Written on February 13th, 2009 by biru1no shouts
Deciding on the Right Skateboard Deck For You
Excecutive summary by John Pauls
Skateboard Deck
The skateboard deck is the most important part of the whole skateboard. Your size and the size of the deck are related - if you are a smaller person you can use a smaller deck more effectively than a bigger person. An average skateboard deck is between 7 and 8 inches wide. You’ll save money by investing in a good skateboard deck.
Your skateboard deck should be a minimum of 32″ long in most cases. Although the deck height doesn’t affect your skating as much, you still want to give careful consideration to the deck height before you buy a board.
The nose and tail of the skateboard deck will affect how you are able to skate.
Skateboard Decks -What Should I Choose?
Deck is the largest part of any skateboard. Slimmer individuals need to have smaller decks for proper proportioning. Even if you opt for a specific deck size, it is best to stick on a skateboard which is proportional to your size.
Deck Size
There are important factors when choosing deck size. The average deck size is around 7 to 8 inches. The deck size provides a huge difference on your skateboarding skills.
Quality Of The Deck
Although you may have to pay more, you get to keep the gadget for a very long time. You will also find the deck more durable and stable if made under superior quality.
Overall Scheming
Deck length may not be as important as the width. There can be exceptions with the choice of skateboard length. Other important parts of a deck are the nose and tail. These parts can actually produce the best tricks in skateboarding. If you aim to do better tricks, then choosing a curved nose and tail deck is important. Complicated tricks can easily be done with this type of deck. Just remember to exercise caution especially if you’re a beginner in skateboarding.
Appearance is not the best criteria to judge a deck. Some skateboards may be designed intricately and superbly. There are plain decks which you might think unhelpful in your skateboard goals. Never decide on skateboards based on appearance alone.
The Deck Research
Searching for the best deck around is an important thing to do. You simply have to inquire about the decks and choose one which does not only suit your taste but matches your skills as well. Having enough time to research is also greatly important so you can experiment on the kind of deck you like. Before finally making a decision, remember to do your deck research first.
If you do not do enough research on skateboards, you might end up getting disappointed with the purchase.
Article You May Be Interested Readind In : How To Skateboard
Written on February 6th, 2009 by biru1no shouts
Longboard Skateboard deck
Info compiled from wikipedia.com
Depending on their purpose, longboards exist in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The differentiation between a short skateboard and a longboard usually depends on their application and configuration. Most longboards measure between 90 and 150 cm (35.4-59 inches). Longer boards are rare because the longer board requires more room to maneuver.
skateboard decks
Longboard decks are made of shaped wood or composite materials, designed to balance properties of weight, stiffness, flex, and twist, while offering a secure stance, and accommodating the height and weight of the rider. The simplest decks are made from 7 to 10 plys of 1/16″ thick birch or maple. These plys are glued together, and pressed into the desired shape with a vacuum, hydraulic, or manual press. More complex decks include the use of fiberglass and carbon fiber for decreased weight and increased stiffness, solid hardwoods for stiffness and aesthetics, foam cores for rigidity and light weight, and even exotic woods, like bamboo.
Decks are often given curvature that enhances their use. A board that is bent up in the center (when viewed from the side), is said to have camber, while a board that bends down in the center is said to have rocker. Camber makes a board ‘bouncier’ which is a good quality for some styles. Rocker allows a lower center of gravity, and a sensation of being ‘cradled’ by the deck during riding similar to the rocker in a surfboard. Concave bends add stiffness, leverage, and allow the rider to feel the edge of the deck without looking. Other bends, such as a bend up at the tail or nose (kicktails), or a deep drop at the center of the board to dramatically lower center of gravity are common on more specialized decks.
Many people have explored outside the realm of brand name equipment and find making their own decks as highly beneficial. A great variation that some riders enjoy is in the covering over the top of the deck. Some decks will have grip tape, basically a sheet of sandpaper covering the deck itself. Some decks are covered with sand and a liquid fiberglass that makes the deck extremely rough and easy to grip. Many riders enjoy adding their personal touch to their boards, oftentimes painting or carving in their own artwork straight on the deck.
There are many very complicated methods to do this, using presses, fiberglass, carbon fiber,Bamboo, and even foam cores. The basic method includes making a template to get the shape you want, using two sheets of Baltic Birch or Maple plywood, gluing them together, and adding weights to the board while the glue dries in order to create the right flex and camber.
Check out my other guide on How To Skateboard