HEYDAY
SKATEBOARDING

Not sure what the parts of a skateboard are called? Know what they are called, but not what they are for? These next few paragraphs will fill you in on what you need to know about the parts of a skateboard.

Decks and Griptape

The deck is the board itself. It is the part that you stand on. Decks are usually made from laminated plys of maple wood that are pressed in molds to give them a particular shape. Decks are raised at the front and back ends, called the nose and tail, and are also curved up on the sides. The curve of the sides is referred to as the concave of the deck. Most decks have a graphic (picture) on the bottom, but some have no graphic or only a small logo on the bottom. Decks with no graphics are called blanks.

Griptape is the sandpaper like material on the topside of the deck. It allows the skateboarders foot to grip the deck better, allowing for more control while riding and performing tricks. Griptape comes in sticker-like sheets with the grippy side, and a sticky side that is covered with a backing. Griptape is available in various colors and sometimes with graphics on it, but most skateboarders would agree that black griptape is of higher quality.

Trucks and their components

Trucks are metal casted parts that connect the deck to the wheels. They allow the skateboarder to turn by shifting his/her weight to the left or right side of the deck. Trucks are also used to perform tricks called grinds. Adjustments can be made to change the amount of pressure required to make the board turn. Trucks come in different heights and widths.

Trucks consist of several smaller parts. The baseplate is the part of the truck that attaches to the base of the board. Hardware (nuts and bolts) are placed through the deck and baseplate to hold them together. The hangar is the part of the truck that extends from the baseplate in a sort of “T” shape and holds the wheels. The hangar is also the part of the truck that is used for performing tricks called grinds. Between the hangar and the baseplate are two bushings (sometimes called grommets). They squish when weight is applied to the side of the board causing the board to turn. Right in the middle of everything on the truck is the kingpin. It is a bolt that holds all the pieces of the truck together.

The axle of the truck is a rod the goes from one end of the hangar to the other and sticks out on both sides. The nut on the end of the axle holds on the wheels, and the inside of the bearings are always in contact with the axle.

Wheels, bearings, spacers, etc.

Wheels, obviously, are the part the rolls on the ground. They are made from urethane and come in various hardnesses. Most wheels have a hardness rating of around 100a. Some softer wheels are available which are around 95a. Wheels also come in different sizes measured in millimeters (mm). Recently some different types of wheels have been released, including wheels with hollowed cores for extra lightness and speed.

Bearings are small, carefully crafted metal pieces that fit tightly inside the middle of a wheel. They rest on the axle of the truck and allow the wheels to spin freely while still being firmly attached to the truck. Many bearings come with an ABEC rating. This rating is only a measure of how precisely the measurements during the bearing’s construction were, and do not necessarily mean they are faster or longer lasting. Bearing spacers go in the center of the wheel and help keep stress off the bearings, as well as aiding in lessing the chances of the slipped axles (when the truck axle moves, causing one wheel to get stuck and not turn properly). Washers are little rings that sit between the outer bearing and the axle nut, and the inner bearing and the edge of the hangar. They too help reduce stress and pressure on the bearings.

Other Accessories

Hardware is the name of the nuts and bolts that hold the trucks on the deck. They are available in Phillips head and Allen key head. There are some new brands that use a different technique too. Riser pads are thin sheets of plastic that sit between the deck and the baseplate of the truck. They make your trucks ride higherwhich can help keep your wheels from touching the base of the deck when you turn. They also help asborb some of the impact from landing.

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