We decided to help you out a little here because let's face it, when you're not a great connoisseur, it can quickly become complicated to shop for a skateboard! So we want to try to enlighten you as much as possible to make your task easier, or at least give you the necessary basis to fully understand your purchase!
FIRST OF ALL, WHAT MAKES UP A SKATEBOARD?
To make sure your skateboarding gear is complete, you need to be aware of all the elements that make up a skateboard deck:
- the skateboard (you probably saw this one coming);
- a pair of trucks;
- the bearings (this is what allows the wheel to roll);
- the wheels;
- the screws;
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT BOARD?
To get a board that fits you perfectly, you need to take a few things into consideration. The first thing is the size of the skateboard. When we talk about skateboard size, we're talking about the width of the board. This is what will allow you to be comfortable or not. There are different sizes of skateboards, but the important thing is to choose the one that will be ideal for you and, above all, that will correspond to what you want to do. In theory, we wouldn't recommend the same size board for going mega-amping as we would for becoming a technical skater, you understand?
Here are the sizes we recommend for skaters depending on whether they are using it for a skatepark or street:
- Technical Skater: 7.75 to 8.25
- Aggressive Skater: 8.25 to 9
- Ramp Skater: 8.5 to 9
- Cruiser: 8.25 to 9
Of course, these recommendations are theoretical, because when skateboarding, no one is better placed than ourselves to choose the right skate width for us. It's often a matter of preference.
HOW TO CHOOSE TRUCKS?
You've got a board. That's all well and good, but you need something underneath. Trucks are the two T-shaped pieces of steel that connect your skateboard to the wheels. To make everything work perfectly, we recommend choosing trucks based on the width of your skateboard. The width of the trucks should be as close as possible to the width of your board.
Things get a little more complicated here, as skateboard truck manufacturers all have different measurements. Feel free to ask us questions if you want to be sure of the width of your trucks!
HIGH OR LOW? :
truck high: Ideal for a skater who skates loose, so the wheels are less likely to bite into the board;
Low truck: ideal for technical skaters, as it offers the most stability (beware of wheel bites).
HOW TO CHOOSE BEARINGS?
Bearings are the mechanical system made of balls that allows for rapid rotation with minimal friction. They are inserted into the skateboard wheels, and the truck axle fits right in the middle. There are two per wheel.
Generally, skateboard bearing sizes are universal. What will affect the quality of the bearings is the quality of the steel used during manufacturing. Otherwise, the highest-end bearings are made of ceramic. This material doesn't heat up when rolling and doesn't swell. A good bearing is therefore guaranteed, even if you ride fast and for a long time.
HOW TO CHOOSE SKATE WHEELS?
Skateboard wheels range in size from 50 to 58 millimeters. Again, your choice will be guided by what you want to do. For example, for street skating, you'll want smaller wheels because you'll want to pick up speed quickly. If you want to skate in the skatepark, prioritize slightly larger wheels: they'll allow you to maintain your speed longer and roll more smoothly.
Wheel hardness is also a factor. It is represented by a number and a letter. The higher the number, the harder your wheel. Softer wheels will offer a softer, smoother ride, while harder wheels will be stiffer on the ground but will also slide more.
You can read our article on How to Choose Your Skateboard Wheels to learn more.
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
To perform your future feats, you're going to have to protect yourself. Because let's be honest with you: there's a good chance that before you pull off a trick, there will be a few falls (read between the lines here and understand "a shitload of falls")...
THE HELMET
You need to protect your head! When choosing your helmet , there are a few points to consider:
- the size;
- the design: it must completely cover the forehead, temples and the entire back of the skater's head;
- Fit: It should be easy to adjust and comfortable. Safety is the main point, but don't forget that you have to be comfortable!
ALL OTHER PROTECTIONS
Knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards are all highly recommended protective gear for all skaters, especially beginners! You have to keep in mind that you are practicing a "concrete" sport and that, in general, a fall on concrete is never a gentle one. Be prepared to absorb the shock!
WHERE TO SKATE?
Now that you're equipped from head to toe, you're ready to go! But you're still asking yourself THE question: where can you skateboard? Skateboarding is easy to do anywhere. You set off with your board and see where the wind takes you:
PUBLIC ROAD
In general, public roads are very unwelcoming for us, dear skaters. The rules vary depending on the municipality, however. We can't explicitly tell you that some spots in the city are very attractive and the possibilities are endless, but...
SKATEPARK
The best place to skate is the skatepark! We're lucky in Chicoutimi. For a few years now, we've had the Bassin Skatepark, near the Petite Maison Blanche, a beautiful, brand new concrete skatepark! If you have your own car and like to go for a bit of a walk, you can visit the other parks in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, like the one in Hébertville, for example.
