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 fish, with little concave
and had 1 ply of wood. The wheels were rather large
compared to most of today's 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, today's boards have
almost identical noses and tails (the tail 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. The deck is normally 76-91 cm
long (2 1/2 to 3 feet). The long board, a common variant
of the skateboard, has a longer deck. Decks were
originally a single piece of wood but are now made from
usually seven plies of Canadian Hard Rock Maple glued
together, or (more uncommonly) other composite
materials.
The width of the deck varies from smaller models like
7.4" to larger ones like 8.25" or 8.38". Larger 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. Thinner decks are suited to street skaters who
like to perform more technical tricks; a wider board
often makes it awkward to pull off such maneuvers.
The Trucks - Attached to the deck are two metal (usually
aluminum) trucks, which connect to the wheels. (The
corresponding parts of trains and other vehicles are
also called trucks.) The trucks are further composed of
two parts. The top part of the truck is screwed to the
deck and is called the base plate, and beneath it is the
hanger. Between the base plate 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 - Two polyurethane wheels attach to each
hanger. The wheels come in various sizes and like the
deck both suit different types of skating. Larger sizes
like 60-65mm roll faster which makes riding vert ramps
easier. Smaller sizes like 50-55mm keep the board closer
to the ground and are lighter which makes tricks easier
to perform. For general cruising you want larger, softer
wheels, alternatively, look into long boards and
dartboards.
Bearings - Inside each wheel are two ball bearings.
Bearings are reported 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 -
since skateboarding puts a lot of pressure on the
bearings anyway, they wont last long. It's better to use
ABEC 5 bearings, because they are durable but also
smooth enough.
Risers - There are special products available to help
raise the board away from the trucks/off the ground.
Risers are placed in-between the underside of the deck
and the truck. This elevates the deck from the ground
slightly (which will avoid "wheel-bite"; where the deck
makes contact with the wheel, often on a hard turn,
causing the board to stop suddenly). Another good reason
to use risers is that they help relieve stress from the
trucks, meaning less chance of the deck cracking under
all that pressure. More risers will equal a higher board
which also lowers the "pop" you get when you push down
on the tail to perform an ollie (it will require more
effort to maintain a higher ollie).
[edit]
"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
base plate. Their purpose is to prevent the skateboard
from being stopped when the truck hits an obstacle (for
example when rolling up a curb).
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.
[edit]
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 skate parks (where it may be
required by skate park rules). A substantial amount (in
fact, virtually all) of street riders scorn all safety
equipment, citing better mobility and lack of need, even
though it's a very dangerous sport. |
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