How to Buy Your First Skateboard

Even though skateboards may appear the same to a beginner, there are important aspects to look for in your first board. Always shop around and always try to match a board with your style of riding.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Go to a real skate shop. If you are getting a skateboard just for transportation then buying from a toy store is ok, but it might break after a lot of use and in the end it will cost you more to buy multiple skateboards instead of one good one.
2. Tell the employee that you are just starting to skateboard and you want to buy a beginners board. You do not need to buy anything fancy now, skateboards wear out fast if you really use them and beginners don't need the slightly enhanced performance. But know that the differences are slight and all decks are more or less created equal.
3. Buy some trucks and bearings along with the board. It's ok to go cheap since higher performance will not matter as much to a novice. The trucks and bearings are where the real performance differences seperate skateboards. Keep in mind that not all trucks and wheels will ride the same. Ask the employee what he would suggest as the cheapest setup that would work for you.
4. Buy wheels. Its a matter of preference, typically the medium size wheels are the best but don't waste money on cool designs until you know you will like skateboarding. Eventually you will wear out the wheels and need new ones anyway.