The Skateboarding Blog

Parts Of A Skateboard – The Deck, Wheels, Bearings And Truck

Author: Anna String

What parts make up a skateboard?

The invention of the skateboard is a bit of a mystery as it has never been confirmed who invented it and how it came about. There are a few theories of its origin; one being they were first created in to the 1930’s when children would play on soapboxes placed on wooden planks on top of roller skates. This gave the general basis idea of the skateboard and was then made into a product, a product that went on to be sold massively internationally.

There are four main parts that make up a skateboard, these include: the deck, the wheels, the bearings, and the trucks.

The Deck of a Skateboard - the deck is the long board that you stand on. The deck lies on top of the wheels and everything else that is underneath it. You place one foot on the deck and push yourself along with the other foot on the floor. Decks are usually made from fiberglass, wood, aluminium, or plastic. There is a tail at the end of the board which allows the skater to steer and stop the skateboard and generally have more control.

Skateboard Wheels - the wheels are quite an important part to a skateboard as if it weren’t for these the skateboard wouldn’t be able to move. There are 4 wheels, 2 on either side, one set at the front and the second set towards the bottom. They are usually made from polyurethane, and they come in all sorts of different sizes and each size is better suited to a type of boarding. For example smaller wheels are better for doing tricks and so many modern street skaters use these. These wheels are harder than other wheels as they break away from the ground faster allowing the skateboarder to carry off the tricks easier.

Skateboard Bearings - skateboard bearings are placed on either side of each wheel and they allow for the wheel to rotate freely without any friction which makes the skateboard go fast and the boarder can control the board more freely. The bearings of a skateboard are very important as they govern how the board is going to move, how fast it can go, and how easily you are going to be able to control your movements on the board. If your bearings aren’t lubricated enough or they are not fitted properly or they have dirt inside of them then the wheels aren’t going to able to move smoothly and this will affect the skater’s performance. The bearings on a skateboard are very important and professional skaters spend a lot of money on the bearings to their skateboard for ultimate control and speed.

The Truck - there are two trucks to every skateboard, these attach the wheels to the deck. They are usually made out of aluminium alloy and are made up of two parts the base plate and the hanger. The trucks are sturdy pieces so the wheels are firmly in place and the deck feels secure for the boarder, the bearings allow the wheels to move freely but it is important that the trucks are secure in position and bolted down.

About the Author:

Roller Bearings

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/parts-of-a-skateboard-the-deck-wheels-bearings-and-truck-818687.html

Skateboarding Origins And What Makes Up A Skateboard

Author: Jarvis Malone

Skateboarding has become ever so popular these days. It is no longer just for punk kids and has become a part of our culture. Skateboarding can be seen in movies, on tv, and in video games. One of the funnest video games I played when I was younger was tony hawk, a skateboarding game. And skateboarding games keep popping up too, some of them rather good.

Now, as far as how skateboarding began, there is some debate. Some say it was started by surfers that wanted to try and surf on land. Same say it was by kids who tore apart their sop box racers and rode on just the bottom part. No matter who or when it started, it is no doubt that skateboarding is here to stay. Most cities even have skate parks, which are big parks of concrete with built in ramps and half pipes. They are really fun and you can usually pick up some new moves for your skateboard just by watching some of the others skaters there.

What does a skateboard consist of? Well, skateboards have come a long way, but your basic skateboard components consist of the deck, wheels and bearing, and the trucks, which hold the wheels. The deck itself is really important and is typically made of wood. However, more and more skateboard decks are being made from plastic composites, because of its flexibility. Also, the wider deck, the better it is for doing tricks. Most street skateboards are about 7-8 inches wide while trick skateboards are up to 10 inches. You’ll also see grip tape used on decks, which help keep your feet on the board.

The trucks and the wheels are the other two main components of the skateboard. Every skateboard has two trucks and these are what connect the wheels to the skateboard. Trucks are usually made of metal, typically from some sort of aluminum alloy. When the trucks are connected to the board, there is usually some sort of rubber barrier, which helps for turning and flexibility. The more stiff you make the barrier, the harder it is to turn.

When it comes to the wheels on skateboards, they are usually made from a special kind of plastic called polyurethane. They also come in different shapes and sizes, all depending of course on how you plan to use your skateboard. Because they help keep the skateboard close to the ground, smaller skateboard wheels are good for doing tricks. Skateboard wheels are also measured for how hard the polyurethane is processed. They are rated on an “A” scale. Your soft wheels will be around 70a, while the hard wheels are in the lower 100’s.

About the Author:

Jarvis Malone has had experience with many things, and likes to research new things. Skateboarding is something one of his kids is into and he has been looking at recently, and would also recommend originskateboards for cheap skateboards. Looking to buy cheap skateboards, then head over there now!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/skateboarding-origins-and-what-makes-up-a-skateboard-600832.html