A Skateboard is a kind of toy/Equipment used for a Recreational /Sports activity called Skateboarding. It basically is a piece of board with wheels attached beneath it. Skateboards consist of : The Deck(usually made with maplewood board), The Truck(usually made up of metal and is used to connect the wheels and bearings to the deck.
A skateboard is pushed by one leg while another leg remains on the board.
If the rider uses his/her right foot as the leading foot then he is said to be riding ‘Goofy, ‘ or if their leading foot is left foot then he/she is supposed to ride ‘Regular’ and if a rider is usually ‘goofy.’ but rides in ‘regular’ stance and vice versa then they are meant to riding in ‘switch.’
Parts of skateboard
Decks
A deck is the central part of the skateboard. It is the main board which is usually composed of birch, bamboo, maple, koa, or oak wood, on which the rider puts his/her foot. Standard skateboard decks are typically between 71 and 84 cm long.
Penny boards deck size is the smallest among all, it is usually 22″ or 27 inches long Longboards are usually 36″ long.
Old-school skateboards evolved into be modern skateboards that we use today. An Example of this is that the Old-school skateboards made in the late 1970s had very little or no concavity, But boards made in the 1980s started having deeper concavity than the models of the 1970s.
Wheels
Skateboard wheels allow the rider to roll or cruise on ramps and Concrete. It is made up of polyurethane. It comes in different Size and quality. Most street skaters and ramp skaters prefer wheels ranging from 50 millimeters to 60 millimeters, while longboard riders prefer much larger wheels, ranging is size from 60 millimeters to 70 millimeters and up.
Bearings
It is a round ring made of metal. Bearings fit inside the wheels to mount the wheels on the axle, which allow the wheels to move in round motion. Each bearing usually contains steel or ceramic bearing balls.
Grip Tape
A grainy and sandpaper-like Sheet with adhesive on another side of it. It is applied on the top surface of the board which provides grip to the feet of the rider. It usually comes in black color but is also available in other colors even in transparent which allows you to show off the Brand logo.
Trucks
Trucks are as important as decks, Wheels & bearings to make something a Skateboard. It Connects the wheel and bearing to the deck. It is usually made of metal to ensure its durability.
Bushings
Bushings are also known as rubbers or grommets. It fits between the baseplate and the hanger of the Truck. Bushings cushion the truck when turning. The softer the bushings, the easier it is to turn and the stiffer it is, the more it resists the board from turning.
Risers
Risers are made up of hard plastic, which is used to raise the deck up from its original position. It helps to maintain the space between the deck and the truck. It prevents the Skateboard from wheel bite(when the wheels touch the deck and resist it from moving).
Hardware
It is a set of eight 10-32 UNF bolts. They are used to attach trucks from the decks, with or without a riser. Hardware is available in different lengths, to mount the truck with or Without a riser.
Also Read: Best Skateboards For Kids.
Types of Skateboard
The main types of skateboards available these days are:
Longboard
The longboard is obviously bigger than the traditional skateboards. Longboards are available in a variety of sizes and quality based on requirement, and It mostly used for sliding, slalom racing, cruising, downhill racing, long-distance racing, dancing, and transporting.
Longboards are easier to stand on than traditional skateboards.
Shortboards
A Shortboard is a traditional skateboard, which is smaller than a longboard. Unlike longboards, it has small and hard wheels, and it is ideal for street skateboarding and vert skateboarding. If the skateboard leaves the ground, you can say that it is a Shortboard.
Penny Boards
A Penny board is a plastic skateboard which is manufactured by Penny company. It is lightweight and more flexible than other skateboards which helps to achieve a significant number of tricks on a Penny Board.
Electric Boards
In an Electric Skateboard, an electric motor propels the wheels of the board which is controlled by an RF remote control. It is the fastest and the most popular and easy to master Skateboard these days. Most people use these Electric boards to go to their College/Office on time, without getting stuck in traffic.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skateboard
http://skate-parts.com/blog/2010/04/23/choosing-the-right-size-trucks-for-your-skateboard-deck
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