Skateboard Decks

Design & Style

What do you need from a skateboard deck? Comfort, pop, and style. When all these elements

come together correctly for the specific rider, it will change the way they feel, improve their confidence, and therefore creativity when performing tricks or riding lines. This article will explore some of the fundamental aspects associated with skateboard decks, helping you to accurately determine what size and style are suitable for you.

Width

The width of a skateboard deck is the most commonly talked about thing. Width is increasing nowadays. Generally speaking, the first boards that would commonly be described as the beginning of the standard forms of street and park skating we see today were wide. In the 90s, we saw an extreme shift to thinner decks, this was due to lack of investment in the sport. Lack of skateparks lead to pure street skating, where the reduced width helped riders achieve the weight and responsiveness required to adapt to the abrupt 90 degree edged street furniture they rode. In reality, a thin deck does flip easily with respect to weight, but it is also easy to miss flicking it, and there is little surface to land on. Wide decks take more effort to flip, however, it is easier to make the flick, and they have lots of surface for landing. Nowadays, people are riding a width that allows the best of both worlds, with 8.25 being the most common size currently ridden.

Concave

The concave is the curve in the board that your feet sit in from side to side of the deck. Generally referred to as mellow, medium, and steep. The more mellow end of the spectrum gives comfort underfoot, and is generally associated with street skating and flip tricks. While high, concave is usually associated with vert or transition skating, providing cupping to the base of your foot while carving hard. Most decks have medium concave, this provides a well rounded deck that offers the correct feel in varying circumstances.

Wheelbase

A deck's wheelbase is an often overlooked aspect. Longer wheelbases provide stability when leaning over the front or rear of the deck, meaning they are particularly good in large transitions, and for carving bowls. Shorter wheelbases allow for easier flipping of the board, as they reduce the positioning and weighted truck position. That being said, the stability offered by longer wheelbases can provide ease when setting up and landing, so it is a subjective choice overall. Common wheelbases include 14" for street skating and flip orientated boards, 14.25 & 14.5 for a balanced wheelbase, and 15" for bowl and pool style decks.

Tail & Nose Kick

The kicks on noses and tails will make the way you perform turns and pop tricks feel different. Steeper kicks make kick turns easy, and provide a lot more power when popping. This comes as a result of the quicker response and sensitivity associated with a higher reference point beneath the rider's foot. Less movement of the leg is required to initiate a relief in weight on the front wheels. The longer time it takes for the tail to hit the floor when popping tricks also means more energy is present during popping. This makes it easier to achieve height, but also comes with less ease of controlling the pop. Mellow kicks allow for more forgiving characteristics, they provide less response and a more controlled pop. Generally, most decks nowadays have medium kicks, providing and balance of power and control.

Template

Generally, popsicles are what you expect to see beneath a rider's feet. Popsicles are the

symmetrical looking decks, that have a rounded nose and tail. When you look more closely, you will actually see that the word symmetrical, isn't an accurate description.

Traditional popsicle templates, will have parallel rails, or sides, through the deck, usually holding a continuous width until the front drill holes are met, at which point the nose and tail are shaped. Tails are typically 1/2 an inch shorter in length than noses. Common measurements from the front drill holes will be 6.5" tails, and 7" noses. This helps to create the required feeling for pop, with respect to foot stance, while also providing more weight to the front of the board, helping to level out ollies and other tricks. Variations of the traditional template include tapered decks, that are thinner at the back compared to the front, and egg decks, which have the widest point at their centre. They create a different feeling when turning and flipping the board. None are better than others, it is all rider preference, it is best to have a go on many styles of decks to find out what is your favourite.