branded, otherwise the wheels will not show their full strength.

Soft or hard

Hard wheels maintain speed better and accelerate faster, while soft wheels cope well with obstacles such as twigs, stones or cracks. Stiffness is marked with the parameter “A”, the hardest wheels are 101A. For street skating, it is better to take fairly hard ones, no lower than 98A, otherwise you will have to crawl in the very rear guard, skating with a group of friends.

For many skaters, an important parameter of the wheels is the color or design depicted on them. Undoubtedly, this deserves attention, but remember that it does not affect the quality of skating in any way.

Brand or “no name”?

Branded wheels, of course, guarantee you a certain level of quality, but their price is also slightly higher than some Chinese ones. Among the branded brands we can distinguish those for which wheels are the main product, and those that simply make wheels along with other sports equipment. The following are most famous for their quality: Pig Wheels, Autobahn, Spitfire, Hubba Wheels, Ricta, Satori Wheels. Other very good manufacturers: Element, Toy Machine, Black Label, Zero.

Nice wheels for a skateboard they cost about 1200-1500 rubles per set.

this is interesting)

So, let's start by looking at the skateboard through an x-ray in order to see all its components.

Board, deck. The soundboard has a nose, a board, and a tail. The boards vary in width, length, and number of layers. The standard is 7 layers of laminated maple veneer. The layers are glued together under pressure, they are quite light and durable. Entry-level boards have 9 layers. There are also boards made of 6 or 8 layers, depending on the company; manufacturers are chasing strength and at the same time light weight of the deck. There are also Aircraft iron boards and Lib Tech plastic boards, but they are not very common.
Nowadays they make boards with a width of 19 to 23 cm, boards approximately 19.5 cm are considered the standard. The length is from 78-84 cm. The width is usually chosen depending on the size of your foot if you have big size legs then it would be better to take a board wider than standard, but if 41-42.5 then take a deck standard width 19.5 — 19.7.
The decks can be symmetrically bent at the ends or bent with a tail (at the back end), and a nose (bent at the nose), concave - bent at the edges of the board. It is believed that the higher the concave, the easier it is to do tricks, but this is a matter of taste!
There are boards with slick - this is a plastic layer that is located last at the bottom of the board. The slick is designed to make the board slide better on the railing. Slick decks are heavier, a little stronger and cost more than regular decks.

Grip tape is a rough coating on a board, similar to sandpaper adapted for a sticker. Skate skin differs from regular skate skin in that it has a self-adhesive layer. It is glued along the entire length of the board, from the tip of the nose to the tail. It is needed to prevent your feet from sliding on the board, and also so that you can do tricks. Without it, making an ollie is almost impossible.

Suspensions (trucks) - these are two metal parts, which are attached to the underside of the deck with 8 bolts and nuts. These are mounts for connecting the wheels and the board, you also control the board with the help of suspensions, they are necessary for performing various tricks, they are made of aluminum, more expensive models come with lighter weights. The suspension consists of a platform (baseplate), central bolt (kingpin), hanger (hanger), axle (axle), bushings (gromets). Usually, rubber bands are placed between the board and the platform.
The pendants should have such a width that the wheels do not peek out from under the board, that is, the pendants should be slightly less than the width of the deck itself.

Wheels - made of polyurethane. The main criteria by which wheels are divided is the hardness (softness) coefficient. It is identified by a number indicating the hardness of the material from which it is made. The higher the coefficient, the harder the wheel, the higher the speed and the worse the grip. Rigidity on wheels is indicated by the letter A; the most rigid wheels are 101A and maintain high speed; 95A wheels are better able to overcome roughness, stones, cracks, glass, etc., their speed is lower.
Soft wheels - 75A - 95A - grip well on rough asphalt, move smoothly, and absorb vibration well. Hard wheels - 101A - designed for the highest speeds, good rebound, easy to skid - the most popular wheels for ramp and streetstyle riding. Medium wheels - 97A - a middle option between the first two.
Sizes from 45 to 60 mm.

Risers Pads are pads for suspension. They are used when the wheels touch the board when turning, they increase the distance between the wheel and the deck and thereby prevent friction of the wheels on the board.

Bearings - serve to reduce friction. A skateboard will need 8 bearings, two per wheel. Bearings greatly affect speed. They are designated by international system ABEC. The most common bearings are ABEC 3. There are also ABEC 5.7 - they are of course better and their rolling torque is higher, but the price is also higher.

otvet.mail.ru

Many beginning skateboarders and others have encountered the problem of purchasing a skateboard. It must be said that you can purchase them assembled and disassembled. Beginners are recommended to buy ready-made skateboards. This way they can save themselves from extra work. There are a considerable number of models of these products. So sometimes do right choice not so simple.

Skateboard– wooden platform (deck) on four wheels.

Longboard– a type of skateboard that has an elongated deck (up to 3 meters) and enlarged wheels. On such a board you do not feel the unevenness of the road, it develops high speed and does not require constant pushing. However, a longboard is quite heavy.

Rollersurf– combines a skateboard and roller skates. Consists of two plates connected by a torsion spring. Unlike a skateboard, it has two wheels (four-wheeled models are very rare). It is characterized by high maneuverability and is capable of developing quite high speeds. You don't need to constantly push away.

• Split rollersurf- a type of rollersurf in which the decks are not connected by a torsion spring. This skateboard is not suitable for jumping, but it is good for tricks on flat surface.

Mountainboard– wooden platform on large inflatable wheels (up to 25 cm) and spring suspension. Designed for descent over rough terrain. Has fastenings for the athlete's legs.

Penny board- a type of skateboard that is small in size, bright design. The penny board deck is made of very durable and lightweight plastic, the suspension is made of aluminum, and the wheels are made of polyurethane (plastic or aluminum core). This youth skate model is suitable for adults. Penny boards are used for driving fast and performing various tricks.

Children's skateboard

Children's– differs from an adult in size and design, as well as a lower maximum load. Good children's skateboards are made from the same materials as adults.

When choosing a skateboard for a child, you should consider some features:

• the length of the skateboard is not of fundamental importance, however, larger children (compared to their peers) should choose longer boards; The width of the skate should be 7.5-8 inches;
• buy a board made in this year: the longer the board is stored, the more it deforms;
• Skate wheels should not be too hard; Harder wheels give greater speed and at the same time worse grip;
• the surface of the skateboard must be absolutely flat: to make sure of this, you should lift the board and look at it from the end;
• Pay attention to the material of the skate: it is better to take a model made from Canadian maple.

Deca

Material

Canadian maple– the most suitable material for making a deck: durable and hard with a dense texture. Has a fairly high price.

Chinese maple- less durable material, but its price is lower.

Canadian + Chinese maple– a combination of two materials: the top and bottom layers are made of Canadian maple, the inner layer is made of Chinese maple.

Plastic– used for roller surfing. Allows you to apply a variety of design solutions.

Skin

Skin (griptape)– sandpaper that is glued to the deck of a skateboard for reliable adhesion to the athlete’s shoes. Grip tape also performs a decorative function: there are black, gray, colored skins, as well as models covered with patterns and transparent sandpaper.

Usually the skin is glued once when assembling the skateboard. If during skating you feel that the grip on the sole is not strong enough, then it is better to replace the sandpaper. It should be remembered that before gluing a new grip tape, the old skin must be torn off.

You should not buy colored grip tapes - they have much weaker grip and low abrasion resistance. Another disadvantage of colored skins is their higher price. If you want to create your own style, you can paint with high-quality acrylic markers a plain black or gray sandpaper.

Number of layers

Decks are made of veneer - layers of wood glued together.

7 layers- occurs most often. Good balance strength and weight for normal riding.

8-9 layers– characterized by increased strength. The best option for extreme driving and performing stunts. High-quality 8-9-layer skateboards are almost the same in weight as 7-layer skateboards.

Dimensions

The length and width of the deck is selected depending on the size of the person, as well as his individual preferences. Deck lengths range from 16.9 to 55 inches and widths from 4.6 to 10.625 inches.

Standard deck length is 31 inches. Children's options are shorter (miniskateboards). The width of the deck directly affects the stability and controllability of the skateboard, especially during jumps. For beginners, it is better to choose boards of medium width. Optimal width and the length is selected by “trying it on live”.

Wheels

Diameter and thickness

Wheel diameter depends on deck size, riding style and riding conditions. This figure ranges from 40 to 180 mm. The standard diameter for a skateboard is 54 mm, allowing you to both ride and perform tricks. Rollersurfs have 76 mm wheels.

Important: The larger the wheel diameter, the higher the rolling speed and the faster the acceleration. The lower this value, the more maneuverable the skateboard and, accordingly, the easier it is to perform tricks.

The thickness of the wheels depends on the diameter - up to 57 mm.

Rigidity

This indicator reflects the amount of resistance of the wheel under mechanical stress. Marking is carried out with a number and the letter A. Moreover, the higher the number, the greater the rigidity of the wheel.

Very soft (less than 80A) and soft wheels (80-85A) provide better traction, maneuverability and good shock absorption. The disadvantage is that they are more susceptible to deformation and wear than rigid ones. Rigid (100A) - have a long service life and better maintain speed.

Important: It is better to choose hard wheels for driving on the street, soft wheels for driving on ramps.

Bearing class

Bearing grades vary according to the American ABEC standard. The higher the manufacturing accuracy, the higher the class of the bearing. There are five classes in total (1, 3, 5, 7, 9). ABEC 3, ABEC 5 and ABEC 7 are the most common.

The strength, service life and price of the skateboard depend on the bearing class. Expensive bearings (from class 5 and above) are required primarily for sports skateboards, which are characterized by aggressive riding.

Suspension

Suspension is the frame that connects the wheels and the deck. The maneuverability of the skateboard depends on it. The suspension is adjustable (loosen or tightened) to suit a specific riding style.

Material

Aluminum- occurs most often. Optimal balance of strength and lightness.

Steel– rarely used, stronger than aluminum, but also heavier.

Plastic– used in children's skateboards. Very lightweight material and durable enough for a child's weight.

Width suspension depends on the width of the deck and varies from 1.75 to 10 inches. The wider the board, the wider the pendant.

– means the maximum permissible load on a skateboard and ranges from 20 to 120 kg. It includes both the weight of the rider himself and the load when performing tricks.

The weight of a skateboard directly affects its maneuverability. Lighter skateboards are easier and more comfortable to control. The weight of the device ranges from 1 kg to 15 kg. It should be noted that this value includes not only the weight of the board, but also the weight of the suspension with wheels. The optimal option for the standard model is 3 kg.

Electric skateboard

Electric skate (electric skateboard)– a skateboard that is driven by an electric motor and equipped with a braking system. Riding does not require any effort, which makes it possible to cover long distances without significant expenditure of physical energy. Electric transport is controlled by tilting the body (forward - movement, backward - braking).

Compared to a skateboard, the wheels of an electric skateboard have a larger diameter, which improves its maneuverability. An electric skate can reach higher speeds than a skateboard. In addition, such a device makes less noise when moving.

True, an electric skate is not suitable for performing certain complex tricks, such as sliding along edges architectural elements. Such transport is more expensive and heavier than a regular skateboard.

Manufacturer

The brands Santa Cruz, Blind, Element, Shorty’s are rightfully considered to be the producers of the best boards in the world. These skateboards have all the advantages: lightness, strength, original design. It should be understood that particularly light weight models will be less durable. Overall, every skateboard from these brands is absolutely worth the investment. These are the boards that iconic skateboarders with worldwide authority ride on.

The average quality segment consists of products from the Explore, Powerslide, Razor, Tempish, and Roller Derby brands. These boards are cheaper, but they have more significant disadvantages: fragility, not the most good surfaces(skins).

The cheapest skates are products from Chinese and local manufacturers Kepai, Re:Action, Sprinter, Amigo Sport, MaxCity, Sports Collection. These are usually assembled boards that are sold in sports supermarkets. They may well be suitable for a beginner skateboarder who is just trying his hand at it. If you plan to engage in skateboarding, then such boards are not suitable for you: among them it is difficult to choose options that match certain styles skiing, the skins deteriorate very quickly, wheels and bearings of the lowest quality quickly fail.

It is imperative to purchase skateboarding products in specialized stores, because this is an extreme sport, therefore, buying a low-quality Chinese skateboard can cost you your health.

spasiboauto.ru

What wheel softness is right for you?

The softness marking is always indicated on the wheel (sometimes only on the packaging).

Soft wheels are great for skating outside of skateparks with their flat, smooth surfaces. Soft wheels cope well with small bumps and obstacles and dampen strong vibrations. However, soft wheels can warp under pressure and wear out more quickly.
Hard wheels roll faster on smooth surfaces, but on rough and uneven paths they cause strong vibration, which reduces speed and makes the ride less comfortable.
Street riders choose hard wheels. They are better suited for performing most tricks than soft ones: due to their smaller size, better maneuverability, the ability to do flips, and so on.
For greater clarity, see the picture below and choose wheels of the exact softness that is most suitable for your purposes.


Measuring scale according to DUROMETERDurometer is a measure of rubber hardness. The "Shore A" scale is used to indicate the range of wheel hardness in skateboarding. The method and scale were proposed by Albert F. Shore in the 1920s. He also developed the corresponding measuring device called durometer. More details on wikipedia.

Wheels	Rigidity	Purpose
Soft	75A - 87A	Such wheels are placed on boards when they are planned to be ridden on non-ideal rough surfaces, for drifting and cruising.
	88A - 95A	These wheels are suitable for smoother surfaces such as new pavement or smooth concrete.
	96A - 99A	Wheels for smooth surfaces. These wheels are worth choosing if you prefer: street and smooth surfaces like in skate parks, ramps and pools.
Solid	100A+	Pro wheels. Very hard and fast wheels. Not suitable for rough surfaces and tiles. These wheels are not recommended for beginners because they quickly develop speed on a smooth surface.

In addition to scale A, there is also scale B, which is used by bones and some other brands. For example: Bones 84B wheels will have a stiffness of 104A, that is, the density is even higher than A. For clarity, see the picture below.

My personal experience: Softness 73A. Usually such wheels are installed on cruisers or longboards. They have a large diameter: from 60mm above, and a soft ride. Such wheels do not give a very fast start, but they maintain speed very well. Even on bad asphalt you don’t really feel any shaking, and these wheels make virtually no noise.
Do you want to become a master of sliding with different combinations of tricks? 100A/101A stiffness with wheel diameters from 51mm to 56mm is great for both street and park. But you can’t ride on bad asphalt for a long time on such wheels, and at the same time they make noise.
You can also stop at something in between. For example, take universal wheels of 54-55 mm with an average hardness of 90A-97A. It is convenient to perform tricks on such wheels and they roll well on bad asphalt.

What wheel diameter is right for you?

The most common wheel diameter: from 51mm to 56mm. Here again, there are also some peculiarities. If you need speed, take it large diameter. If you need a quick start from a standstill, then take a small diameter. We look at the picture below and decide what we need.

Note: the wheels should not be too large so that they do not rattle on the board. Embarrassment can occur: at speed or when performing a trick, when the wheels bite, you can fall very painfully. There should always be a small margin between the wheel and the board, always take this into account when purchasing.

longfootdecks.com

Structure

And you should start with information about the main parts of a modern skateboard:

1. Deca- this is the same board that the athlete stands on when riding.
2. Trucks- This is the suspension by which the wheels are attached to the deck. In a skateboard, the tracks also act as steering wheels, reacting to the tilt of the board.
3. Wheels. In skateboarding they are small in size and have high rigidity.
4. Bearings. The better they are, the longer the rotation period of the wheels, and accordingly, the greater the distance the board can travel with one push.
5. Griptate- this is a “skin” glued to outer surface boards and prevents feet from slipping while riding.

Features of choosing a skate

Having dealt with the basic details, you should consider how to choose a skateboard for beginners. In this case, one should rely on whole line criteria:

• Deca. Before choosing a good skateboard, you need to pay attention to its deck. It is the basis of the skateboard and can be made of wood, fiberglass, plastic or aluminum. The latter option is very rare and has a high cost.

Important! The best option, according to many experts, is a soundboard made of wood, namely Canadian maple. The most common are seven-layer decks, although you can also purchase an option from 6 to 11 layers. Before choosing a skateboard for a beginner planning to master the basics of skating, you need to pay attention to seven-layer models.

• How to choose the size of a skateboard? The length of modern decks is proportional to the width. That is, reduced boards retain the original proportions of their larger counterparts. Average length the deck for adults is 7.5-8 inches. The choice here directly depends on personal preferences, so it is advisable to test several options before purchasing.

• Suspension. When thinking about how to choose the right skateboard, you need to pay special attention to the suspension, called tracks. Typically, these elements are made of aluminum alloy, but they can also be made of iron, painted in any color with a printed pattern.

Important! The tracks must be matched to the width of the board. To improve maneuverability, they can be narrower than a skateboard, but in no case wider. That is, after installing the wheels on the tracks, they should not protrude beyond the board.

• Wheels. The material used to make them is polyurethane. They can differ not only in size, but also in hardness. Hard wheels are good for speed, less susceptible to wear, but any unevenness is felt on them. At the same time, skateboards with soft wheels go slower, but provide best comfort and handling on roads with poor surfaces. Therefore, before choosing wheels for a skateboard, you need to decide on the surface on which you will ride.

• Bearings. In terms of size, these spare parts fit all wheels. Each wheel requires two bearings. They differ from each other only in quality and, accordingly, speed. Skateboards are equipped with ABEC standard bearings. The higher the number following this marking, the faster the model we are talking about.

Important! Downside The medal in this case is wear resistance. More expensive and faster bearings are less resistant to poor coatings and dust. Therefore, for bad roads it is better to choose ABEC 3 and 5 models. Therefore, the features of choosing a skateboard for adults largely depend on the style and characteristics of skating.

• Skin. In its structure, it is nothing more than sandpaper with a self-adhesive base. It is sold in the form of rectangular sheets, which, after sticking to the deck, are cut along its contour.

For a beginner: choose the wheels wisely. So, my friend! The time has come when you realized that your favorite wheels from the best Chinese skateboard have become unusable! You realized that it’s completely impossible to ride them: they don’t maintain speed, they don’t “go”, they crack, break, melt... Yes, what kind of metamorphoses happen to them! Most often, you think that at the market, an evil seller gave you bad bearings, but your wheels are actually “cool”. But it's not that simple. Your bearings are most likely not so good either. But it’s worth knowing that in order to achieve the desired result, namely, skateboarding normally and quickly, you need: high-quality brand wheels + the same brand bearings, but about them another time.

From China with love

“Hello! Let's talk about wheels...”

So, let's get back to the wheels. When you decide to buy yourself normal wheels, you should know that wheels differ: in price, manufacturer, color, width, diameter, hardness. The last three points are the main ones, and you should pay attention to them first. Why? Let's take it in order.

Wide or narrow?

As trivial as it may seem, I would advise you on the average, namely, not very narrow and not very wide wheels. When you become more experienced, you will begin to figure out what width to choose for yourself. For now, take the average. Usually, narrow wheels are convenient for skating in skate parks or on very good coverage, when you have narrow wheels, it’s easier for you (depending on who) to grind along the edges, it rides easier and stops less and “throws you out” from the grind. But as you yourself know, in our city with excellent coverage there is a terrible strain :)). On most of our “very, very” spots there are such very “fashionable and practical tile-bricks”, so you understand that the contact of your wheels with such a coating promises you, at best, to “stop”, at worst, to fly into a “ditch” due to getting into the tile joint. So my advice to you is, do not buy very narrow wheels, they are usually called “slims”. Take it wider, that’s all :) but not mega wide, like the tires on my dad’s old “Muscovite” in the garage. Everything has a limit.

Wheels from Toy Machine

Big or small?

Hmm, this is where the dog is buried. Diameter is the most important parameter wheels When you see a skater with very small wheels, you think that “that’s how it’s supposed to be, and I want these for myself...”, but most likely you’re wrong. Once upon a time they were also large, but apparently due to diligent “skating” they were simply worn out. Then which ones should I buy? I advise you with a diameter of 52mm-54mm, this will be the best option for the first conscious purchase of wheels. Again, they are not so huge and not so small! :) Well, wheels that are about 60mm or larger in diameter are usually used by skaters in vert ramps and in “pools” for maximum speed. Smaller ones are usually used in the street, because there is absolutely no need for huge “barrels” under your feet. Moreover, if you bought yourself such wheels, then out of habit you may have problems: jumping onto the edge or when “turning”. In general, the main thing in this matter is not to overdo it and not to buy very small wheels, because sooner or later they will wear out anyway. The most popular diameters that are now sold in stores are approximately 49mm-56mm.

Soft or hard like “steel”?

Tough! Here the term “average” is no longer suitable, I think you’ve had enough time on your Chinese wheels, which look very much like “jelly”? Wheel stiffness is indicated by parameter “A”. So, for our roads and surfaces, wheels with a hardness of 101A are suitable - these, by the way, are the hardest wheels in nature, there is simply nothing stiffer. They maintain excellent speed and have good “controllability” and “maneuverability”. Soft wheels are those that go around 92A and lower (I can’t say for sure), that is, they are soft, which means they better “tolerate” various stones, sand, glass, cracks, but their speed is naturally low. So in the case of hardness, it’s better to take 101A - the hardest, or something like 98A or something else, but I wouldn’t advise you to go below 95A-92A.

Manufacturers. Brands. Price.

If you have already decided to buy yourself cool wheels, then you need to know who the brand is from, so as not to buy an awl. I can divide wheel manufacturers into two groups: those that specialize only in skateboard wheels and those that make them for loads. For example, any self-respecting skate company that produces boards also makes wheels. Monsters of the wheel industry: Pig Wheels, Ricta, Spitfire, Satori Wheels, Autobahn, Hubba Wheels. Yes, there are a lot of them :) Everyone will definitely be able to choose something for themselves.

One of the most popular wheels - Spitfire

But don’t forget what I said above: almost any skate shop that presses boards also makes wheels. Yes, almost everything! :) For example: Zero, Toy Machine, Black Label, Element. Yes, it would be possible to fill the entire article with links, but I didn’t do that, I just wanted you to be aware and know what you are buying.

The price for cool, high-quality, branded wheels varies around $35-$45.

Yes, by the way, the color of the wheels and the pattern on them are not reflected in any way on their properties, except perhaps purely aesthetic ones. Enjoy the shopping:)

Source of material: www.belsk8.com

Skateboarding is an extreme sport, the essence of which is the masterly performance of tricks on a special board - a skateboard. It originated quite a long time ago - back in the 30s of the last century. Surf lovers came up with this kind of entertainment so that in the absence of waves on the coast they would not be bored without their favorite entertainment. Since the surfboard is quite large, they got it first. And then they noticed that it was much more convenient to perform tricks on a shorter and more manageable board. Since then, people began to skateboard.

IN last years Skateboarding is gaining popularity among young people, turning from simple entertainment into a real subculture, with its own music, clothing style, behavior and ways of spending leisure time. And yet, just recently he was recognized official look sports, created a set of rules and their own International Association Skateboard Companies.

On June 21, the official holiday of fans of this sport is held - International Skateboarding Day. So, tricks on the board have proven themselves from the most serious side. And every year the number of admirers and enthusiasts of this sport is steadily growing.

Moscow climbing walls offer routes for professional climbers.

A hang glider with a motor is correctly called a hang glider. read our article.

Basic Skating Styles

• Flatland(from English “flat earth”) - the very first style, which involves skating and performing various tricks on a horizontal surface - asphalt, concrete slabs.
• Straight– as the name implies, this is a style of street skating in which all kinds of stairs, railings, ceilings, and bump stops become the basis for tricks. In this style on this moment Most skaters ride.
• Freestyle- a very popular style in the 70-80s, in which tricks were required to be performed exclusively on one plane.
• Vert- a style that originated in 1976 thanks to the Z-Boys - due to the drought, they began to skateboard and do tricks in dry swimming pools. This is a style of ramp stunts.
• A park- the successor of vert in performing tricks on the ramp, but now in skate parks specially created for this, where special ramps have been built for performing especially spectacular and complex elements.

Whatever style you would like to learn how to master, this process for a beginner will be labor-intensive and quite expensive, since proper skateboarding begins with the selection of high-quality and comfortable equipment: boards, comfortable shoes, skateboard spare parts.

High-quality and comfortable equipment

The most important asset of a skater is his board, or board in Russian. For beginners good choice will be the purchase of the so-called American kit, which includes the following components:

• tracks (suspensions) and shock absorbers
• wheels
• bearings
• griptape
• keys, bolts for fastening

Without question, all these components must be selected only in specialized stores and after consultation with the seller, who can select the right combination details for a specific skateboarder. But general rules there are also options to choose from, and it’s worth finding out about them in advance.

The board is the most important component of a skateboard. But it is also the most short-lived - as you increase your skating skills, you will have to change it quite often.

The board is usually made of several layers of Chinese or Canadian maple wood, glued together. The quality of the glue determines whether the deck will delaminate. In some models intended for street, another plastic layer (slick) is glued to the bottom of the board, which ensures the board glides well along the railings.

How to choose a board so as not to end up with a defective or dry copy? The easiest way is to chat on a skaters forum and ask someone experienced to help with your choice. But if this option is unrealistic, you will have to act yourself.

How to choose a skateboard yourself

If you decide to choose a skateboard for yourself or for a child, what you need to pay attention to:

Deck width. It can range from 4.7 to 10.625 inches. For beginners optimal choice There will be an eight-inch board, and already in the process of studying you can easily understand whether it is suitable, or whether a wider or narrower board is required. A wider deck gives stability and better traction. Narrow - more maneuverability.

From board length The difficulty of the ride is practically independent, and therefore you can choose any one. The standard is 31 inches (78.7 centimeters). For very young skateboarders, they produce smaller models - mini-skateboards. Also, in general, for beginners it does not affect the complexity and bend of the board (concave) - its convenience is determined only by experience.

When choosing, you need to carefully inspect the board for transverse cracks - this is a sign of defective material. But longitudinal cracks in the area of ​​the bolts are not so bad - they appear on almost all boards in the first week of riding. The most famous brands of boards are Mystery, Jart, Toy Machine, Almost— if you have no experience at all in choosing boards, it is better to focus on them.

The next part of the board is pendants. They are selected depending on the width of the deck; wheels and bearings are attached to them. Suspension stiffness is adjustable for different riding styles. Material: aluminum. Sometimes you can find a steel pendant; it is more durable, but also heavier.

Wheels for skateboarding there are the most various types. For beginners, you should choose regular, medium-sized hard wheels. Their size ranges from 50 to 180 millimeters. Standard 54mm wheels are optimal. You should remember that you will have to change them often - the wheels wear out quickly when riding.

An important part of the kit - bearings. You shouldn’t skimp on them, since both the speed of the skateboard and the safety of the skateboarder themselves depend on their quality. Therefore, it is better to avoid buying Chinese consumer goods, and look for bearings from brands such as Fkd, Lucky or Cliche. In addition, bearings differ by number ABEC(Annular Bearing Engineering Council): 1 and 3 are low-class bearings for beginners, 5, 7 and 9 are for professionals.

Skin or grip tape- This is a film that provides adhesion between the board and shoes. You can already choose it based on your taste preferences - with or without a pattern; no one has ever started skating better based on its color.

It is also important to choose the right shoes for riding. These can be sneakers or sneakers - depending on personal preferences. But in any case, it is better to choose brands that are specially designed for skateboarding and are sold in specialized stores. And, of course, they must be comfortable and the right size.

All these components form a single set, which, when correct selection will make it much easier to learn skateboarding skills.

You can learn how to tie the main ones by reading the article at the link.

Before you go on a road trip, read about what camping is.

Let's figure out how a beginner can learn to skateboard

In beautiful videos, skateboarders may appear to perform difficult tricks with ease. However, you need to understand that performing difficult tricks on a skateboard comes at the cost of long and patient training, as well as bruises and abrasions. Therefore, the first advice is buy protection. You will need a helmet to protect your head, knee pads, elbow and palm protection. A properly selected protective kit will not cause much inconvenience. It will be much more inconvenient with broken knees and palms!

After choosing your equipment, you should get used to the skateboard. To do this, you need to put it on a flat surface and learn to balance on it, stand, choose a comfortable body position, try to move your legs and rearrange them.

Then you need to understand Which foot will be in front - left or right?. This does not necessarily depend on whether the person is left-handed or right-handed. To do this, you can try kicking any ball with your foot - the one with which it is more convenient to do this has a high chance of ending up behind you and becoming a supporting one. Another way to test this is to push the person. The leg that he puts forward when pushing will be the supporting leg on the skateboard.

After getting on the skateboard correctly, you can slowly begin to master movement and stopping. This process is lengthy and will most likely be accompanied by falls, but correct board and with a properly positioned supporting leg, progress in skating will be noticeable quite quickly. Therefore, you should not be shy, not afraid to fall, and boldly ride first on a flat surface, then slowly learn to turn and overcome barriers. It’s best to do all this at skate sites, and best of all, not alone - in a company and with music, learning will be more pleasant and fun.

Photos of interesting skateboards

Previously, I often heard questions such as: “Do you have hard wheels?, How hard are they?, Why are hard wheels cooler than soft ones, because you drive quietly on soft ones?” I was really tired of all this and I decided to write an article about choosing wheels. In fact, you shouldn’t approach this as carefully as many do.

In fact, the main rule is hard wheels, but do not buy hard wheels from some "left" sporting goods stores, as they may be plastic wheels and you will not go far on them. It is best to buy wheels in special skate shops (a store that specializes only in skateboard products).

But why not soft wheels? This will become clear to you as you level up your skateboarding. When your level is high enough, you need to turn it further, which cannot be done on soft wheels. And also, when jumping from high gaps, your soft wheels can simply fall apart like several pieces of jelly.

If you look at pro skaters, you can see that they are not worried about this issue at all. They always buy any wheels from skate shops and don’t look at their hardness or softness, because they know in advance that these are good wheels.

Conclusion: Don’t worry about choosing the right wheels for a long time. Just go to a skate shop and grab whatever wheels you like!

Text: Vasilevich Alexey