A skateboard is a narrow wheeled platform (usually made of plywood), used for recreation and transportation. It was developed in the twentieth century by surfers, who first made them using rollerskates. They are typically part of western youth culture.
The skateboard has evolved a lot since the 50s, not only in shape but also materials used. Boards in the past were often in the shape of a surfboard, with little concave and had 1 ply of wood. The wheels were rather large compared to most of todays sizes and were usually made of clay. The trucks (axles) were also larger in size and less sturdy. Another difference is that the boards of the past had a very small nose, todays boards have almost identical noses and tails (the nose is usually a bit steeper however).
Composition
The Deck -
Skateboards are composed of several parts. The deck forms the body of the skateboard and provides a place to stand. It is covered with grip tape, which adds friction to its surface. Decks were originally a single piece of wood but are now usually made from seven plies of Canadian Hard Rock Maple glued together. The plies of maple are cross-laminated, meaning the direction of the wood grain alternates between plies. This is what gives the deck its strength. Sometimes other composite materials, such as fiberglass and Kevlar, are incorporated into deck construction, usually to lighten the board or increase its strength or rigidity.
The deck is normally 7 1/2 to 8 inches wide. Wider decks are better suited to vert skaters who need more control and stability while riding down the steep slopes and riding the transitions and walls of a quarter or halfpipe. Narrower decks are suited to street skaters who like to perform more technical tricks; a wide board often makes it awkward to pull off such maneuvers.
Skateboard decks are usually between 28 and 32.5 inches long. The longboard, a common variant of the skateboard, has a longer deck.
The Trucks -
Attached to the deck are two metal (usually aluminum) trucks, which connect to the wheels. The trucks are further composed of two parts. The top part of the truck is screwed to the deck and is called the baseplate, and beneath it is the hanger. Between the baseplate and the hanger are bushings, also rubbers or grommets, that provide the spring mechanism for turning the skateboard. The bushings cushion the truck when it turns. The stiffer the bushings, the more stable the skateboard. The softer the bushings, the easier it is to turn. A bolt called a kingpin holds these parts together.
The Wheels -
The wheels attach to each hanger. The wheels, usually made of polyurethane and come in nine different sizes and suit different types of skating. Larger sizes like 65-80mm roll faster which makes riding vert ramps easier. Smaller sizes like 52-55mm keep the board closer to the ground and are lighter which makes tricks easier to perform. For general cruising most users prefer larger, softer wheels.
Bearings -
Inside each wheel are seven precision ball bearings, secured by a plastic "crown". Bearings are graded according to the ABEC scale, which goes from 1-9, in odd numbers. It was designed with machines in mind, not skateboards, so the ABEC rating rates the precision of the bearing. This means that as the rating goes up, the bearing usually gets weaker but smoother - since skateboarding puts a lot of pressure on the bearings anyway, they won't last long. It's better to use ABEC 5 bearings, because they are durable and smooth enough. Even though ABEC 9s are smoother than ABEC 5s you won't notice the difference, unless you are going incredibly fast. Today, there have been many scientific advances in the bearing technology, including a different speed-rating scale. It is somewhat rare to find a bearing scaled by ABEC, due to its lack of accuracy for the speed of the bearings. Currently, companies have switched to scales such as ceramic, titanium, and even marble; named after the materials in which produce the speed and prevent the right amount of friction.
Risers -
There are special products available to help raise the board away from the trucks and the ground. Risers are placed in between the underside of the deck and the truck. This rises the deck from the ground slightly, helping to avoid "wheel-bite", where the deck makes contact with the wheel, often on a hard turn, causing the board to stop suddenly and a hole to be burned in the deck.
Another reason riders install risers is that they evenly distribute impact force from the trucks to the deck, meaning less chance of the deck cracking under pressure. More risers will equal a higher board which also increases the "pop" a rider gets when pushing down on the tail to perform an ollie, requiring less effort to get a higher ollie.
"Obsolete" components
Rails -
Rails are narrow plastic strips that were fastened under the deck along the edges. They used to be popular among vert skaters to whom they provided additional grip during aerial tricks. They also provide a more slippery surface and protect the deck from scratches during board slides. Most skateboarders no longer use rails, since the boards have become lighter and thus holding a grab during aerial tricks has become easier.
Copers -
Copers are plastic covers fastened under the truck's hanger which provide a more slippery surface when grinding. They were invented during a time when street skating was in it's infancy but were not very popular since they wore out very quickly and had to be replaced often.
Lappers -
Lappers are plastic covers fastened on the inside of the truck that covered the kingpin and the baseplate. Their purpose is to prevent the skateboard from being stopped when the truck hits an obstacle (for example when rolling up a curb). It's also called a "Bird" since it's shape resembles the shape your hand makes when giving someone the bird.
Nose guard -
Nose guards are plastic "bumpers" fastened to the nose of a skateboard. It's purpose is to protect the nose of the deck from being damaged when the skateboard hits an obstacle.
Tail bone -
Tail bone is a piece of plastic fastened under the tail of a skateboard. It's purpose is to protect the tail of the deck from wear. Because a tail bone makes the execution of an ollie more difficult and because the skateboard decks today don't last as long as in the 1980's a tail bone is today a very rare accessory.
Use
Skateboards are used for skateboarding and skateboarding tricks. A person who rides a skateboard is a skateboarder or a skater. Skateboarders may wear protective clothing, including but not limited to helmets, gloves, knee and elbow pads or wrist braces especially when riding in skateparks (where it may be required by skatepark rules). A substantial amount (in fact, virtually all) of street riders scorn all safety equipment, citing better mobility and supposed lack of need.
- Canadian skateboard resource
- The Skateboard Directory
- SkimTheFatda:Skateboard
Search Term: "Skateboard"
Categories: Skateboarding | Sporting goods | Human powered vehicles
