Things You'll Need:
- Money (good = expensive)
- Know how to skate
- Transportation
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Step 1
If you want to know what the real skateboards are. Consider the following.
Since skating is all about tricks, you want a skateboard deck with good pop. Get a 7ply deck the way it should be. Plies are the thin pieces of wood that make a skateboard. You want a board that can pop your tricks high enough for you to learn how to Ollie easier. A good deck has as a lot of pop. The best wood to get is a board made of Canadian Maple. Canadian Maple has very tight wood grain allowing for a deep popping sound. Most beginners think softer wood is better because it is more absorbent and bouncier, but soft is breakable, and absorbent absorbs your pops power. I think Plan B boards have the best pop because it's made of Canadian Maple. You should stand on the board and try a simple Ollie and see how high it is. You should feel a hard pop. That's good. -
Step 2
Next you'll need trucks.You'll want trucks that have a King Pin (it aligns the truck) that faces almost straight to the ground but a little bit facing outward. When ride the board you want the trucks that have very quick response. So also get harder bushings. Bushings are the urethane pieces that space the Hanger and the Baseplate apart for response and absorbing the power. The Hanger is the "axle" and the baseplate is the flat part with the Kingpin that connects to the board. If you are heavier get harder bushings. If you are lighter, loosen your trucks or get harder bushing.
72a to 103a is the hardness bushings go to. But most people keep it in the 90a to 100a.
You also want to make sure the bushings are urethane. 90 pounds = 90a. over 120 pounds use 95a or higher. The trucks I recommend are Royal Trucks. They are smaller in height, lighter, and are made of High grade Aluminum which is lightest. -
Step 3
Next, now you need wheels.
You want good hard wheels for the park. I recommend Ricta's. They are 3.0700's times stronger, but not harder. Harder wheels roll faster at the park, but softer wheels are better for the street. And then again the urethane hardness takes place. For 92a is the best hardness. But for the park 97a is usually my best. Bigger people need bigger wheels. If your average, get wheels that are about 30mm wheels wide and 54mm tall. But if your heavier or taller get some very wide wheel about 35mm wide, and 56mm to 60mm tall. But wideness doesn't always mean the contact patch is bigger, so make sure the wider wheels touch at least 25mm to 30mm of the floor. Only Ricta last long and have no flat spots guaranteed. You also want a wheel with a hard plastic core. -
Step 4
Next you need bearings. Get Bones Reds or Bones Swiss 6. You want bearings with Rubber shields that don't rust and Nylon Cages because of the low friction that makes it fast. Bones bearings are literally 132 times faster than regular skateboard bearings. Don't get Abec rated bearings because they are for machines but labeled by skateboard manufactures to rip us off. Only get Skate Rated Bearings that have tolerances for skating.
