buying a skateboard

southpaw · Posted: Nov 29, 2009 11:40 pm Post subject: buying a skateboard

I want to start skateboarding this winter to help out my wakeskating. I have no skateboarding background really, except learning to ollie on my friends board. What do I need to look for in a board? size, shape, concave? is there that big of a difference? also what about wheels and trucks and bearings? any help would be great

Evan71 · Posted: Nov 30, 2009 12:52 am Post subject:

get an 8 or wider deck, trucks dont really matter (ive had the same pair of ventures for like 4 years), reds bearing, bones stf wheels and your se. thats just my fav setup though

Evan71 · Posted: Nov 30, 2009 12:54 am Post subject:

and wheels, probably a 52-54 imo

wakeshredder · Posted: Nov 30, 2009 11:20 am Post subject:

I, as well, recommend an 8" deck, as wakeskates are wide decks anyway. You might consider that a weighty board is best for cross-training. As far as trucks are concerned, Indy stage-9, 8". You want your trucks to be the exact same width as your board. Period. Ceramic Bones Swiss bearings are also the shizzle. If you plan on riding a lot of transition (ramps, mini) then go with larger wheels, think 60+. Otherwise, if it's street riding you are into (rails, boxes, ledges) then go about 10-15 smaller. If both, then 52-54 like Evan71 says is a good bet. PS, don't forget to invest in some riser pads. Being new to skateboarding, it's real easy to over-tighten your trucks to the board which can cause vertical pressure cracks. The risers help reduce the odds of this. Good luck with the skateboarding, it is after all why most of us are hear today. Smash

TTUFAN24 · Posted: Nov 30, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject:

8" or wider all day. I'm old so I ride a wideboard. Who rides 7.25"? It's impossible for me

Classy · Posted: Dec 06, 2009 10:11 pm Post subject:

I ride a 7.5, but then again I only wear an 8.5 or 9 shoe...

ZackFL(BRE) · Backside 180 Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 2386 City: Tampa

7.75, destructo trucks, black panther bearings, ricta wheels 52

seeuenteeclothing · Faceplant Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 35 City: tmec

Read this thread went out and got a new complete 8.5 and it realy seems to help with wakeskate issues I have. I run the trucks pretty loose to holo keep me honest. What you guys think

mojo · Posted: Dec 08, 2009 9:59 pm Post subject:

i like grind king trucks. element deck's are sick, and i would say riser pads are a negative. unless you have huge wheels like huge, you aren't going to catch a wheel on the board. i will say that the swiss bearings help out alot and ricta wheels are gnarly as well.

eviltweak · Backside 180 Joined: 11 Jul 2008 Posts: 839 City: Nor Cal

i skated a 7 for awhile but i move up to a 7.5 then to a 7.75 now im currently on an 8 and it feels to big like i have to man handle it for tres its just not as effortless as it should be. go with any setup i skate phantom2 trucks(same pair for god know how long)and defiantly go with either bone reds or bone swiss bearings and for street go for smaller wheels and vert go for bigger wheels

Fryguy · Posted: Dec 09, 2009 4:45 pm Post subject:

I ride a 8.25 black lable or santa cruz with indy stage 10 149s 54-56mm wheels i prefer bones spf for park rideing and autobahn m 54s for cruzin the streets. big board for a big dude mucho stable plenty of room to grind for days. bones reds are definately the best bearings for the money super cheap great quality. just sold my ceramic swiss for the new bones reds ceramic roll just as nice love the things. buy quality and it will last. I still have my 89 powell my first skateboard, same trucks same wheels new bearings rode it at the pool the other day tripped out some of the youngins.

Manta79 · Faceplant Joined: 09 Jul 2009 Posts: 10 City: Bayard

I am 6'2'', and wear a size 13 shoe. So I ride an 8.5. Thunder 149s, bones Swiss bearings, Allen key hardware, and will ride any wheel as long as it's 52mm. For a long time I rode a 7.75 deck, because that's about as big as the local skate shop had in stock. So you will eventually find a board size, brand, and other personal preferences that will become a natural niche for you.

Enjoi,
Alex