While some skateboards can be bought assembled, there are still some avid skaters who prefer to choose the different parts themselves and put them together. Of course, the main advantage is the ability to design their skateboard the way they want to by putting various things together.
If you are looking to build your own skateboard, the first and most important step is to find the right deck. Also called the board, this is the wooden part that you stand on when taking a ride on the skateboard. Your choice of the skateboard deck will influence every second of your ride, though you might not notice it.
There are many decisions to make when it comes to choosing a skateboard deck, from longboard versus shortboard to the width, concave, and materials. Of course, it is important to choose the right size for you too, based on your height and your riding style. For example, professional skaters can choose the widest at 8.4 inches while street skaters like those at 7.5 to 8 inches.
The deck is composed of various parts that play a key role in the quality of your ride. First of all, there is the kick tail or that thing that bends upwards at the end of your skateboard. There should be 2 of them, known as the nose and the tail of your board. They are vital for turning or maneuvering the board and make it easier to jump higher or perform tricks that need the board to be flipped or the trunk to be lifted off the ground. The nose is normally bigger and broader while the tail is smaller.
Another important thing to look at is the construction of the deck, specifically the number of layers. Typically, it will be between 7 to 9 layers or plies, mostly made of wood. Some might include a middle ply made of fiberglass, as this makes the deck stronger or makes it jump higher. The plies are glued together by laminates that may be either water based or out of epoxy. The epoxy-based laminates are normally better to make the board stronger.
The deck will contain 8 mounting holes found in the 2 kick-tails (4 each). These are used to be able to attach a truck to the board. In the middle, you should also notice a curve that runs through the middle, called the concave. Many people like it flatter but the others prefer the deeper one so that they can get more feedback while skating.
Even the raw materials have an impact on performance. The most common wood they use is Canadian Maple. The conditions where these trees grow from make the deck more resistant to the worst shocks.
In short, the deck is the heart of the skateboard, one that you are also capable of designing personally. Although there are guidelines on which parts to buy, you will still have the opportunity to get something different to end up with a personalized deck. For skaters who know a bit about skateboarding, they can design a unique one or simply upgrade it to make it run faster.
