Your Guide to Buying a Skateboard

Congratulations on choosing skateboarding! We know walking into a skate shop for the first time can be intimidating, but PalmIsle Skateshop is here to help. This guide will take you through everything you need to know about buying a skateboard, combining information from our previous blog post and the additional resource you provided.

To begin, you need to figure out what's your intended use for this skateboard? Skateboards are specifically shaped and sized for optimal performance in skateparks and for executing tricks. Your choice of board will vary greatly depending on whether you plan to simply ride around town or tackle more technical maneuvers. For casual cruising, opt for a wide cruiser board equipped with large, soft wheels. However, if your aim is to hit the skatepark, execute tricks, or ride mini ramps, you'll need a more traditional skateboard shape.

Cruiser vs Skateboard

There are two main types of skateboards: skateboards and cruisers. Skateboards are designed for tricks and skateparks, while cruisers are for cruising around town and getting from point A to point B. This guide will focus on skateboards for tricks.

For exemple, that's a Cruiser

This particular model is the : Santa Cruz Decoder Hand Santa Cruz Shaped Cruiser - 9.51" 

Santa Cruz Skateboards Decoder Hand Shaped Cruzer featuring transformative decoder spot gloss graphic on blue, red, black, and natural veneers.7 ply North American Maple deck with Krux 9.0 trucks and 58mm 87a OJ Keyframe wheels. Deck print changes when viewing through the included decoder lens hangtag.

And that is a Skateboard

This particular model is the : Palace Saves Deck - 8.0"

Width 8.0"

Length 31.69"

Wheelbase 14.24"

Where to Buy Your Skateboard

Your local skate shop is the best place to buy your first skateboard. They'll have high-quality products, expert advice to help you find the perfect board, and can answer any questions you have. Avoid mall or sports store skateboards – they're often low quality and won't last long.

We've been open for 24 years now and sold over 100,000 skateboards in our lifetime... i guess you could call us experts.

We, at PalmIsle Skateshop, upon all purchases of complete or custom, also make sure that your skateboard is ready to go, we can maintain your skateboard for you (and for free!). For exemple, the bearings often get dusty and don't ride as fast because of it. We are always glad to clean it and add some lube to make them as fast as new. 

Complete vs. Custom

Skateboards come complete (ready to ride) or as individual parts you can assemble yourself. Completes are a great option for beginners – they're affordable and come with everything you need to get started. As your skills progress, you can customize your board by replacing parts one by one.

At PalmIsle, we actually have 3 categories of skateboard, the complete, the customs and the pre-assembled customs. 

Our pre-assembled customs are the best of both worlds, you get the quality and utility from a fully custom, but the friendly budget aspect of the complete. 

Basically, we took some parts from our custom inventory and assembled them to create a local skateshop quality complete. We used parts from the industry biggest brand name such as Fucking Awesome, Thunder, Sml Wheels, Alltimers, bones and much more! 

Price

Complete skateboards typically range from $95 to $180.

Normally, completes range from $95 to $130... but here at Palmisle, as mention earlier, we assembled some complete giving all the advantages of custom to a fair price and simplicity of a pre assemble complete. If quality-to-price is an important factor for you... definitely come visit us to get the best deal on the market at the moment because they range from $160 to $180.

On the other hand, custom board range from $200 to $350 and you can fully customize them... from colour, raw material, sizes, width, designs... you name it ! 

Board Size

There's no one-size-fits-all skateboard size. Here are some factors to consider:

• Height: Taller riders might prefer a wider board for stability.
• Shoe size: Larger shoe sizes might benefit from a wider board.
• Skating style: Wider boards are good for cruising and carving, while narrower boards are better for technical tricks.

A good starting point for adults is a deck width of 8 inches or above. Ultimately, size is a personal preference, and you can experiment as you progress.

Understanding Skateboard Parts

Now that you know the basics, let's delve into the different parts of a skateboard and what to look for when buying them:

• Grip Tape ($Free-$15): This sandpaper-like material on top of the deck provides grip for your shoes. Black griptape is most common, but it comes in various colors and designs. All the classic Black griptape like MOB or Jessup are free with all skateboard purchases. Only the griptape with colours, designs or clear tops cost a little extra! 

Classic Grip x Quartersnacks - Bussdown Griptape

• Deck ($50-$130): The deck is the platform you stand on. It comes in various shapes, sizes, and graphics. For learning tricks, a popsicle-shaped deck is ideal. Choose a deck made of 7-ply maple wood with high-strength epoxy glue for durability.

Real Ishod Lucky Dog Skate Shop Day 2024 Deck - 8.25"

• Trucks ($70-$90): Trucks are the metal components that connect the wheels to the deck and allow you to turn. The width of your trucks should match the width of your deck. Ensure they're made of metal, not plastic.

Thunder Tyshawn So Good Hollow Lights Polished/Black Trucks - 151

• Bushings ($Free-$15): Bushings are rubber inserts inside the trucks that control how your trucks turn. Beginners should choose bushings based on their weight (harder for heavier riders, softer for lighter riders). But again, all trucks come with bushing! It is only if you need to replace them or if you know what you like that you would need to pay those extra dollars. 

Bones Hardcore Bushings - White

• Hardware ($5-$10): Hardware is the nuts and bolts that hold your trucks onto the deck.

Bronze 56K Hardware 1" Phillips

• Wheels ($30-$80): Wheels come in different sizes and durometers (hardness). Softer wheels offer a smoother ride but less grip, while harder wheels are faster but provide less shock absorption. Choose a wheel size and durometer based on your riding style. Thumb rule : Harder and smaller wheels are for skatepark, while softer and bigger wheels are for street skateing. 

Spitfire Gonz Flower Formula Four Conical Full 80HD Wheels

• Bearings ($15-$300): Bearings are the metal parts inside your wheels that allow them to spin. Higher quality bearings spin faster and last longer. Some are designed to keep the dust away, some are Ceramic and don't rust ! 

SKF Ishod Signature Bearing Kit

Choosing the Right Size for Kids (From Our Friends at Dwindle Skateboard Manufacturers)

This guide provides a size chart based on age, height, and shoe size. When in doubt, size up because kids grow fast.

Lucky for you (the parents) we also offer knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guard, helmets and STRESS BALLS! Wich brings us to an important point :  

Safety Gear

When starting out, safety gear is highly recommended. Skateboarding is a blast, but falls happen! To minimize injury and keep the shred session going. We recommend a proper skateboard helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads and Comfortable, flat-bottom shoes for an ideal skateboarding session.

Protections available on our website : Protections

Skateboard Maintenance

Now that you know how to buy a skateboard for your specific needs, it's important to keep it in good shape (even if the slogan of skateboarding is "Skate to Destroy").

Here are some tips to keep your skateboard in top condition:

• Keep it dry: Moisture can warp the deck, rust the bearings and affects the board's stiffness. The stiffer the board, the better pop it allow you. 
• Keep it clean: Remove dirt and mud from your griptape and bearings for optimal performance. This step is necessary to keep the bearing going as fast as possible.
• Prevent theft: Mark your board with your name for identification purposes.

Palmisle Skateshop : No Place Like Home

We hope this guide has helped you understand the basics of buying your first skateboard. Now it's time to enjoi !