Skateboard beginners: how to choose the right model | HawaiiSurf

Are you ready to take up skateboarding? Join the 5 million skateboarders and 60,000 licensed skateboarders in France and experience new sensations! A popular sport since 1950, skateboarding's inclusion in the Olympic disciplines in August 2016 has only strengthened its already strong image around the world. Back at the Tokyo Olympics and at the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, it's time to get into the swing of things, to understand and fully experience this emblematic sport that never gets old!

Why is the choice of skateboard important for beginners?

It is important not to neglect the choice of the first skateboard for several reasons:

A poorly adapted skateboard can make learning difficult, even discouraging for the most novice riders.
The choice of components: deck, wheels, trucks, bearings can have a significant impact on the rider's performance and comfort. For example, wheels that are too hard make the board unstable and harder to control, while trucks that are too tight or too loose make the board harder to maneuver.
Safety: A poorly-adapted or poor-quality board can present risks of breakage or falls that can lead to more or less serious injuries!

These 3 points underline the importance of skateboard selection for beginners. Indeed, these elements can have a negative influence on the learning curve, comfort and safety of novice riders!

skateboard bowl

The different types of skateboard

COMPLETE SKATEBOARDS VS. SELF-ASSEMBLY SKATEBOARDS

Complete skateboards are sold with all the necessary components, assembled and ready to use. This usually includes a deck, trucks, wheels, bearings and grip tape. These skateboards are ideal for beginners, as they're ready to use straight out of the box, making them very practical! Complete skateboards are also ideal for parents who want to give their children their first skateboard.

On the other hand, do-it-yourself skateboards require you to purchase and assemble all components individually. Assembly includes, as previously mentioned, a deck, trucks, wheels, bearings and grip tape. While it may seem daunting to assemble your own board, it can be a great way to progress to the next level. Skateboarders can customize their skateboard to suit their preferences. What's more, the choice of decks and wheels is always impressive! Overall, complete skateboards are more practical for beginners. Whereas do-it-yourself skateboards are more suitable for experienced skateboarders who want to customize their skateboard to suit their needs.

SKATEBOARD SHAPES AND SIZES

There are several skateboard shapes and sizes adapted to specific riding styles. Here are some of the most common skateboard shapes and sizes:

Standard-size skateboards: These are generally between 7.5 and 8.5 inches wide and between 31 and 32.5 inches long. These types of skateboards are suitable for most styles and will facilitate practice and evolution for beginner skateboarders.

Wider skateboards: These are skateboards that are more than 8.5 inches wide. Ideal for skating ramps and bowls, they offer a more stable platform and better grip. This type of skateboard is also suitable for people with wider feet.

Shorter or street skateboards: Shorter skateboards are generally less than 31 inches long . These skateboards are recommended for technical tricks, as they are easier to handle and turn.

THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF A SKATEBOARD

Important selection criteria for beginners

SKATEBOARD SIZE

The size of a skateboard depends on several factors, including: height, weight and the type of ride desired. In general, beginner skateboarders will choose a standard-size skateboard measuring between 7.5 and 8 inches wide and between 31 and 32.5 inches long. These dimensions provide a good platform for learning maneuvers. Wider skateboards measuring over 8.5 inches wide are ideal for skating ramps and bowls with a stable, grippy deck. It's also important to consider your height and weight. Indeed, taller and heavier people will opt for wider and longer boards that enhance comfort and stability.

skatepark los angeles

WHEEL HARDNESS AND SIZE

Wheel hardness and size can affect board performance and handling. For beginner skateboarders, we advise you to choose wheels of standard size and hardness . This allows for better progress and greater comfort. As for wheel size, they generally measure between 50 and 55mm in diameter. Smaller wheels are lighter and offer better maneuverability for first-time tricks. Larger wheels offer a smoother, more stable ride on rougher surfaces. Finally, when it comes to wheel hardness, wheels are classified on a hardness scale known asthe "durometer". Standard skateboard wheels have a hardness of 99A, offering a good combination of speed, durability and versatility for most skateboarders.

Harder wheels(101A and +) are designed for smooth surfaces such as concrete or wood. Whereas softer wheels(95A or -) offer better grip combined with a smoother ride on rougher surfaces like asphalt.

In general, for beginner skateboarders, it's best to choose standard-sized wheels(50-55mm diameter), with standard hardness (99A ) for a simpler, more comfortable experience!

TRUCKS

Choosing trucks for beginner skateboarders can be confusing. We therefore advise you to choose standard-size trucks which are perfectly suited to the size of the board. This ensures excellent handling and stability. The size of the trucks must correspond to the width of the board. Measured in inches, they must correspond to the width of the board. For example, if you have a board measuring 8 inches wideyou'll need trucks from 8 inches. As far as height is concerned, there are 3 :

Low trucks offer real stability and are recommended for street and park skaters performing tricks and slides.
Mid trucks offer a good combination of stability and maneuverability, ideal for skaters of all levels.
High trucks offer greater range of motion for ramp and bowl skaters.

THE CONCAVE PLATEAU

For beginner skateboarders, we recommend choosing a medium concave for an optimal experience. There are different types of concave:

Soft concave (low), flatter board surface. Ideal for beginners looking for a board that's more stable and easier to control.
Concave moyen (mid), the most common form of concave, providing excellent stability and maneuverability for skateboarders.
High concave, more pronounced curve, recommended for ramp and bowl skaters who need a better grip and more control of the board.

So, are you hooked? If you're a beginner skateboarder, you should know that skateboarding can be difficult at first. But it's also great fun and rewarding once you've mastered the basics!

Our advice to keep you on your toes :)

Here's some encouragement to help you on your learning journey:

Don't be discouraged by falls and failures. Skateboarding is an activity that takes practice, and you'll eventually succeed if you keep practicing and persevering.
Find friends to skate with. Skating with other people can be a source of motivation and inspiration to improve.
Don't be afraid to try new tricks and get out of your comfort zone. Skateboarding is an activity that lets you express your creativity and individuality.
Make sure you have the right protective equipment to avoid injury. Wear a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards to protect yourself in the event of a fall.
Have fun! Skateboarding is a fun activity, and you mustn't forget to enjoy yourself and not denigrate the progress you make.