Text-Only Version

Skateboard Technical Description
Fahad Faruqi
Prof. Julia Brown
ENGL 21007
October 20, 2021

Table of Contents
Definition – page 3
Overview – page 3
Components – pages 3-4
Explanation – pages 4-5
Visuals – pages 5-6
Conclusion – page 7
References – page 7

Definition

A skateboard is a short narrow board with two small wheels fixed to the bottom of both ends, on which (as a recreation or sport) a person can ride in a standing or crouching position, propelling themselves by occasionally pushing one foot against the ground. In more common terms, it’s another form of transportation along with the likes of scooters, bikes, and cars though it appeals to a different audience. Its assembly is usually pre-done but professional users can build their own or modify prebuilt ones.

Overview

Generally speaking, skateboards look like black wooden slabs of wood with wheels on them. They generally have attractive designs on the belly of the skateboard but stick to a rough black appearance on top. Skateboards come in a variety of sizes and weights but most are generally 11 pounds or 5 kilograms (Niklas, 2020). Generally, a skateboard is about 7 inches to 7.5inches wide for beginners, but professionals usually change their width. As the skateboard gets wider, the possibility of doing more complicated tricks increases. The same goes for the length of the board, it gets longer along with the width, staying around the 29 in-32 in range (How to Pick the Right Skateboard Size, n.d.). The weight and length of a skateboard can be changed with modifications to match the user’s desires. There are eight components to a skateboard which will be discussed in greater detail.

Components

There are eight important components that make up a skateboard (Staff, 2020): the deck, grip tape, truck, riser pads, wheels, bearings, and hardware.
The Deck
The deck is the most recognizable part of the skateboard, it’s the wooden part where you place your feet and ride the skateboard. Depending on your skill and taste you can choose between different types of woods and shapes. They’re usually made up of birch or Maplewood but almost always consist of multiple layers sandwiched and layered on top of each other. Depending on your terrain and desired speed and control, you may wish to switch out the deck you’re using with another.
The Grip Tape
The grip tape is the black-asphalt looking like sandpaper attached to the rider’s side of the deck. It’s responsible for making sure the skater doesn’t slide off their deck and gives enough traction to maneuver feet on the board. It usually gives the board a uniform appearance to others aside from the sharp contrast on the back on the deck (which are usually personalized with patterns).1 (Oxford Languages, n.d.)
The Truck
The trucks are connected to the wheels of the board. They’re the plastic/metal bit that extends from the board to connect the deck to the wheels. These are important because they are responsible for your turning and control speeds. They’re what’s so important for the skateboard to be able to turn, otherwise, you’d be speeding downhill uncontrollably. They turn by being able to rotate and angle the board so it can turn left or right.
The Riser Pads
Though optional, risers are important pro-skaters with different wheel mods. They’re hard plastic pads that space out the truck from the deck, making it possible to have different-sized wheels which need more clearance from the board.
The Wheels
Arguably the most important part of the skateboard is the wheels. They’re what the board rolls on and is the primary cause of movement on a skateboard. Wheels are connected to the deck through the truck and come in different shapes and sizes. These are more commonly swapped out and can impact the way your board speeds up, turns, and generally performs. It’s usually made of plastic and measured by size and hardness. Experienced skaters will want to be able to swap these out for different desired outcomes. For example, small wheels are slow but easily maneuverable while larger ones are faster and harder to maneuver. It’s important to judge a good balance between speed and grip, a wrong set of wheels could spell disaster.
The Bearings
Skateboard bearings are round metal discs that fit inside the wheels, mounting them to the axle. The inner and outer parts of the discs ride on interior balls, allowing wheels to turn.
The Hardware
Last but not least, the hardware is what connects the skateboard together. It includes the nuts, bolts, and screws that keep the trucks attached to the board. Without it the skateboard would fall apart, and riding would be a nightmare. When choosing hardware for a board, it is important to keep quality in mind.

Explanation

To ride the skateboard, you need to have good balance and confidence to push the skateboard. The skateboard is generally user-propelled and not powered in any electrical kind of way. It’s as simple as push and balance. To slow down or break speed, a simple push on the end of the skateboard is required. After it has been assembled, the board is functional and ready to be used. The deck acts as the platform for the user and the wheels allow the board to move

Figure 1 Side view of skateboard shown smoothly.

The truck enables the user to turn and the rest of the components keep the board held together to create a smooth moving experience. It does this by turning and being able to rotate left or right. The rotation is key to the turning movement which gives the user control over the direction their board is going. The wheels and bearings handle the movements and the grip tape handles the grip the user has on the board.

Visuals

Figure 1 Belly of skateboard shown

Figure 3 Top of skateboard shown

Conclusion

In conclusion, the skateboard is an important piece of American culture, it has affected Hollywood and the gaming industry. The skateboard has seen its popularity rise all the way from the 80s to the 2010s. Though not as popular as they used to be, their impact on pop culture can be seen today. From Marty McFly inventing one in “Back to the Future” to Tony Hawk’s popular video game series (Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ 1 + 2, 2021) centered around skating, skateboards have been a powerful trademark of rebellion and punk aesthetic. Its simple design and dangerous nature create a sense of punk-rock appeal which makes it popular to this day. It’s become a symbol of freedom and rebellion and can be used by agile enough. The boards themselves are simple enough in construction but each part is equally as important to the design. These days a skateboard can cost upwards of $30+ (Amazon.com: skateboard, 2021) but are generally cheaper than bikes or scooters, and other forms of transportation. It’s simple enough to buy online or in-store so there are many available to be purchased. The skateboard’s simple yet powerful design blends together to keep it relevant and available for many years into the future.

References

Amazon.com: skateboard. (2021, 10 15). Retrieved from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=skateboard&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Oxford Languages. (n.d.). Oxford Languages. Retrieved from Oxford Languages.uff.com:https://weightofstuff.com/what-is-the-weight-of-a-skateboard/
Staff, M. C. (2020, November 8). Skateboard Anatomy: A Guide to Stateboard Parts. Retrieved from MasterClass: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-guide-to-skateboard-parts#the-8-parts-of-a-skateboard
Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ 1 + 2. (2021, 10 14). Retrieved from Playstation Store:https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0002-CUSA17922_00-TH12RSTANDARD001/