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Jun 08
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Choosing Your Skateboard DecksSports Comments Off
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In skateboarding, your performance is largely determined by your equipment. You need to get a board that is right for your height and weight. Also, it is important that the board be of the right size and of the best quality. While you can buy a pre-assembled skateboard, it is usually more fun to build one yourself. You can customize it to your liking and make it fit your style. The first things to look at, then, are skateboard decks.
There are different types of skateboard decks. The one you chose will depend on how much you want to spend and what kind of skateboarding you intend to do.
Wooden decks are made from a sturdy wood, such as maple, with seven- or nine-ply construction that adds strength by crisscrossing the grain of each layer. These decks allow a good degree of flexibility in your movement and are great for control. However, they get warped in heat and can splinter on impact if you land hard.
Plastic decks, on the other hand, are more durable but they are not as responsive as wooden decks. To get the same stability as with wood, you will need to make your plastic deck thicker. Plastic decks are mostly used for kids’ skateboards and rarely for serious skateboarding.
If you just want to cruise and not perform stunts, then perhaps you should consider longboard decks. They are 35 inches or longer, are great for making turns, and give you stability. However, they are more expensive.
Street decks are 33 inches long or less. They are ideal for maneuvers and they give you great control over your skateboarding.
The width of your deck should be between 7 ½ inches and 8 ¼ inches. You can choose a narrower deck if you will be performing stunts on your board. If you will ride ramps, however, you should pick wider decks because they give you better stability. For a good balance of stability and control, 8 inches is the width you should aim for.
Skateboarding can be a lot of fun if you choose the right decks. Not only do you get satisfaction from the accomplishment of building your own boards, you will learn a lot about how important skateboard decks are to the finished product and how you can tweak their lengths and widths to get the perfect fit for your style.