Skateboarding for beginners: street deck, cruiser or longboard, and the gear you need
TUREFF• •0
Walk into a skate shop or scroll an online catalogue and you will see three very different-looking boards, all sold as "skateboards". Picking the wrong one is the most common first mistake, and it usually happens because nobody asked what you actually want to do on it. Start there and the choice becomes simple.
The three main types
- Street (popsicle) deck: the classic shape, with both ends kicked up and hard, small wheels. It is built for tricks, skateparks and learning the ollie. It is less comfortable for long rides on rough pavement because small hard wheels feel every crack.
- Cruiser: usually shorter, with one kicktail and soft, larger wheels. It rolls smoothly over rough ground and is ideal for getting to the shop, the station or a friend's house. You can learn basic tricks on one, but it is not designed for them.
- Longboard: long, stable and often with big soft wheels. Great for relaxed carving along a seafront or a long, smooth path, and for downhill riding once you have real experience. Too big and heavy for most tricks or a crowded skatepark.
Which one should your first board be?
- You want to learn tricks or ride a skatepark: a street deck.
- You want to get around town and enjoy the ride: a cruiser.
- You want a calm, stable board for long smooth paths: a longboard.
If you are unsure, a street deck is the most versatile place to start. Everything you learn on it carries over to the other two, and many skaters fit softer wheels to their street deck for cruising.
Choosing a first street deck
- Width: decks are measured across the middle in inches. Narrower boards flip more easily; wider boards feel more stable underfoot. People with bigger feet, and most beginners, find a mid-range width comfortable. Stand on a few in a shop if you can; your feet should cover most of the width without hanging far over.
- Buy a complete from a skate brand: a complete is a deck with trucks, wheels, bearings and grip tape already fitted. A complete from a proper skateboard brand is a sound start. Very cheap boards sold as toys often have plastic parts, poor bearings and trucks that barely turn, which makes learning harder, not cheaper.
- Wheels: harder wheels slide and pop better for tricks on smooth surfaces; softer wheels grip and ride quietly on rough ground. If you will mostly ride rough streets, a slightly softer wheel is kinder while you learn.
- Ask in a local skate shop: staff will set the board up, tighten the trucks to suit you and show you how it all fits together.
Protective gear
Falling is part of skateboarding, so the goal is to fall without getting badly hurt.
- Helmet: the one item everyone should wear, especially while learning. Choose one certified for skateboarding that sits level and does not wobble when you shake your head.
- Wrist guards: beginners most often put their hands out when they fall, and wrists take the impact. Wrist guards are cheap insurance.
- Knee and elbow pads: essential if you plan to ride ramps or bowls, where you learn to drop to your knees and slide.
- Shoes: flat, grippy soles. Skate shoes are made for it; running shoes with thick, rounded soles make it harder to feel the board.
Some skateparks require helmets, and some require pads for younger riders. Check the signs or the operator's rules before your first visit.
Before your first session
- Find smooth, flat ground away from traffic: an empty car park, a quiet basketball court or the flat area of a skatepark at a quiet time.
- Stand on the board on grass or carpet first to get used to how it tilts.
- Practise for short sessions and stop when you are tired; most falls happen at the end of a long session.
Riding a board for the first time is wobbly for everyone. Tell us what board you started on, or ask about the one you are considering, in the comments below.