Archives for Buying a Skateboard category

Tips and Hints on Buying Your Board

Posted on Mar 25, 2009 under Buying a Skateboard | No Comment

Author: John

It’s easy to be a little awed by all the variety of designs that are out there when you start shopping for a skateboard. The graphics can be incredible and so can the skateboards that were created by some of your favorite professional skateboarders. Don’t let the appearance of the skateboard fool you though, there is more to a skateboard than how it looks. You want a skateboard that will stand the test of time, not just one that will look good for a few months then fall apart.

The way you skate should influence the kind of skateboard you buy - think about your style and what you like to do with the skateboard. Do you need a skateboard that is longer or one that is wider instead? Your physical size is also something to consider. People who are lighter can use a smaller deck while those who are heavier need to think about getting a more solid deck on their skateboard.

Do some research on the internet before you start shopping - see what others have to say about the different types of skateboards. Also, visit local skate shops and talk to some of the employees to see what they would recommend. Generally, if you are new to skating, you want to look for a board with a wider deck than more experienced skaters might have. If you are just starting out with skateboarding, buy a less expensive board until you get a feel for skating and see if you really like the sport and want to keep it up. If you decide skating isn’t for you, then you won’t have wasted too much money.

Don’t decide on a skateboard until you have spent a lot of time thinking about the different aspects of the board and how they work for you. You need to consider if the deck size works for you and if the wheels are going to be the right size and the right type for you. You should always try out any skateboard you are thinking about buying just to see if it will do what you are going to want it to do. If a store says that don’t allow this, don’t buy a skateboard from them!

Online research can also be useful for finding out what others think about specific boards you are considering. Read reviews and comments about the boards you are interested in to get an idea of how happy people are with them and how long they last. Read about how long the skateboards last, especially with daily use. You want one that will last you at least 6 months, if not a year. Skateboards are not cheap, so you don’t want to have to buy a new one every few months.

While skateboards can be bought online for less sometimes, you need to get a feel for the board before you buy it. This is why it is good to go to stores in your area and shop around, trying different brands and types of boards. Once you decide on one that you think will work for you, then you can consider purchasing it online. You don’t want to buy a skateboard online that you never tried only to find it isn’t at all what you wanted - what a waste of money. Remember to find out how much shipping will cost when buying a skateboard online because it varies from store to store.

Don’t forget to find out what kind of return policy any store, especially online vendors, has before you buy a skateboard. If you have problems with the skateboard or it just isn’t working for you, you should be able to return it and get all your money back as long as you do so within a reasonable time. When buying a skateboard online, make sure the company will be very flexible when it comes to returns.

There are so many different types and styles of skateboards that it can be overwhelming - not every board will work for everyone. Figure out how much you are willing to spend and check out several different skateboards in that price range before you make a final decision. You need to to try as many as possible so you can figure out what type will make you happy and make skating as fun as possible. Also, you want a skateboard that will keep you safe!
Skateboards don’t have to be expensive, you can get reasonably priced ones in many styles and type. If you are looking to spend a little more, you might think about having one built specifically for you.

About the Author:

As Skateboarding is becoming one of the most popular sports in the world, there are increasingly numbers of manufacturers that produce skateboards. As a result, various brands of skateboards come up, such as Plan B skateboards, Zoo York skateboards etc. You can find professional skateboards in SkateboardsPro.com which is an online skateboards and accessories supplier providing many brands of complete skateboards and accessories.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/board-games-articles/buying-a-skateboard-tips-and-hints-666572.html

Need Help Buying a Skateboard?

Posted on Mar 24, 2009 under Buying a Skateboard | No Comment

Author: Robert McEwan

If you are interested in skateboarding, you are eventually going to have to buy a skateboard. It is usually a good idea to talk to people you know who already skateboard to see what they like and do not like about certain brands. Chances are you will be given the opportunity to try out your friends’ skateboards if you ask them. This will give you a good idea as to what your own personal preferences are for skateboards.

The board part of the skateboard is called the deck and it is usually made of plywood. You can also find cheaper skateboards that are made of plastic. Plastic skateboards are all right to start out with, but if you really love skateboarding you will want to buy a wooden, fiberglass or carbon board as these will last longer, however they will cost you more too. The average skateboard is eight inches wide, but you can get wider boards that make it easier to learn how to skateboard. The wider the board, the more stable it becomes. However wider boards make skateboard tricks more difficult. If you want to be able to rotate a board, you will want one that is 8 inches wide or less.

Your skateboard should come with a sandpaper-like material glued to the surface of the board. This is called griptape, and its entire purpose is to help your shoes grip onto the board as you skate. You will be able to buy the griptape from the skateboard shop that you buy your skateboard from. It comes in various sizes and can be cut down to the correct size for your board. Your griptape needs to be replaced periodically as it wears off the more that you use the skateboard.

Most skateboards have raised nose tail and sides, which is called the concave. The deeper the concave is, the more dramatic tricks can be achieved by the skater. If you are an aggressive skater, you will want a deeper concave. Beginning skaters will need a shallow concave until they really learn how to skate and then can move on to a board with a deeper concave.

The wheels on your skateboard are made of hard plastic, though you can still find old models that have metal wheels, however the metal is not recommended. The plastic wheels are made in different sizes and hardness. The most common level of hardness is one that is 90a. The harder the wheel is, the more pop you can get out of them. Pro skateboarders use wheels with 100a hardness. 97a hardness is good for ramp riding and skateboard parks. The smaller the wheels are in diameter the easier it is for you to perform some skateboard tricks. Smaller wheels will put your skateboard lower to the ground, but when you are starting out you want to have the larger wheels.

Do not get stuck on name brands! You can buy blank boards that have no brand names on them at all. It does not mean that they are bad boards, in fact, many skaters prefer the blank boards to the name brands. You can then customize the skateboard anyway that you would like to and the price is much less than you would pay for a brand name board.

About the Author:

Robert McEwan is a lifestyle & entertainment journalist who specialises in writing articles, features, reports and reviews in the United States and Europe.

To find out more information on this subject please go to :

http://www.cool-items.info

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/extreme-sports-articles/buying-a-skateboard-701172.html