Skateboards

Buy a skateboard

Skateboarding - it's not just a hobby, it's a way of life. Just turn off everything around you, leave everyday life behind and cruise through the streets, the adrenaline on the half pipe spüren - a true feeling of freedom. This is not just a fashionable trend of our time. In the meantime, skating is even practiced as a professional sport and it is impossible to imagine society without it. The road there was rocky, but the success is undeniable. Meanwhile, skateboarding is even represented as a discipline at the Olympic Games.

No other sport is as bursting with creativity as skating. The elaborately designed skateboard decks alone pass for true works of art. Not to mention the tricks. People are constantly experimenting, testing new tricks and building unusual ostacles. You never stop learning and even experienced skaters are always faced with new challenges. In this way, the sport is constantly evolving and will probably never come to a standstill. Who knows how our children will skate later and what tricks they will come up with?

But one thing is clear - the feeling of life remains the same. The love of freedom unites all skaters and it will continue to do so in the future. Furthermore, it offers consistency in the fast-moving times, because through the constant development it is never boring compared to various trend sports and the skaters remain true to their sport.

The scene was shaped by men, which is why it is still dominated by them today. But that does not mean that there are not also women who inspire with their skateboarding skills. Female professional skaters like Elissa Steamer, Pamela Rosa and Leticia Bufoni prove exactly that. They attract the attention of the female world to the sport, which thus also wins more and more female followers.

All this goes with your skateboard

What actually makes a board a real skateboard? What components are there on the complete board, what are the differences and what should I look out for? In the following, exactly that is explained. Regardless of whether you reach for a complete board or assemble your skateboard yourself from the components - without an axle, deck or bearings you won't get far.

Firm footing with the right deck

The largest component of a skateboard or a complete board is inevitably the board, that is, the actual board on which you stand. You can get it in different sizes and designs, so that you can adapt it to your needs. Depending on what you mainly want to use it for, different shapes, so-called shapes and concaves, are offered.

The skateboard deck is usually made of Canadian maple wood, because it is particularly durable. It is not only stable, but also resistant, because you should have long pleasure in your board. As a rule, a total of seven layers of maple wood are glued together and pressed together.

The standard deck has a length of 28 " - 33 ", so about 71 - 84 cm. Maßßgeblich is, however, the width of the skateboard, as the skater stands across the direction of travel on the board. Children's boards start at a width of 6.5 - 7 inches, a regular deck today has around 8 inches, and the widest variants even reach über 9 inches. But more on that later.

The front part of the skateboard is called "nose", the rear "tail". The middle section is called the wheelbase, which refers to the distance between the axles. If you're not quite sure where the front is and where the back is, just turn your board around. The design is usually such that the nose is on the top or left. Also, on a regular board, the nose is slightly wider than the tail.

The camber is called concave. The more pronounced it is, the better you can lay into the sides, which strengthens the steering and allows you to do better flips. You have a choice of high, medium, and low concave.

However, weights or not. How do I know how big the perfect skateboard for me should be? As a small rule of thumb you can remember: The bigger the rider, the bigger the board. Larger decks give you more stability and you have a better balance. There are special tables where you can see which length and width are suitable for your body size. However, like almost everywhere else, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Recommendations give you a direction but ultimately you should always choose the skateboard on which you feel most comfortable.

The Griptape für the nötigen grip

Your skateboard deck is provided with a non-slip griptape. The rough surface increases the friction between the board and your soles and you have a much better grip. So you can also perform tricks more safely without slipping right off the board. In addition, you can move it so much easier in the air, because the silicon carbide tape provides the necessary resistance when skateboarding. You can get the tape in different colors and designs. There are no limits to creativity when it comes to colors and prints. Also cut-out are processed as a visual element with pleasure.

A normal layer of tape is 9 x 33 ", so about 23 x 84 cm large; and is suitable for almost all decks. If your board has a slightly wider deck or you longboard, you can resort to special sizes. You also have a choice when it comes to the shape of the edge. The stronger it is, the more grip you have. However, it should also not be too strong, because otherwise you have faster Löcher in the shoes than you can play SKATE.

Without axles, no wheels

To make your deck rideable, you first need axles. The skateboard axle is also composed of various parts. The base plate is their base plate. The hanger gives them mobility and with the help of überstehenden axle pins, the wheels are attached to it. Then there is the kingpin and the corresponding nut that hold the baseplate and hanger together. The steering rubbers, also called bushings, control the steering behavior of the axle. Washers are placed above or below them. The metal washers return the bushings to their original position after each steering operation. There are also speed rings. These are small washers that are placed between the hanger and the bearing and also between the axle nut and the bearing. They counteract the friction between these components.

When looking for the right size, you should orientate yourself to the width of your deck regarding the axle pin width. Both should roughly match. Deviations of up to 0.2" are possible without hesitation.

When it comes to height, a distinction is made between low, mid/standard and high. Which of these is best for you is a matter of taste. The taller you are, the higher they can be. With increasing height, however, popping becomes more difficult, because you have to exert more pressure on the tail. However, better jumps are possible, because you can set up your board steeper due to the height.

With the wheels, things get rolling

Continue with the skateboard wheels, which make skating only möglich. You have the choice between different degrees of hardness and sizes. On average, they have a diameter of 50-60 mm and a Härtegrad between 95 and 100 A.

The rolls are divided into standard or non-core and core rolls. The latter have a core made of plastic, which is harder compared to the rest of the rollers.

When choosing the size of the skateboard wheels, it again depends on what you plan to do with your board. The smaller the wheels are, the lighter they are and the faster they accelerate too. However, larger wheels can have a higher top speed, wear out more slowly and do not block as quickly, so that even small stones will not affect you. Größen with 65-75mm are more suitable für cruiser skate or a longboard.

Generally, the smaller ones are more suitable for technical skating, Größere more for vert skateboarding. Möchtest you make with your skate mainly ramps unsafe, you should choose a middle size;

Continue with the right degree of hardness.

The softer your wheels are, the more grip they give you. In addition, they are quieter and absorb small shocks better. However, they are slower and less suitable for sliding. Experienced skaters can resort to very hard wheels with a clear conscience. They offer less grip and do not absorb bumps as well, but can accelerate very quickly and are particularly well suited for sliding. For beginners, rollers with a hardness of about 99 A are recommended. So you are both in street skating and on the ramps in the best hands, can reasonably accelerate and have enough grip.

The last important point is the running surface, also called contact patch. This refers to the part of the wheels that is in contact with the ground. A distinction is made between basic and slim wheels. The tread of the basic version is about 18 - 20 mm, that of the slim version 15 - 17 mm. The smaller the running surface is, the less friction is also created, which is especially advantageous when trick skating.

Ball bearings für the nötigen drive

In order for your wheels to turn at all on your skateboard, you need ball bearings, also called bearings, two on each wheel of your skateboard. The bearings consist of an outer and an inner ring. Between them are small steel balls that drive your wheels. They are protected by shields on the outside. However, these are not mandatory, you can also ride with open or half-open bearings. This way your board will be even faster. However, it also gets dirty much faster and becomes louder.

The space between the wheels and the bearings you can provide with a spacer. This is a small metal cylinder that prevents the Bearing in the role drückts when you tighten the axle nut. Another advantage is that your Bearings with the help of the spacers always keep their parallel position, which is especially useful for soft Wheels.

Whether you are looking for robust ABEC 3 ball bearings, the good ABEC 5 or particularly fast ball bearings with ABEC 7 or even ceramic balls for downhill racing, in our store you will find a huge selection of suitable bearings.

The perfect skateboard model for your needs

The varied shaped skateboards

Shaped decks have become a staple in the world of skateboards. There are quite a few different variations nowadays. The more complex the tricks became, the more important it also became to adapt the skateboard decks accordingly, so that they could be executed, developed and perfected even better.

The slimmer and more maneuverable the board, the more suitable it is for extraordinary tricks. At Welcome or Powell Peralta, for example, you'll find a variety of shaped boards to fit your exact needs and preferences.

The Twintip Skateboard

The Twintip boards live up to their name, because the tail and nose are almost indistinguishable from each other. They are almost exactly the same shape, so you can also ride particularly easy switch. Especially für beginners, the boards are therefore very well suited.

A variant of the twintip board is the True Twin Shape. With it üübertrrrt the power almost always the same and also the driving behavior does not change. It doesn't matter whether you ride regular or switch. Another variant is the Directional Twin Shape. The nose is a little longer, which gives your board more drive.

The old school skateboards for retro enthusiasts

Who now thinks of old worn-out boards, is völlig wrong. The old school boards are reminiscent only in their form of copies from the 1980s and 19990s, but are of course produced completely new. Especially with the wheels and their assembly, manufacturers are often oriented to newer models to make your skateboard perfect.

Rules and standards you look here in vain. The boards are available with one or two noses, which are always curved. The tail, on the other hand, is straight. The slightly downturned deck is particularly suitable for children and beginners, because it offers a very safe stand. The shape makes it particularly stable, but also heavier, which makes steering a little more difficult. Old School Boards you get e.g.   with us in the Skater Onlieshop from Santa Cruz. Whether as a complete board or cruiser - you can buy both online here.

Which board for beginners?

With us you are sure to find a suitable skateboard. Be it because your old deck is through, or because you as beginner looking for a suitable board. We have something for all tastes and budgets on offer. As a beginner to find the right is not so difficult, even if the selection of the variety of components and brands offered here seems complex at first. For beginners, we generally recommend to start with a complete skateboard. If you then develop fun; in skateboarding, the associated knowledge comes more or less automatically.

To find a suitable complete skateboard for you, first the size is crucial. And when you talk about the size of skateboards, the measure of all things is the width of the deck. Since skateboarding originated in the USA, this is still measured in INCH. This is for Europeans at first gewöhinnungsbedürftig, but once you are in the matter, so you get used to it. For orientation: one inch is 2.54cm and because it is hard to calculate this in your head, Google helps. Simply enter "inch cm", then comes the calculator to convert.

Skateboard sizes

The smallest skateboard has 6.5 inch width and is suitable for the very young skaters from 3-5 years. Depending on the body size kids skateboards are then suitable with a width of 7.0 to 7.5inches. From here, the appropriate skateboard - in terms of width - is also really a matter of taste. Was the range in skateboarding earlier für youthful and adult skaters so from 7.50 to a maximum of 8.0 inches, with a good average of 7.75 inches, So the trend today goes strongly to the wider deck. Meanwhile, the 8.0 inches are the good standard, and even boards with 8.25 and 8.5 inches and above no rarity. As a guide, you can look into the size table for skateboards.