The average skateboard deck will typically run from around 7.5-8.5 inches in width and 29-33 inches in length. Decks can also be narrower or wider based on the skater’s preference. The width and the length will affect your overall stability and how you perform tricks. If you’re into flip tricks you’ll want a narrower board for quicker flips, but if you want to go down some hills or cruise around town you might want a wider board to gain more stability and speed.

Similar to surfing, your skateboard length will tend to correlate with how tall you are. Choosing a board that’s much too short or too long will make it more difficult to ride.

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GUIDELINE FOR DECK LENGTH
GUIDELINE FOR DECK WIDTH
CONCAVE
MATERIALS
GRIP TAPE FOR THE DECK

GUIDELINE FOR DECK LENGTH

HEIGHT        DECK LENGTH

4' to 5'3"         29 to 31.5”
5'3" to 6'1"      31.5 to 32.5”
Above 6'1"      32.5 to 33”

Any deck longer than 34 inches or longer falls into the longboard category. Longboards are excellent boards for cruising but are less versatile than a street deck.

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GUIDELINE FOR DECK WIDTH

These are general guidelines. If you have a larger or smaller foot you need a board that will comfortably fit your shoe size. Try standing on a skateboard before buying it. If it doesn’t feel right try out a different size or shape until you find one that works for you.

TEHCNICAL/STREET

Less than 8” wide
Thinner board makes for easier flip tricks

VERT/TRANSITION/CRUISING

8” - 8.5” wide
Wider board delivers the needed stability for ramps and bombing hills.
Good for beginners with poor balance

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

7.7” – 8.2” wide
A nice compromise between the two widths
In this range you should gauge the fit by standing on the deck with your skate shoes and make sure it has a good feel

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CONCAVE

The concave is the amount of curve on the nose, tail and deck of the board. Everyone’s concave preference is different.

Get a feel for the concave by standing on it first and choose what you feel the most comfortable on. The more concave on your board the more responsiveness you’ll get. A new skater hitting the streets for the first time might prefer a board with less concave. As you progress and become a more aggressive skater you’ll want to choose a much deeper concave.

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MATERIALS

HARD MAPLE

Most all skateboard decks are made from 5 to 9 layers of Canadian maple. Canada is the main supplier of nearly all wooden decks. The most common deck is created using 7 plys of hard rock Canadian maple. It’s light, flexible and is the material used for almost all high quality skateboard decks.

BAMBOO

A lot of companies are going “green” by creating some of the most rigid and durable boards out of a weed. Bamboo is one of the world’s most resilient plants. It can grow up to 4 feet in just one week, and it is stronger than maple based on a weight ratio. A majority of all bamboo decks are created with longboarding in mind. Currently traditional street decks made from hard maple can handle the stress and impact of street skating better than bamboo.  More and more longboarding companies are adding a bamboo ply in their deck construction. At FreeRide you’ll find a full line of Sector 9, Loaded, Arbor, Original and Landyachtz skateboards made 100% out of bamboo.

KOA WOOD

Koa Wood is used as a finish ply on many Arbor longboards. They are a true believer in sustainability. Unlike bamboo decks that all have a similar look, Koa wood is made up of densely packed fibers that create a one of a kind pattern on every deck. It is said that Koa was the first material used by the early Hawaiian surfers over 600 years ago.

PLASTIC

Stay away from plastic boards. Plastic was originally used because it was such an inexpensive material. Sure they’re cheap, but plastic cannot deliver the same responsiveness as a wooden deck when it comes to performance. You get what you pay for.

NEW COMPOSITES

As skating moves forward, companies are creating new deck designs using aluminum along with fiberglass and carbon composites. This new formula will continue to improve upon making the wood decks more durable while keeping the same responsiveness and pop that you’re used to.

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GRIP TAPE FOR THE DECK

If you’re buying a deck, you’ve got to get grip tape. Grip tape is the sand-paper like sheet which is applied by exposing the adhesive backing and placing it on the top of the deck. Grip tape comes in various colors including clear, but black is by far the most common. The grit and texture of the grip tape differs by manufacturer, so check out your options.

Get creative and carve something into your grip tape. Not only will it look more personalized, it’s an easy way to tell the nose from the tail.

Higher grade grip tapes are made from silicon carbide which is very durable and will retain its rough texture. Cheaper grip tape is produced from aluminum oxide which doesn’t last as long.

Mob, Jessup and Mini Logo are three of the most popular grip tape companies, and you can find them at FreeRide. One advantage to Mob Grip and Mini Logo grip is that they come with pin-hole sized perforations in the sheet so you get little to no air bubbles when applying it to the deck.  This is especially helpful if applying the grip tape yourself.

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