A skateboard consists of 7 parts: Deck, Grip tape, Wheels, Trucks, Bearings, Hardware, and Risers.

Part Overview:

Deck: The wooden “board” that the skater stands on.

Grip Tape: Traction tape that goes on the topside of the deck to provide support. The topside features a gritty layer to help keep shoes in place, and the underside features an adhesive that attaches it to the deck.

Wheels: They are the wheels on the skateboard that come in multiple sizes and hardness for different styles of skating.

Trucks: The pivoting metal components that attaches under the deck that controls the turning and connects the wheels to the deck.

Bearings: The circular metal piece that goes inside of the wheel that is necessary for attaching the wheel to the trucks and keeping the wheels rotating smoothly.

Hardware: The nuts and bolts that hold the trucks to the deck.

Risers: (Optional) The pads that go between the deck and the trucks. Cushions the ride, absorbs impact, and creates a larger gap between the wheels and the deck.

Message for parents & new skaters

When buying a skateboard for a new skater, it doesn’t matter what size you go with. A common misconception when it comes to buying a skateboard is the whole “if you’re this tall, buy this size” line. Size is a preference that the skater acquires as they get a feel of what works best for them. The same way it is a process to learn how to perform a trick, it takes time on the board to learn whether you would like to go wider and smaller.

When buying a skateboard for the first time, we would recommend buying a complete skateboard (already assembled & ready to ride) and get a feel for how it rides. After you do that, you can determine what you would like to improve on, and reference this guide to see how you can achieve the desired change.