For the first week of my 20time project I decided to do some research in order to figure out what type of board I should purchase. I'll be honest, I don't really know much about skateboards and I truly didn't think there would be much to choosing one - well, turns out I was wrong! Apparently, there are several factors that need to be considered when deciding on a skateboard (or board in general). A user's experience level, preferred skating style, and even their height can play a major role in the type of skateboard they will need and should purchase. Much of the information I obtained came from the following online resources: EVO, Tactics, and Warehouse Skateboards. All of these were online skateboarding buying guides, and I found them pretty helpful because they provided detailed descriptions of the board, its components, and different styles. Based on the information provided, here is what I learned about choosing a board:
-One of the most important features to be mindful of when choosing a skateboard is its width. The appropriate board width will depend on the skater's height and skating style. Based on the chart provided by the Warehouse Skateboards site, the best board width for someone my height (5'1) would probably fall somewhere in between 7.3" and 7.5." I'm leaning more towards a mid-sized board just because it seems like it'll be more manageable, but it all really depends on what I can find. The site mentioned that board width's usually begin at 7.5" and up.
-One of the most important features to be mindful of when choosing a skateboard is its width. The appropriate board width will depend on the skater's height and skating style. Based on the chart provided by the Warehouse Skateboards site, the best board width for someone my height (5'1) would probably fall somewhere in between 7.3" and 7.5." I'm leaning more towards a mid-sized board just because it seems like it'll be more manageable, but it all really depends on what I can find. The site mentioned that board width's usually begin at 7.5" and up.
- There are also several skating styles to consider when selecting a board. Skating styles are usually defined by the type of terrain the skater will be riding on; it's important to keep the terrain in mind because the skateboard's wheels and trucks will vary depending on the surface it is to be used. Categories of skating styles include: vert, street & technical, all-around, and longboard. Based on what I would like to accomplish during these upcoming weeks, I need to find a board that falls within the longboard or all-around style; since skateboarding is something very new to me, I want to focus more on learning how to cruise on a board rather than do any major tricks. Which leads us into the different skateboard styles.
- The Warehouse Skateboards' Buyers Guide also notes there are different board styles: shortboard, cruiser, old school, and longboard. A longboard or cruiser board style might be the best choices for me at this point. Longboards are usually used for transportation rather than tricks, sit lower to the ground, and are (as the name implies) longer boards. Cruisers are "medium-sized" in length, created for easy maneuverability, and are also made for transportation (but you can also do tricks with them).